The juvenile Sabine's Gull was still present this morning from 6:30 to after 8 AM just below the Deschenes Rapids on the Ottawa River. It can be viewed successfully from several vantage points along the river from both the Ontario and Quebec sides, including Britannia Point, Britannia Yacht Club & Deschenes Lookout on the Ontario side and below the Deschenes Rapids on the Quebec side. For the benefit of provincial listers, it spent most of its time on the Quebec side of the river, but occasionally strayed across to the Ontario side. It spent most of its time near but not always associating with the small group of Bonaparte's Gulls, which were roosting at the east end of the bare rocks centrally located in the rapids. It made brief forays for food, sometimes with the Bonys, sometimes being chased by Ring-billed Gulls; but spent much of its time on the water just north of Bonaparte's roost (probably invisible from the Ontario side, but easily seen from below the rapids on the Quebec side of the river. Directions to this Site from NeilyWorld's Birding Ottawa Website: From Autoroute l'Outaouais or Highway 148, take the Chemin Vanier exit. Turn left or south onto Vanier and go 3.9 km to the Ottawa River and the Deschênes Rapids at the end of Chemin Vanier. To see the area below the rapids, start north on Vanier and take the first right turn (50 metres) onto Rue Martel. Follow it 0.3 km to where it turns left and becomes Rue Rosenes. At this corner you can walk over to the shore and along it to view below the rapids.
Larry Neily, Ottawa, ON, Canada Visit NeilyWorld, its Birding Ottawa Guide and its 4000 Birding Links. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
