Highlights of the last few days: 1-3 pm Saturday and 2-4 pm Sunday I looked for the Mew Gull on the roosting rocks as seen from Devil's Hole SP on the NY side. Neither the Mew Gull or California Gull was seen either day. The presumed Herring x LeBB Gull hybrid was back. Also: 2nd-winter THAYER'S GULL several 1st- & 2nd-winter ICELAND GULL 2nd-winter and several adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL a different LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL that seems to be a mix of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-winter traits such as a blackish mantle and wings but still is heavily and darkly streaked below (I wasn't really sure what age or plumage it was or what was up with it, but the size of the bird seemed proper for LeBB) The bird thought to be a Herring x LeBB is an adult that superficially resembles the 3rd-winter California. The back color is very similar and markings on the head are similar between the two, but the hybrid bird is larger and has a light eye and pinkish-peach legs. Down at the Peace Bridge area off Fort Erie/Squaw Island on Sunday ~2000 Bonaparte's Gulls and 1 Little Gull were feeding in the first 1/2 mile north of the bridge, mostly on the NY side. At 4:45pm every Bonaparte in sight joined into a huge swirling mass and went to roost very close to the Ontario side 1/2 km north of Nichol's Marina. On Friday, Dave Gordon and I went to Dunkirk (NY) and enjoyed the American Avocet (but otherwise things there seem to have become very static). On Thursday Jim Pawlicki and I estimated 4000 Bonaparte's Gulls and 2-3 Little Gulls at Lewiston/Queenston. We also had awesome, extended looks at the leucistic-but-very-white Bonaparte's Gull in the gorge as seen from Artpark in Lewiston. Jim and I also watched the flyby from Fort Niagara SP and counted 9980 Bonaparte's Gulls and 3 Little Gulls plus the leucistic Bonie. Hopefully the Mew Gull will be relocated, as observing conditions have been.........challenging. Some of the Ring-bills on the roosting rocks have also been hunkering in so close to shore that viewing from the NY side is obstructed by trees. Dave W. Buffalo
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