At 3:30pm today, I saw a large and chunky pure white gull swimming past Thicksons Point from east to west about 50 meters from shore, at its closest point. As it passed through a small raft of Black Ducks, I noticed it was slightly larger than they were. The entire bird from head to tail, primaries and back, was unmottled. The beak was a pale pink and had a black tip, and the eyes appeared dark.
I also saw another white gull farther off shore but I was only using binos, so only got a decent view of the one closer bird. In discussion with others via email, the loose theory is of one albino Herring and one first basic Kumlien's Iceland Gull that had been seen there earlier. I am not very good with gulls, so I am posting this in the hope that someone more experienced than I (who doesn't mind freezing out there!) might be able to refind the bird(s). Also seen: Greater Scaup, Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, American Widgeon, (Eurasian not seen), Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Black Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan, CAGO. DIRECTIONS, Thicksons Point >From the 401 at Whitby, take Thickson Road south all the way to the end - a >small parking area/turn around. Do NOT drive into the private enclave on the >left. Walk down the paved waterfront trail about 150 meters west, and turning >to the lake at the blue sign, carefully follow the (possibly muddy) path to >the cliffs overlooking the lake. Continue from there, turning right to >Thicksons Point, 200m west, taking care with your footing. The birds may yet >be anywhere in this bay area. Keith Linton Orono, ON _______________________________________________ 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/
