Saturday Betsy and I teamed up with a very sharp group of Ithaca, NY birders for a difficult but fun day on the river. We worked hard for 7 species of gulls which is all that was reported. There were very few large gulls, especially at the power plants which is where we had the adult CALIFORNIA GULL. This bird has only a very little red spot on the bill that only a couple people were able to see. The bird was seen from the main Adam Beck overlook and often perched on the "point" which is off the left end of the Robert Moses power dam, across the river from the overlook. With so few large gulls, it was easy to pick out in flight amongst the Bonapartes! An adult LITTLE GULL was seen below the American Falls and four LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were above the falls. Also above the falls, between the Ontario Hydro building and the Gatehouse, close to shore, was an injured BRANT. A single DUNLIN was out on the flat rock island, visible from the control gates.
Several TUNDRA SWANS have been seen along the river between Fort Erie and Niagara Falls. A pair of PEREGRINES engaged in brief courtship (or bonding behavior) by locking talons, across from the American Falls. There are many ducks of many species in the area of the falls, especially above the control gates. At the flypast near Lake Ontario at sunset, Steve Kelling counted 4580 Bonaparte's Gulls and one Little Gull. Good birding! Willie -------------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Niagara Falls, N.Y. [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Willie D'Anna & Betsy Potter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
