Burke Korol and I, and several U.S. birders, observed the Slaty-backed
Gull today. It was not visible from the Canadian side of the river. The
bird was in a roosting flock on the rock/ice immediately upstream from
Three Sisters Island, seen from Goat Island. It flushed once (with the
whole flock) when a helicopter flew overhead but was otherwise roosting
the whole time we were there, from about 11 AM until 2 PM. At one point
it got up, walked a few steps, then settled down again. We noted the
Herring Gull size, dark mantle, heavily streaked head much like several
Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the area, and very wide white band at the
ends of the folded secondaries forming a wide white "crescent"; pink
legs/feet were seen as it alighted after the helicopter passed by and as
it walked a few steps later on. Also present were one adult (Kumlein's)
and one first winter Iceland Gull, one first winter Glaucous Gull, one
adult Thayer's Gull, and at least one Fish Crow.
Goat Island can be reached by crossing the Rainbow Bridge (valid
passport required), taking the second right onto Rainbow Blvd, then
right several blocks later at the first roundabout onto 1st Street which
takes you over to Goat Island. Follow the one-way road around to the
parking lot just past the [closed for the winter] path over to Three
Sisters Island.
--
Chris Escott
151 Burbank Drive, Toronto M2K 1N9
+1 416-788-8055
.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
Posting guidelines can be found at
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
