Steve Daniel, Dean DiTommaso, and I birded the river yesterday from the Queenston boat ramp below the escarpment to the control gates near Chippewa. Despite relatively low numbers of large gulls, it was one of the best days this season for gull diversity with ten species seen. Juvenile gull numbers remain very low. For example, I have yet to see a juvenile Iceland Gull this season. Juvenile Herring Gulls tend to arrive later than adults on the river and with the mild open conditions, many are likely still on lakes like Lake Simcoe further north. Great Black-backed Gull numbers remain very low also, possibly due to continuing Type E botulism on the Great Lakes. Numbers of the latter species have been comparable to those of Lesser Black-backed lately.
Glaucous Gull - three above the falls Iceland Gull - about nine between the Adam Beck overlook and above the falls Lesser Black-backed Gull - one at Adam Beck and five or more above the falls THAYER'S GULL - relatively scarce this season, we had one adult above the stranded barge that's above the falls Little Gull - one adult feeding by the roosting rocks, a quarter-mile upriver from the power plants and another adult downriver from the Queenston boat ramp. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE - the juvenile that has been reported below the Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls for ten days or so remains Bonaparte's Gull - abundant Herring Gull - abundant but relatively low numbers Ring-billed Gull - common Great Black-backed Gull - less than ten The immature male HARLEQUIN DUCK remains downriver from the Adam Beck overlook, hugging the NY shoreline. The HARLEQUIN DUCKS that have been present for a few weeks above and beyond the barge also remain. We saw three, including an adult male. These birds can be difficult to see from the Ontario side, especially if the water level is high. If lighting is favorable (overcast), viewing from Goat Island on the NY side usually provides a better opportunity. At least one of the BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS remains at the Dufferin Islands Natural Area. While driving up the escarpment from lower Queenston, we had a kettle of BLACK VULTURES. We pulled over at a pull-off and then found a COMMON RAVEN harassing a TURKEY VULTURE. Three BLACK VULTURES then flew close by us at eye-level. Directions to any of these sites are available upon request. 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/ Odonates: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/sets/72157653377711578 _______________________________________________ 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
