The very windy weather helped to increase the number of gulls on the river. Bonaparte's Gulls came in in droves and large gulls were much more common. The highlight today was a male COMMON TEAL (European form of the Green-winged Teal, recognized as a different species by some). This is likely the same bird found by Dean DiTommaso and I about a month ago at Goat Island. That bird was molting so we were not certain that it was a Common Teal. I thought I had found the bird today about 2:00, only to find out it was seen earlier. It was in the impoundment (with a foot bridge that crosses it) between the pulloff on the downstream side of the control gates and the gatehouse. This spot is on the Ontario side, across the road from Dufferin Islands Nature Area. There were about a dozen teal in the group with the Common. I watched all the teal take flight and leave the impoundment about 2:20 but they apparently came back soon after. Other spots to look for this bird would be Goat Island on the NY side, Dufferin Islands Nature Area, and the creek outlet into the river across from the north end of the Dufferin Islands Nature Area.
Gulls today: Black-legged Kittiwake at Niag-on-the-Lake 6 Iceland Gulls at the power plants 1 Thayer's Gull at the power plants 3 Lesser BBG's at the power plants and others above the falls Little Gulls at the control gates and at the power plants California Gull at the power plants "Nelson's Gull" at the power plants the four common species I only talked to a few people today and did not have much time to bird the river so there were likely many other gulls. An adult PEREGRINE FALCON was at the power plants giving leisurely chase to some of the gulls. Good birding! Willie -------------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, N.Y. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
