Hi Ontbirders, After a 7 hour drive due to icy road conditions, we finally arrived in the Niagara Region. Our first stop was at the feeders in Chippawa on Thomas Street. After a few minutes we observed 1 Tufted Titmouse and 3 Pine Siskin. Our next stop was above the falls, just below control gates, we observed 2 ad. Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. Farther down the river at our next stop, Sir Adam Beck, we observed 1 ad. Iceland (Kumlien's) Gull. Our final stop, at Niagara-on-the-Lake, we arrived at 4:25p.m. for the Bonaparte's Gull flyby. Just as we pulled in to the viewing area, our first small gull was an ad. winter plumage Little Gull. Over the next 45 minutes, we counted 1500 individuals. Then out of of the blue, a mass of Bonaparte's Gull came down the river with an estimated 6500 individuals. the total for the flyby was 8825 Bonaparte's Gull and 1 Little Gull. Good Birding, Bruce and Ben
Direction (Courtesy of Willie D'anna): All of these spots are within about a six mile stretch of the Niagara River on the Canadian side, from the control gates near Chippewa (an obvious structure that sticks well out into the river with a pull-off on the downriver side where one can see lots of gulls - but it was windy here today) to the Adam Beck overlook, which is on the south side of the Ontario Hydro power plant and directly across from the NY Robert Moses Power Plant. All places can be accessed from River Road (also known as the Niagara Parkway). Directions To Bonaparte's Flyby: Follow River Road (Niagara Parkway) to Niagara-on-the-Lake, turn right onto Ricardo St. Follow Ricardo St. to the Marina in NOTL and turn right onto Melville St. Follow Melville St. to the river. Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www.dilabiobirding.ca http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O. Box 538 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0 Office 613-839-4395 Mobile 613-715-2571 _______________________________________________ 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/
