Yesterday, Bob Spahn and I led the Buffalo Ornithological Society - Rochester Birding Association annual Niagara River field trip. Around 30 participants began the day at Fort Niagara S.P. at the mouth of the river, where Tom O'Donnell had arranged access into the Fort grounds. Here, out over and on the lake, the group had several RED-THROATED and a few COMMON LOONS, as well as LONG-TAILED DUCKS, RED-BREASTED MERGS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and BUFFLEHEAD. We looked through the few dozen BONAPARTE'S GULLS and had one LITTLE GULL that came in off the lake and flew straight upriver, allowing about the half group to see it.
The next stop was at Lewiston, where we had two adult LITTLE GULLS. While crossing the Lewiston-Queenston bridge, just after clearing Canadian Customs, the lead car had a white crow with a black face, cawing atop a light standard! There have been one or two white crows in this area for a couple of years. These birds are sometimes seen at the Adam Beck overlook, across from the Robert Moses power dam. Speaking of which, that was our first stop on the Ontario side of the river. And it was quite good with a couple of ICELAND GULLS and an adult THAYER'S GULL. The latter bird was flying and feeding and it was gratifying that most or all of the group got on this tough bird to ID. Also here were two LESSER BLACK-BECKED GULLS and one adult NELSON'S GULL (Herring-Glaucous hybrid), a life hybrid for many. The group then checked the roosting rocks about 1/4 mile upriver for the California Gull, which had just been seen there. Timing is everything however, and we were a little too late, as the bird had flown. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL there was small consolation. As far as I know, noone reported seeing the Black-headed Gull this day, which had been seen at the power dam several days this week and as recently as Friday. >From here it was on to the Whirlpool (where the aero cable car is). There were lots of BONAPARTE'S GULLS here but no Black-headed nor even a Litte Gull. So, after a brief pit-stop at Tim Hortons, it was on to the falls. First stop, just downriver from the control gates. The highlight here was another hybrid, this one a probable adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED X HERRING GULL. Also here were a few more LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and a juvenile ICELAND GULL. One of our group may have had a Glaucous Gull but the bird slipped away before others could get on it. An adult and a juvenile Glaucous were previously reported in the area. The final stop was behind the gatehouse, where we added a few more LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and another ICELAND GULL, but no Purple Sandpiper, which still has not been reported this season. In addition to the gulls, there was an abundance of waterfowl in the falls area, with COMMON GOLDENEYES, HOODED MERGS, BUFFLEHEADS, CANVASBACK, SCAUP, GADWALLS, AMERICAN WIGEONS, MALLARDS, BLACK DUCKS, and CANADA GEESE, all in numbers. In summary, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of gulls and abundace of waterfowl already on the river and it was great to be able to share the bounty with such an enthusiastic group. Thanks to Bob Spahn for co-leading the trip, as he has done for many years. Thanks also to Bill Watson and Kim Sucy for organizing the trip and changing the date to the leader's preference and to Tom O'Donnell for arranging access to Fort Niagara. Tom and Kayo Roy also provided helpful information about crossing the Lewiston-Queenston bridge, which is not the one I typically use. Good birding! Willie ---------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
