Took a quick run down to the source of the Niagara River in Buffalo (US) this afternoon. The highlight was a juv. NORTHERN GANNET which I picked up about mid-river from Squaw Island just south of the Int. Railroad Bridge close to the seawall where the Sabine's Gull was frequenting a few weeks ago. As I picked it up, it was already heading south towards Lake Erie after which it gained some height and passed over the Peace Bridge being mobbed by a Herring Gull in the process. After crossing over the bridge into Lake Erie I lost it as it headed in a SSE direction towards the Bird Island Pier/Lasalle Park on the US side. Afterwards I went over the south end of the island where I had some nice looks at an adult LITTLE GULL which was foraging amongst a dozen or so Bonaparte's in the seawall indentation of the island where the Sabine's was originally found. It then broke off and crossed the river to join the Bonaparte's in Fort Erie. A quick walk out to the end of the Bird Island Pier in the misting rain turned up a flock of about 40 SCOTERS split halfway between Surf and White-winged and all of which were in 1st-winter plumage. Also around were several hundred Bufflehead, 25 Lesser Scaup, 20 American Coots, and a few Red-breasted Mergansers. Out in the rocks at the end of the pier were 2 SNOW BUNTINGS and a juv. DUNLIN. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY **************Get the Moviefone Toolbar. Showtimes, theaters, movie news & more!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212774565x1200812037/aol?redir=htt p://toolbar.aol.com/moviefone/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000001) _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
