Dear Ontbirders,
Today's gull trip to the Niagara River was a big success. Despite the rain
we sighted 10 species of gulls plus one hybrid gull.
California Gull: One at Adam Beck.
Black-legged Kittiwake: One juvenile at Niagara-on-the-Lake which floated
by with a raft of Bonapate's Gulls.
Little Gull: One adult winter above the Falls near the barge.
Thayer's Gull: One adult at Adam Beck.
Kumlien's Iceland Gulls: One adult and one juvenile at Adam Beck.
Lesser Black-backed Gull: One adult at Chippawa , and an adult and first
winter at Adam Beck.
Nelson's Gull (Herring x Glaucous hybrid) One adult at Adam Beck.
We also saw Herring Gull (abundant), Ring-billed Gull (abundant),
Bonaparte's Gull (abundant), Great Black-backed Gull (fairly common).
We had good telescope views of a Purple Sandpiper on a small rocky island
in the rapids near the barge above the Falls. After lunch we saw two Tufted
Titmice at Chippawa and the Rufous/Allen's Humingbird at the home of Janice
and Art Haines. The rarest bird of the day was a male Common Teal, which is
the Eurasian subspecies of Green-winged Teal. It was with Green-winged Teal
in the concrete ponds south of the Old Pump House Building, opposite
Dufferin Island.
Other reports: At the mouth of the river at Niagara-on-the-Lake were two
Red-throated Loons, a Little Gull and a Glaucous Gull; Carolina Wren at
Queenston Boat Launch; and a Glaucous Gull in the gorge below the Falls.
At Niagara-on-the-Lake, thousands of Bonaparte's Gulls went out to Lake
Ontario in the flypast.
On behalf of co-leader Ron Tozer, I wish to thank all participants who
enjoyed gull watching along the Niagara River,
Jean Iron and Ron Tozer
OFO Trip Leaders
Ontario Field Ornithologists
9 Lichen place
Toronto ON M3A 1X3
416-445-9297
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
