Over 82 OFO members and friends enjoyed a day of good weather, gulls and other birds along the Niagara River today. Our main objective was to see gulls, and ten species were found. Most participants got to see all of them well.
We started at the Adam Beck Overlook where the following were noted: -California Gull: 1 adult -Thayer's Gull: 1 juvenile and 1 adult -Iceland Gull: at least 2 juveniles and 2 adults -Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 juveniles and 2 adults Next we visited the Whirlpool where we viewed: -Little Gull: 2 adults -Eastern Screech-Owl: 1 red morph roosting in a red cedar adjacent to the parking lot, spotted by the amazing eyes of Betsy Potter! This owl was the highlight of the day for many. At this point we split the group, with some heading to the Control Gates above the falls and others to Tim Horton's and Thomas Street in Chippawa. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at the Control Gates and there was a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Tufted Titmouse at Thomas Street. The groups joined up again and we proceeded to Dufferin Island where we parked and walked to look at the river above the falls. Here we observed: -Little Gull: 1 adult -Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 adults -Glaucous Gull: 1 juvenile -Tufted Titmouse: 1 Some participants then went on to Fort Erie to look at the Tundra Swans along the river and the Cackling Goose near the Peace Bridge. Others went back to Sir Adam Beck to look at the gulls there again. Trip leaders Willie D'Anna, Betsy Potter and Ron Tozer would like to thank everyone on today's trip for their enthusiasm and participation in locating birds. It was a great group effort. Willie D'Anna, Betsy Potter, and Ron Tozer, OFO Niagara River Trip Co-Leaders ---------------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
