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[Ontbirds] Niagara River - Gulls

T
Tigger64@aol.com
Mon, Jan 4, 2010 1:55 AM

Highlights of the last few days:

1-3 pm Saturday and 2-4 pm Sunday I looked for the Mew Gull on  the
roosting rocks as seen from Devil's Hole SP on the NY side.  Neither the Mew Gull
or California Gull was seen either day.  The presumed  Herring x LeBB Gull
hybrid was back.  Also:

2nd-winter THAYER'S GULL
several 1st- & 2nd-winter ICELAND GULL
2nd-winter and several adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
a different LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL that seems to be a mix of 1st,  2nd,
and 3rd-winter traits such as a blackish mantle and wings but still is
heavily and darkly streaked below (I wasn't really sure what age or plumage it
was or what was up with it, but the size of the bird seemed proper for  LeBB)

The bird thought to be a Herring x LeBB is an adult that superficially
resembles the 3rd-winter California.  The back color is very similar and
markings on the head are similar between the two, but the hybrid bird is  larger
and has a light eye and pinkish-peach legs.

Down at the Peace Bridge area off Fort Erie/Squaw Island on Sunday ~2000
Bonaparte's Gulls and 1 Little Gull were feeding in the first 1/2 mile  north
of the bridge, mostly on the NY side.  At 4:45pm every Bonaparte in  sight
joined into a huge swirling mass and went to roost very  close to the
Ontario side 1/2 km north of Nichol's Marina.

On Friday, Dave Gordon and I went to Dunkirk (NY) and enjoyed the  American
Avocet (but otherwise things there seem to have become very  static).

On Thursday Jim Pawlicki and I estimated 4000 Bonaparte's Gulls and 2-3
Little Gulls at Lewiston/Queenston.  We also had awesome, extended looks at
the leucistic-but-very-white Bonaparte's Gull in the gorge as seen from
Artpark in Lewiston.  Jim and I also watched the flyby from Fort Niagara SP  and
counted 9980 Bonaparte's Gulls and 3 Little Gulls plus the leucistic  Bonie.

Hopefully the Mew Gull will be relocated, as observing conditions  have
been.........challenging.  Some of the Ring-bills on the roosting  rocks have
also been hunkering in so close to shore that viewing from the NY  side is
obstructed by trees.

Dave W.
Buffalo

Highlights of the last few days: 1-3 pm Saturday and 2-4 pm Sunday I looked for the Mew Gull on the roosting rocks as seen from Devil's Hole SP on the NY side. Neither the Mew Gull or California Gull was seen either day. The presumed Herring x LeBB Gull hybrid was back. Also: 2nd-winter THAYER'S GULL several 1st- & 2nd-winter ICELAND GULL 2nd-winter and several adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL a different LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL that seems to be a mix of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-winter traits such as a blackish mantle and wings but still is heavily and darkly streaked below (I wasn't really sure what age or plumage it was or what was up with it, but the size of the bird seemed proper for LeBB) The bird thought to be a Herring x LeBB is an adult that superficially resembles the 3rd-winter California. The back color is very similar and markings on the head are similar between the two, but the hybrid bird is larger and has a light eye and pinkish-peach legs. Down at the Peace Bridge area off Fort Erie/Squaw Island on Sunday ~2000 Bonaparte's Gulls and 1 Little Gull were feeding in the first 1/2 mile north of the bridge, mostly on the NY side. At 4:45pm every Bonaparte in sight joined into a huge swirling mass and went to roost very close to the Ontario side 1/2 km north of Nichol's Marina. On Friday, Dave Gordon and I went to Dunkirk (NY) and enjoyed the American Avocet (but otherwise things there seem to have become very static). On Thursday Jim Pawlicki and I estimated 4000 Bonaparte's Gulls and 2-3 Little Gulls at Lewiston/Queenston. We also had awesome, extended looks at the leucistic-but-very-white Bonaparte's Gull in the gorge as seen from Artpark in Lewiston. Jim and I also watched the flyby from Fort Niagara SP and counted 9980 Bonaparte's Gulls and 3 Little Gulls plus the leucistic Bonie. Hopefully the Mew Gull will be relocated, as observing conditions have been.........challenging. Some of the Ring-bills on the roosting rocks have also been hunkering in so close to shore that viewing from the NY side is obstructed by trees. Dave W. Buffalo