I birded along the Niagara River today, from Queenston to Fort Erie. Highlights as follows:
Black Vulture - 1 with 11 Turkey Vultures at Queenston Harlequin Duck - 3 above the falls, on a small rock in the middle of the river. They were about halfway across the river, pretty much due south of the Three Sisters Islands. Gulls: Black-headed Gull - 1 in a large group of Bonaparte's, just north of the Peace Bridge. Black-legged Kittiwake - 1 around the pier at the north end of Squaw Island (American side). It could be seen well from the Canadian side and flew out into the middle of the river a few times. Little Gull - 1 adult at Queenston, 1 1st-winter at the same location as the Kittiwake. Iceland Gull - lots at Adam Beck. Thayer's Gull - 2 adults at Adam Beck. Glaucous Gull - 1 on rocks in the middle of the river, below the control gates. Lesser Black-backed Gull - 6 above the falls (also 2 Great Black-backed x Herring Gull hybrids here). Good Birding, Gavin Platt Toronto, ON Directions: Black Vulture: I viewed the Vultures from the pull-off on the Niagara Parkway, just below Brock's Monument. This is on the hill coming up from Queenston, just before (downhill from) where the road goes through a big 'U' bend. Adam Beck: The Adam Beck overlook is located on the east side of the Niagara Parkway, just south of the Queenston-Lewiston bridge. Harlequin Ducks: Best viewed from by the Engineerium building above the falls. Fort Erie Gulls: Any pull-off along Niagara Blvd, north of the Peace Bridge, would be a good place to look. The north end of Squaw Island is approximately across from Niagara Blvd and Bowen Rd. _______________________________________________ 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/
