[Ontbirds]Arctic Gulls in Cobourg Harbour

[Doug McRae]

Hello everyone,

I stopped in at Cobourg Harbour late this afternoon (Dec. 21) and was  
impressed by the gull show.  Among the 1500-2000 Herring, 30 GBB, and  
100 Ring-billed present, there were also 3 adult Thayer's Gulls (the  
most I have ever seen in Ont. in a day), plus one sub-adult bird that  
is either a Thayer's or an Iceland (not quite right for either).    
Also present were 7 Glaucous Gulls (2 ad., 4 1st winter, 1 2nd  
winter) and 9 Iceland's (4 ad, 3 1st winter, 2 2nd winter), plus 1  
1st winter Lesser Black-backed.  The Harbour is also full of Red- 
breasted and Common Mergs, with a few Hoodies, and lots of Long- 
tailed Ducks.  Most of these birds can be seen at close range and it  
really presents an excellent situation to study the infinite  
variation in big gulls.

Cheers,

Doug McRae

Doug McRae Nature Services
P.O. Box 3010
Brighton, Ontario
Canada K0K 1H0
613-475-5014
rdmcrae at sympatico.ca


Directions:  Cobourg Harbour is best reached by taking the Hwy. 45  
exit for Cobourg (the easternmost of the two exits) from Hwy. 40,  
then follow it south (it becomes Division St.) all the way to the  
lake.  At this point you will be on the east side of the Harbour.