This morning I birded the Port Dalhousie pier which juts out into Lake Ontario in St Catharines, Niagara Region. The pier has been hosting over a thousand gulls and hundreds of terns this summer, while shorebird diversity has also been good. Today I counted 17 Little Gulls which I believe is a high count for this summer at the pier. Most were 1st summer (2nd calendar year) birds, though a couple of adults were also present. Bonaparte's Gull numbers have increased and today approximately 240 individuals were present, including quite a few juveniles. Most of the Little Gulls were near each other near the end of the east pier with a couple additional birds mixed in with the Bonaparte's Gulls on both piers. A first summer Forster's Tern was resting with Common Terns on the west pier; presumably it is one of the two individuals that have been present since at least July 18. Ten species of shorebirds have been reported on the piers this summer as well. It's definitely a location worth chec king if you are in the area.
Take the QEW east into Niagara Region, and exit at Ontario Street/Regional Road 42 (exit 47). Turn left, cross over the highway and continue heading north. Turn left on Lighthouse Road and follow to the end. Park in the parking lot for the marina, and walk to the base of the east pier where both piers can be easily scoped. Good birding, Josh Vandermeulen joshvandermeulen.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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
