[Ontbirds]Niagara Birding on Saturday Dec 1

[Hugh Currie]

    Spent the day birding with Bruce Falls at Niagara.  Hoping to add a few species to our year lists. In view of  the dreadful weather forecast for Sunday's OFO outing we thought some up-to-date information would help people make their decisions. 
We started at Fruitland Rd. where the strong north wind made viewing difficult. Although Jean Iron had seen both a male and a female King Eider there on Wednesday, we saw no eiders.
Next we went to Fort Erie where we studied the Bonaparte's Gulls along with Jean Iron and Ron Tozer. Jean told us there were only 10% the number of Boneys compared to Friday and we saw no Black-headed or Little Gulls. We headed north seeing Tundra Swans alomg the river.  (Apparently the Titmice and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were there at the feeders on Peter St in Chippawa)
Then it was the rocks above the falls where we saw two Glaucous a few Lesser Black-backs but none of the hoped-for Purple Sandpipers.  (Nor had Ron or Jean).
We went on to Adam Beck where we saw a few Iceland Gulls but still none of the species we had been hoping for. 
Here though our luck changed when we learned of a Northern Hawk-Owl at Port Weller. We saw this bird at 4:30 at the yellow gate at the base of the east side.  


       
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