After missing the Elegant Tern twice by mere seconds and feet yesterday, I feel much better today! I started out at the Sheridan Drive boat ramp to check if the tern was roosting at Frog or Strawberry Islands. Next was the foot of Hertel Avenue adjacent to the now famous Rich Marine. After some time looking over the 7 COMMON TERNS and 3000+ Bonapartes Gulls here, Dennis and Susan Gralek arrived. We talked about the Elegant Tern and Dennis showed me an image on his camera. Is this it? he asked. I was stunned because it was, and he had photographed it here at Rich Marine from Squaw Island yesterday, around the same time that it was seen at Beaver Island State Park, which is a couple miles downriver from here. (No, I am not saying there are two Elegant Terns.)
After several minutes, the three of us went over to the north end of Squaw Island and were soon joined by Tom Kerr. After some time, Tom asked if I had checked to see if the tern was buried among the gulls at the very end of the pier. I was about to answer, Only about 20 times, when I looked in my scope and the ELEGANT TERN was there! That was about 10:15. The bird was seen for the rest of the day, either at the end of the pier where it would perch or feed or feeding 200 yards further south up the canal, nearer the locks. When flying to the latter location, it would fly right by the gleeful birders assembled 100+ yards from the end of the pier. The strategy for seeing this bird seems pretty simple. Go to the north end of Squaw Island and walk out onto the pier at the extreme north end, being very careful, of course, not to flush the birds. So, stop a ways from the end. You can watch the bird buried among the Bonapartes Gulls at the very end of the pier or turn around and watch it feed to the south of you. You will want to walk back down to the south to get closer views while it is feeding. Should the bird not be here, the other place to check is the southeastern end of Beaver Island State Park (follow signs to River Lea), just before you get to the loop, which is the end of the park road. Other birds at Rich Marine today were a second-winter LITTLE GULL and a first-winter FRANKLINS GULL. A photo of the Elegant Tern is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ DIRECTIONS: The best views are from the north end of Squaw Island because you can watch the bird both perched and feeding. For those who are less mobile, I would suggest the end of Hertel Avenue, directly across the canal from the end of the pier. Both locations are accessed from Niagara St. (NY 266). Note that Rich Marine is directly across the canal from the north end of Squaw Island. Exit I-190 southbound (if travelling northbound, see further on) at Ontario St. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Niagara St. Hertel Ave. comes up in about ¼ mile (turn right and go to the end). For the north end of Squaw Island, drive about one mile and, after the road goes under the railroad bridge, make the next right (there will be a sign for Squaw Island Park). If on I-190 northbound, exit at Amherst St. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Niagara St. The turn for Squaw Island Park is less than ¼ mile on your right. This right turn is really a 180 degree turn. You will drive over the canal on the side of the railroad bridge. Once on the island, stay on the main road as it reaches the river and turns right, going underneath the big bridge. Follow the road to the end and park in the loop. Notice the path to the north. Follow it a few hundred yards until you can see the end of the pier. Good birding! Willie ------------------ Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com <http://www.betsypottersart.com/> 2013 Big Year: http://www.betsypottersart.com/willie-s-photos/2013-big-year/ Big Year List: http://www.happtech.com/BigYearDanna/CurrentList/ShowCurrentListTable.aspx Odenates: http://www.betsypottersart.com/willie-s-photos/dragonflies -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
