Today 30 December we joined Declan Troy, Dean DiTommaso, Jim Pawlicki and Dave Gordon to bird the Niagara River. Viewing conditions were excellent with clear air and good visibility. It was mild with no wind. We saw 10 species of gulls. Highlights:
Adam Beck Lookout California Gull, the third winter bird was flying and resting on the water at the right side of the American dam giving great views in the scope. 1 adult and 1 juvenile Thayer's Gull; about 10 adult and 10 juvenile/first winter Kumlien's Iceland Gull; 1 adult, 1 third winter and one juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 adult Glaucous Gull Queenston Boat Launch 1 adult Little Gull. Thousands of Bonaparte's Gulls fishing and resting in rafts on the River. Whirlpool 1 adult Little Gull with about 300 Bonaparte's Gulls Above the Falls at Control Gates 5 Little Gulls were close to the breakwall and put on a great show among hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls. 2 adult and 2 juvenile/first winter Kumlien's Iceland Gull; 3 adult and 1 juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull. 1 second winter Glaucous Gull. There are thousands of Bonaparte's Gulls on the Niagara River, Herring Gulls (abundant), Ring-billed Gulls (common) and Great Black-backed Gulls are there in good numbers. Other birds: Winter Wren at the bridge over the creek south of the Engineerium building opposite the barge, Carolina Wren at Dufferin Island south parking lot, and 30,000+ European Starlings in huge streams crossed the river at Adam Beck at 4:30 p.m. going to roost in New York State. Jean Iron & Ron Pittaway Toronto ON _______________________________________________ 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/
