Today's gull trip was a great success. About 200 OFO members and friends attended the trip. We were delighted see so many birders interested in gulls, and were impressed by the number of young birders. The purpose was to see and age the largest number of gull species, and enjoy seeing many other rarer birds on the Niagara River.
Our group recorded 11 species of gulls below in checklist order: Black-legged Kittiwakes - 2 juveniles below the Rainbow Falls were seen well by all. Bonaparte's Gull – Adults. The numbers of Bonaparte's dropped off this week. All birds noted were adults. Little Gull - The birders who went to the evening flypast at Niagara-on-the-Lake saw one adult. Franklin's Gull at railway bridge over Niagara River at Fort Erie seen by some who went for the Lark Sparrow. Ring-billed Gull - Common on the River. Herring Gull - 100s of all age classes along the river. We also saw several juvenile "Northern" Herring Gulls. They are recognized at this time of year by their very dark brown plumage and still being in full juvenile plumage, whereas most "Southern" Herrings that hatched earlier in the year have now molted into first winter plumage. Thayer's Gull - at least one adult at Adam Beck and an adult on the wall at the Control Gates at Chippawa. For information on Thayer's see link. http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.thayer Kumlien's Iceland Gull - almost all of the Iceland Gulls seen at Niagara are the kumlieni subspecies which breeds in the eastern Canadian Arctic. We saw about 4 juvenile/first winter birds and several adults at Adam Beck, and two adults on the wall at the Control Gates at Chippawa above the Falls. Lesser Black-backed Gull - several adults at the Control Gates at Chippawa and a second winter and an adult at Adam Beck. This European Gull is now regular in increasing numbers on the river. The origin of many of our birds may be Greenland, where this species colonized in recent years. Glaucous Gull - third winter in the middle of the River at the Control Gates and a juvenile at Adam Beck. Great Black-backed Gull - many adults, several juveniles and other age classes mostly above the Falls and at Adam Beck. Other Species: the group recorded about 70 species on or near the River. Here are some highlights: the first winter Red Phalarope provided excellent views at the barge area above the Falls; 2 Purple Sandpipers on the traditional rocks right of the barge; 2 adult Peregrines: one at Adam Beck stalking Bonaparte's Gulls and one right of the barge in the middle of the river; Black Vulture in a conifer across the River at Lewiston; Lark Sparrow at No. 793 on the Niagara River Parkway at Central Avenue in Fort Erie. We thank the gracious home owners who have bird feeders and welcome birders to see the Lark Sparrow. Bill Read was on hand to sell the Peterson Gull Guide by Howell and Dunn and Howell's book on Molt in North American Birds, both excellent resources for serious birders. For tips and information about gull watching see OFO article. http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.gulls Gull watching at Niagara should remain excellent throughout December. Jean Iron and Ron Tozer OFO Trip Leaders _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
