Spent some time checking out the gulls off Ira Needles (between University and Victoria). Boardwalk Plaza at University is hit or miss of late, having employed some professional gull harassment services. Consequently, the pond at Victoria was well stocked.
3 Glaucous Gulls (2 adult, 1 suspected first winter/summer bird looking very white overall but still featuring a fading bicolored (pink/black) bill) 8 Kumlien's Iceland Gulls (2 adult, 6 1st winter). Most showing signs of heavy moult now. 1 adult Thayers (1 possible additional younger bird which I need to study) 1 2nd year lesser black backed gull. I wonder how much longer they will stick around? Larger than usual clouds of gulls over the dump proper, no doubt holding many additional gulls of interest. 6 red-tailed hawks was more than usual. Could not find any Great Black-backed from a distance. Overall, perhaps 1000-1200 gulls is my estimate, predominantly Herring Gulls. Cheers, Peeter Musta [email protected] Mustap.smugmug.com Kitchener, ON Sent from my iPod _______________________________________________ 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/
