Bill Watson and I started the day watching the cooperative SABINE'S GULL from 8:30 to about 10 at Squaw Island, Buffalo just south of the railroad bridge amongst several others including interested locals. Also here were 5 WW Scoters, 3 Am. Tree Sparrows, 2 flyover AMERICAN PIPITS, Horned Lark, and a flock of 20 PINE SISKINS. We then crossed into Fort Erie where there were 2 lingering GREAT EGRETS at Fort Erie marsh plus 3 COMMON TERNS (1 ad., 2 juv.) foraging just offshore loosely amongst Bonaparte's. Getting up towards Chippewa, we stopped at Kings Bridge Park near Chippewa Creek where there was a lone FIELD SPARROW plus 3 Hooded Mergansers. From the Control Gates we could see that there were several large flocks of Bonaparte's foraging in the rapids above the falls. Had a brief look at an adult LITTLE GULL as it sat on the big flat rock out towards Goat Island before taking off. From the parking lot here was also a flyover adult BALD EAGLE plus another flock of about 12 flyover PINE SISKINS. Continuing further downriver towards the Gatehouse it was apparent that there had been a large influx of Herring Gulls and Bonaparte's above the falls--a few thousand Herrings and about 1200 Bonaparte's. Scoping out towards the island mid-river, there were several Swallows flying around amongst the gulls--21 in total and all N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS that we could see. Amongst the Herring Gulls were at least 7 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (3 juv., 1 3w, 3 ad.), but no apparent WW Gulls. Also roving around above the falls from the Greenhouse to the the old generating station was a large flock of 70+ PINE SISKINS. Below the falls there was also an impressive number of Bonaparte's, about 1000 total scanning all the way down towards the bridge. Also around the falls were the two resident PEREGRINE FALCONS which were perched up on the Hilton and skyline towers. Further downriver we checked out the Whirlpool, Adam Beck, and Queenston, all of which held good numbers of Bonaparte's, with 2 ad. LITTLE GULLS amongst them in Queenston; surprisingly very few Herring Gulls were present at Adam Beck. Also in Queenston were 2 FOX SPARROWS and a HERMIT THRUSH. Dusk approached and we counted the Bonaparte's at the flypast out to Lake Ontario at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Total tally was 2860 Bonaparte's Gulls and 3 ad. LITTLE GULLS, 2 of which probably were in Queenston earlier. Considering the large number of Bonaparte's seen above the falls, I expected a larger flypast, but perhaps a good number of the birds (prob. recent arrivals?) were roosting in the rocks above the falls amongst the large gulls or on the water in the gorge just below the falls. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY Directions: The Niagara River is well signed between Lakes Erie to the south and Ontario to the north. Nearly all of the locations described above can be accessed from the Niagara Parkway which runs parallel along the river on the CA side. **************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's Hot 5 Travel Deals! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212416248x1200771803/aol?redir=http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav00000001) _______________________________________________ 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/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
