[nysbirds-l] Niagara River - Sunday - Kittiwake, Black-headed, others

2020-01-05 Thread Willie D'Anna 
The gulls on the Niagara River continue to impress. It is the best that I
have seen it in a few years. The adult BLACK-HEADED GULL continues at the
Whirlpool and, although the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKEs were not seen there when
we were there in the morning, Tom Kerr reported one there at 4:00, quite
late! We also did the flypast at Nelson Park at Niagara-on-the-Lake and had
the KITTIWAKE at 4:30 and the BLACK-HEADED GULL some time before that. We
also had an impressive 16 LITTLE GULLS at the flypast and about 5300
Bonaparte's Gulls. Interestingly, the Little Gulls all came early, before
4:00. One was in first-winter plumage, the rest adults. The lighting at the
flypast from 3:30 to 4:45 or so was ideal - bright overcast. Plus, the
Bonaparte's Gulls came early enough that there was still plenty of light to
appreciate their beauty and pick out the rarities. Most also came through
low over the water, which is the ideal way to see them. Certainly, one of
the nicest flypasts that I have ever experienced, though I have had much
higher numbers. I wish I could say it was always like this but it is quite
changeable, due to unknown factors.

 

Large gull-watching on the river has also been a lot of fun lately with
numerous ICELAND GULLS at several spots, four GLAUCOUS GULLS above the
falls, and a handful of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS above the falls, including
two in first-winter plumage (perhaps still with a juvenile scapular or two).
We also had the Thayer's form of Iceland Gull above the falls. Ten species
of gulls plus Thayer's - not bad! There were few Bonaparte's Gulls above the
falls and we did not make it to the gorge below the falls but the Whirlpool
and lower Lewiston-Queenston were absolutely loaded with Bonies. We were
unsure of how many Little Gulls we had at Queenston and recorded what we
felt was a fairly accurate and perhaps slightly conservative seven. We did
not see any Little Gulls at the Whirlpool. We did not see the Harlequin Duck
today.

 

Our group of eight were Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway, Kevin McLaughlin, Declan
Troy, Ross Harris, Celeste Morien, Betsy Potter, and myself.

 

Good birding!

Willie

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Willie D'Anna

Wilson, NY

dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom

 


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[nysbirds-l] Niagara River - Sunday - 10 Species of Gulls

2012-11-25 Thread Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter 
I had a report from Thursday that there were very few gulls on the Niagara
River.  This morning, however, Betsy and I arrived at the Adam Beck overlook
in Ontario (the power plants) to find an astounding number of gulls, mostly
Herrings but lots of Ring-billeds also, and a handful of Bonaparte’s.  No
Great Black-backed Gulls here but a first-year was on the roosting rocks.
Between here and the roosting rocks about ½ km upriver, we had 8-9 ICELAND
GULLS, 7 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, one adult GLAUCOUS GULL, one adult, one
third-winter, and a reported first year THAYER’S GULL.  The third year
THAYER’S was interesting, appearing to have a retarded plumage, with lots of
black in the tail and brown in the wings, like a second-winter.  However, it
had mirrors on the outer primaries, which I clearly saw in my scope.  The
second-year FRANKLIN’S GULL was seen in the right-hand corner as you look
down from the Adam Beck overlook.  Mostly, however, it was seen at the
roosting rocks.  A TURKEY VULTURE was flying deep into the gorge here and
later, either it or another landed on the NY shore to eat a fish.

 

At the boat ramp in lower Queenston, the Bonaparte’s Gulls were largely
replaced by large gulls, including three ICELAND, one LESSER BLACK-BACKED,
and one adult THAYER’S GULL.  An adult LITTLE GULL was reported from the
Whirlpool Aero Car overlook, flying upriver.  There were lots of BONAPARTE’S
GULLS here and good numbers above Niagara Falls.  However, we were unable to
pick out a Little Gull ourselves.  There were many large gulls above the
falls including six or seven LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS from the control
gates.  There were also a number of GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS here but many
fewer than in past years, presumably due to Type E botulism.  We headed home
after that so hopefully others will report what they had a little further
downriver closer to the falls.

 

Upriver from the control gates there were about 35 TUNDRA SWANS and an adult
BALD EAGLE that was perched on a snag stuck on the river bottom.  Many
diving ducks were over close to the NY side.

 

As good as today was, I had the feeling it could have been a lot better.
Lake-effect snow drastically reduced visibility much of the time.

 

Good birding!

Willie

--

Willie D'Anna

Betsy Potter

Wilson, NY

dannapotterATroadrunner.com

http://www.betsypottersart.com  

 


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[nysbirds-l] Niagara River sunday

2010-01-10 Thread Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter 
A lot of people out today but no sightings of the California Gull, Mew Gull,
or presumed Common Gull.  An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen in
Lewiston-Queenston by a few lucky people.  This bird was seen opposite the
Lewiston boat ramp and much further downriver from the Canadian side resting
in huge flotillas of Bonaparte's Gulls.  Numbers of large gulls were reduced
from the immense numbers of last weekend but still pretty good.  Ice is
starting to flow down the river, which may further reduce the numbers of
gulls.

Good birding!
Willie

Willie D'Anna
Betsy Potter
Wilson, NY
dannapotterATroadrunner.com
http://www.betsypottersart.com



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