Ontbirders: Determined to add the Slaty-backed Gull to my year's list, I "parked" myself at pull off near the Control Gates in Niagara at 12:15 p.m. today. I set up my scope and scoured this section of the river for hours. Birders came and went. Finally at 3:35 p.m. I spotted the Slaty-backed Gull near the edge of the flat island of rock in the middle of the river below the control gates where it was seen yesterday afternoon. Jim Thompson (who had arrived around 3:00) and I watched the gull for about 20 min., during which time it stretched its wings out several times displaying the "string of pearls" pattern.
Around 4:00 p.m. a group of birders including Willie D'Anna, Betsy Potter, Jean Iron, and Tom Thomas arrived and we all watched the bird until 4:30 p.m. Light was fading and the bird had tucked its head in so we left the Slaty-back to, presumably, roost in that location. Good birding Barb Charlton _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
