[Ontbirds]WNY Dial-a-Bird 31 Jan 2008

[dfsuggs at localnet.com]

- RBA
* New York
* Buffalo
* 01/31/2008
* NYBU0801.31
- Birds mentioned

- Please phone in rare sightings                                        
       - for update system. Submit email
- directly to dfsuggs localnet com

  ROSS'S GULL
  Harlequin Duck
  Bald Eagle
  Little Gull
  Thayer's Gull
  Iceland Gull
  L. Black-b. Gull
  Glaucous Gull
  Black-leg. Kittiwake
  Carolina Wren
  Northern Mockingbird

- Transcript
  Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science
  Date:             01/31/2008
  Number:           716-896-1271
  To Report:        Same
  Compiler:         David F. Suggs (dfsuggs at localnet com)
  Coverage:         Western New York and adjacent Ontario
  Website:          www.BOSBirding.org

  Thursday, January 31, 2008

  Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of  Science 
and this answering system was donated by the Buffalo  Ornithological 
Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3)  for updates, meeting and 
field trip information and (4) for  instructions on how to report 
sightings and use this system.  To contact the Science Museum, call 
896-5200.

  ROSS'S GULL was the undisputed highlight of reports received  January 
24 through January 31 from the Niagara Frontier  Region.

  January 27, an adult ROSS'S GULL was discovered above  Niagara Falls. 
It has been seen daily from both the Ontario  and New York State sides 
of the falls. Ontario views have  been from the Engineerium building, 
and some outstanding  views from Goat Island on the New York side. The 
gull has  been seen at the brink of the Canadian Falls, the base of  
the American Falls, flying about the stranded barge, resting  off the 3 
Sisters Islands and on the blacktop of the Goat  Island upriver parking 
lot with RING-BILLED GULLS.

  Extreme winds and frigid temperatures on January 30 raised  Lake Erie 
water levels and filled the Niagara River with  packed ice floes. In 
spite of, or due to, the sudden arctic  conditions, the ROSS'S GULL was 
still at the falls on  January 31. This is a species from the Arctic 
Circle, and  has been recorded in the BOS region about three times,  
including Niagara Falls and Port Weller, Ontario. The ROSS'S  GULL is 
one of the most sought after species in North  America.

  Also at Niagara Falls, a female HARLEQUIN DUCK continues off  the 
Engineerium building, and at least ten other gulls  species have been 
reported including LITTLE GULL, THAYER'S  GULL, ICELAND GULL, L. 
BLACK-B. GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL and  BLACK-LEG. KITTIWAKE. On the upper 
Niagara River, a  spectacle of thousands of waterfowl and gulls re-
  distributing as ice fills the previously open waters. And a  NORTHERN 
MOCKINGBIRD at the boat launch at the foot of  Sheridan Drive in 
Tonawanda.

  Other reports this week - In the Iroquois Refuge, BALD EAGLE  pairs 
interacting at the nests at Cayuga Pool and Mohawk  Pool. And in the 
Wyoming County Town of Arcade, a CAROLINA  WREN at a feeder.

  Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, February 7.  Please 
call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may  report sightings 
after the tone. Thank you for calling and  reporting to Dial-a-Bird.

- End Transcript