Thanks to Jim Pawlicki for getting the word out about this. Early this morning, Betsy and I found a second-winter CALIFORNIA GULL from the Adam beck overlook on the Ontario side of the Niagara River (the power plants). We watched it for a while in flight and as it lit briefly several times on the water to feed, becoming more and more certain of the identification. Eventually, it landed on the water for a while at the base of the red cliff (left of the NY power dam) and after that, eventually landed on a rock, finally giving us a good view of its pale grayish legs.
This gull looks very much like a second-winter Herring Gull (HEGU) with a clear gray back, white rump, and all-blackish tail. Some key differences are: - this bird is smaller with a smaller more rounded head; it was even smaller then a Lesser Black-backed Gull (direct comparison). However, it is larger than a Ring-billed Gull. - the gray of the back is slightly darker. - the bill is pale gray with a sharply demarcated black tip (some second-winter HEGUs have a similar bill pattern). - the legs are pale grayish, lacking pink tones, though there may be some slight pinkish in the feet. - there is a slight hindcollar formed by heavier streaking (also shown by some HEGUs). - the eyes are dark (as are the eyes of some 2w HEGUs) Early this morning there were quite a few large gulls at the power plants but by 10:00, many had departed. When we returned in the afternoon (2-2:30), there were very few large gulls and we could not find the California Gull. Other birds at Adam Beck were one first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL, one adult THAYER'S GULL, three ICELAND GULLS, and two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Above Niagara Falls, there were many resting large gulls as well as a good-sized feeding flock below the control gates. We had one, possibly two, second-winter GLAUCOUS GULLS, one juvenile THAYER'S GULL, and only one or two ICELAND GULLS. An adult PEREGRINE FALCON was perched out on the large flat rock island. I looked for but could not find any Purple Sandpipers. We never made it downstream of the barge where there were also many resting large gulls. DIRECTIONS: The power plants are in the Town of Lewiston, NY and Queenston, Ont. a little south of the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. The control gates are about a mile above Niagara Falls. Good birding! Willie ---------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com _______________________________________________ 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
