Hi there, I found an adult Black-legged Kittiwake in the late afternoon at Leamington Marina. I was about 100 feet into a walk and of the hundreds of gulls all over the marina, this one was close enough to identify without binoculars! It looked comfy sitting on the water so I hurried back to my car to grab my camera. About one minute later I kissed goodbye my close-up photo op as I noticed it flying overhead toward Seacliff Beach. I got a few record shots as it flew away then searched around a bit but did not refind it.
Hopefully it just went to feed on the lake and will be back tomorrow. Pretty amazing timing to have noticed it like that just before it flew away, though it is of course disappointing that I had my camera and popcorn for chumming gulls in the car nearby! I think this may be the only Black-legged Kittiwake sighting in Essex County and Point Pelee area this year, and adult plumage is exceptionally rare in this area. Leamington Marina (ferry dock parking lot) is at the south end of Erie St in Leamington, Essex County. If not specifically for the Kittiwake, this is a great spot to look for gulls as there are usually at least a few hundred here. Jeremy Bensette Point Pelee and Essex County area guiding - Please contact me if interested in booking _______________________________________________ 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
