Hi Ontbirders: I just got home after viewing a large roost of about 200 gulls on the Rideau River at Billings Bridge in Ottawa. The gulls were on the edge of the ice about two hundred metres downriver from the bridge.. Almost two-thirds of the birds were Great Black-backed Gulls with the majority of the rest being Herring Gulls. There were also 4 Glaucus Gulls and 4 Iceland Gulls in different plumages. As well, there was one possible Thayer's Gull (2nd winter) but the light was beginning to fade when I spotted this bird. In the immediate vicinity of Billings Bridge there were about 1,000 congregating American Crows. Along the edge of the ice on the river were a number of carcasses of dead Mallards and gulls, likely as a result of the very frigid conditions last night (temperatures in the -20s). These carcasses were being fought over by the crows and gulls.
Good birding Peter Hall Directions: From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 117 (Riverside Drive). Go southwest on Riverside Drive 4.2 km to Bank Street. Turn north on Bank street over the Billings Bridge. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
