With the continued strong westerly winds, my son William and I decided to look for Sabines Gull at Fort Erie as a few had been observed a couple days before. We checked sites between Mather Park and the Catherine Street parking lot with mostly little luck. We did had 4 Little Gulls in total (all beyond the mouth of the Niagara River), a flyby Peregrine at Mather Park, several Common Terns, White-winged Scoters etc.. However, just before dark (about 6:45 p.m.) we were lucky enough to come across a 1st winter Franklin's Gull at the pull off right below the Peace Bridge. It was associating with a number of Bonaparte's Gulls. Unfortunately, almost as soon as we spotted it, it rose up with the group and flew over the bridge and out towards the lake, presumably to roost for the night. We could have chased it, but with the light fading we decided not to bother. We had checked this location earlier and obviously saw no signs of this bird so I expect it was hanging out somewhere downstream al ong the river.
Good birding, Karl & WIlliam Konze Guelph, Ontario Directions - Mather Park - (thanks to Brandon Holden and Marcie Jacklin): Follow the QEW towards Buffalo,USA.Take the Central Ave Exit (last exit before the USA. Turn right on CentralAve, then right onto Lakeshore Rd. Park in the lot across from the Old FortErie historic site. Catherine St. Parking Area is at the extreme east end of Catherine St. in Fort Erie. _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
