Several birders spent all day at the Adam Beck overlook (the power plants) on the Niagara River today. There were many gulls, ten species in all, highlighted by the two in the subject heading. Jean Iron picked out the MEW GULL, an adult or near-adult winter bird, around 10:30 to 11:00 this morning. Several experienced gull-watchers examined it as it flew around for the next 45 minutes. It would land in the water to catch fish but would stay there only briefly, which prevented us from getting the size and shape comparisons versus other sitting gulls which we were hoping for. Nevertheless, we saw all the characters, which together identified this bird as a Mew Gull. The question of subspecies is still open with brachyrynchus and kamchetsensus being the options. The following field marks were used to ID this bird: small size next to Herring Gulls - about Ring-billed size; mantle clearly darker than Herring and Ring-billed but much paler than Lesser Black-backed Gull; fairly extensive black on the outer primaries with big mirrors on p10 and p9 and a nice string of pearls on p6-p7-p8; mottled dusky streaking on the crown and hindneck; greenish legs; dark eyes. There was some dark on the bill, possibly on the basal half, or in the middle area, and no red. Without checking references yet, I am unsure if the dark on the bill indicates that this bird is a young adult or if older adults often get dark on the bill, as do many large gulls. We did NOT see the bird again the rest of the day.
NOTE: we also had a hybrid gull which could be mistaken for this bird, possibly a Herring X Lesser Black-backed. However, this hybrid had only one mirror, not the two of the Mew. The head was also more heavily streaked and not as mottled-looking. It was also slightly darker than the Mew Gull. Betsy Potter picked out the second-winter CALIFORNIA GULL, which was seen off and on at the Adam Beck overlook all day. This is the same bird that has been seen the last two weekends. Today, we also found it perched on the rocks that are about 1/2 mile upriver (i.e. south of) from the Adam beck overlook. These rocks were absolutely loaded with thousands of gulls. They are on the NY side but viewable from the Ontario side - be careful because the best places to view these rocks from, have no railing and you must stand within a few feet of the edge of the gorge. Other birds at Adam Beck and the "roosting rocks" were many ICELAND GULLS (at least 14), two or more adult THAYER'S, 3-4 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS including one in juvenal plumage, and one first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL. There was also a LITTLE GULL reported from the Whirlpool (the Spanish Aero Car) and an adult GLAUCOUS GULL above Niagara Falls. Noone reported the Harlequin Duck, seen earlier in the week, today that I know of. 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
