The 3rd basic Slaty-backed Gull was seen at about 3:50 p.m. for about
ten minutes, both standing and in flight.
It was last seen on a tiny rock island, midriver, between the Canadian
shore and Goat Island.
It was observed from the Canadian side from a lower concrete platform
just before one ascends the second set of stairs to cross the catwalk
between two reservoirs.
Our American friends would do well to try viewing the gull from Goat
Island as this vantage point may offer a closer view and it may also
be present at times in American waters.
Good luck!
Alfred Adamo
Woodbridge
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Subject: [Ontbirds]OFO Gull Trip to Niagara River
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Ontbirders,
A large group of about 60 birders met at Sir Adam Beck lookout at
9:00 a.m. There we had excellent views of the adult California Gull,
an adult Thayer's Gull and several adult "Kumlien's" Iceland Gulls,
an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and an adult Little Gull. Some were
fortunate to see a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake. We next checked
the gorge below Niagara Falls where we narrowly missed two
Black-legged Kittiwakes seen by others, but saw an adult Little Gull
and another adult Thayer's Gull and an adult Lesser Black-backed
Gull. Above the Falls on a large boulder in the river were the two
Purple Sandpipers in first basic plumage. They life birds for many of
the group. About noon the Slaty-backed Gull in third basic plumage
was re-located on the concrete wall at Chippawa. It flew to the
middle of the river to feed, but returned briefly to the wall where
most of the group had great views through their scopes. The
Slaty-backed Gull was a lifer for most of the group. At
Niagara-on-the-Lake we could not find the Razorbill seen earlier in
the day, but had excellent views of an adult Red-throated Loon
molting into basic (winter) plumage still with some red on its
throat. We also saw two adult Little Gulls a few members of the group
saw a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake. Bonaparte's Gull numbers were
low at the fly-past. The trip ended about 4:30 p.m.
Totall of 11 gull species:
Little Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull (subspecies kumlieni)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Slaty-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
We had much help finding the Slaty-backed Gull and thank everyone who
came out for an exciting day of gull watching along the Niagara River.
Ron Tozer and Jean Iron
OFO Trip Leaders
Ontario Field Ornithologists
