Bill Smith and I spent the morning on the Niagara River and had one of our best gull trips ever. In addition to the usual supects, including thousands of Bonaparte's Gulls, from the overlook at Adam Beck GS we saw a first winter Common (Mew) Gull, adult California, Glaucous, Kumlein's and Iceland Gulls, and an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull. On the mid-river rocks at the control dam area above the falls were two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls. For a change of pace we were pleased to see an adult male Cooper's Hawk and a Tufted Titmouse on separate sides of the Dufferin Islands park.
The Common (Mew) Gull stood out first because of its small size when swimming beside Ring-bill and other gulls, and then when standing on a rock beside a Ring-Bill, as well as its very small bill. When it finally flew we were able to see large black triangles on each wing tip, a dark tail band and black strips along the trailing edge of both wings. Good photos very close to the bird we saw are #s 68 and 69 on pages 213 and 214 of Peter Grant's 'Gulls, a guide to identification. The Adam Beck overlook is on the Niagara River Parkway south of Queenston. The control dam area is also on the Parkway, south of the City of Niagara Falls. Mike -- Mike Street Ancaster, Ontario, Canada [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
