[Ontbirds]Niagara River - California Gull

[Marcia Jacklin]

Hi

While on our way to view the female Harlequin Duck today we stopped at the pull off about 2 km above the falls, below the control gates. We saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Then I noticed a dark mantled gull flying inbetween the breakwall and the rocks. It would float on the current and then fly back upstream again. It was an adult bird, noticably smaller and with a slightly darker mantle than the nearby Herrings Gulls. It landed briefly on the rocks but was partially blocked by a Canada Goose. The legs appeared to be a yellowish-pinky colour. I could see a bit of white on the black wingtips. The iris appeared to be dark and I noticed a flash of red on the bill.

all the best
Marcie Jacklin
Fort Erie