We were down in the Niagara region both Saturday & Sunday (had to go back after missing the California Gull on Saturday).
Saturday Jan 17 Started at Adam Beck Generating Station and had 5 ICELAND GULLS (3 first years, 2 adults) and a first year THAYER'S GULL, no Bonaparte's or Lesser Black-backed as well as a male BELTED KINGFISHER and a male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. On to Chippawa to check some feeders on Peter Street but no sign of any Tufted Titmouse, although an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk came in and tried to have some Dark-eyed Juncos for lunch, no luck. Back down to the Control Gates above the falls where there was one first year GLAUCOUS GULL and not much else of note, I counted approximately 30 Great Black-backed Gulls and a few Common Mergansers & Common Goldeneye. At the Dufferin Islands Park there was one male American Wigeon in with all the Mallards. Back at Adam Beck, we had no more luck with the California Gull but upped the total of Iceland Gulls to around 10. At the Queenston Boat Launch there were about 5 adult Bonaparte's Gulls, 1 Double-crested Cormorant and a flock of 20 American Robins where there was a water outflow in the cliff behind the docks, no luck with the Black-headed Gull(s). Sunday Jan 18 Started by checking Windemere Basin, in Hamilton, on the way to Niagara and there we saw 5 Double-crested Cormorants, a male HOODED MERGANSER, 2 NORTHERN SHOVELER, a few RUDDY DUCKS, a few LESSER SCAUP with many Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Mallard, Long-tailed Duck & Canada Geese. As well, there was a small flock of 7 (1Ad, 6imm.) WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS in amongst the rocks at the edge of the water near the bridge. Then at LP Sayers Park in Stoney Creek we had 3 first year male KING EIDERS, 1 female BLACK SCOTER, about 10 SURF SCOTERS, amongst the many White-winged Scoters, Common Goldeneye & Long-tailed Ducks, with a few Red-breasted Mergansers. At Adam Beck, within 2 minutes of scanning the rocks just downstream from the Robert Moses Power Plant on the American side, we found the adult CALIFORNIA GULL, the bird was sitting between two Herring Gulls and just below a few Ring-billed Gulls, so comparisons in mantle shade (a good shade or two darker on the CAGU), overall size (smaller than HEGU, bigger than RBGU) and leg colour (greenish-yellow) was made quite a bit easier. Went to the fly-past at Niagara-on-the-Lake between 4:40pm & 5:20pm, where at 5:10pm I had what I'm positive was a first year BLACK-HEADED GULL, it had the dark underwing down to the base of the primaries, with the white triangle on the upper forewing as well as the smaller size (compared with Ring-billed Gulls next to it), definitely not a Bonaparte's because of the dark underwing lining. This is the first I've heard of an immature Black-headed Gull as the other two I had heard were adults, has anyone else had this bird this winter? All that said, it was a pretty good weekend of birding. Regards & good birding, Frank Pinilla Thornhill DIRECTIONS: Windemere Basin, Hamilton - exit QEW (Niagara bound) at Eastport Drive and follow Eastport until you see an RV Dealership and a road that says "Pier 25S", follow in this road until you see open water on your left. LP Sayers Park, Stoney Creek - off the North Service Road beside the QEW (between Centennial Pkwy & Fruitland Rd), follow Drakes Road up to the lake, and just before the lake turn right on Lakegate Dr, you will see the little parkette on the left, park on Oceanic Drive. Chippawa Feeders - Follow the Niagara Parkway (road that runs along the Niagara River) beyond Niagara Falls, heading south, the road will turn inland away from the river and end at a Tim Horton's in Chippawa, turn right at these lights and then quickly left on Chippawa Parkway, follow for about 1km to Peter St (on the right), at the end of this street is a house with many feeders (on your left). Control Gates - above the falls, pull-off is located right next to the river, there is a concrete wall here where gulls loaf. Dufferin Islands Park - just North of the Control Gates on the west side (opposite the river), there is usually open water here in the winter, but right now, it's almost all frozen, the ducks are often fed by park-goers, the AMWI was in with all the Mallards. Adam Beck Power Station - there is a pull-off about 1km south of Hwy 405 and the Queenston Bridge where you will see the structure and wires for the station, across the river is the Robert Moses Power Station where many of the gulls fly around and sit on the rocks. Niagara-on-the-Lake fly-past - along Niagara Pkwy, you will veer off onto Ricardo St?? (closest street to the lake) and you will come to a Marina, there is a parking lot and a parkette that you can walk out to, next to the marina. Frank Pinilla <[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.
