Niagara: Birding the Gorge

This past weekend was my annual trip to Niagara Falls.  Weather was OK Saturday, but then went downhill.  A carbon-copy of last year!  One had to persevere in the pouring rain and wind on Sunday, as there were lots of gulls to look at.
The sun was starting to come out Saturday morning as I arrived at NOTL about 08:30.  There was not much activity there, but a number of gulls were on the lake in the wind and a few Horned Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe, and several ducks.  A nice raft of White-winged Scoters drifted downriver.  The only loon of the trip was a distant Common.  Normally one would see a Red-throated or two there.

Paul Carter arrived and our next stop was Queenston boat launch.  Here was an amazing concentration of gulls.  But, nothing unusual!  Almost without fail each year you can get Little Gull here, but no.  In fact, the talk of the weekend among gullers was the absence of Little Gulls.  I have found that they are quite scarce this year for some reason.

View from the boat ramp

The next logical stop was the lookout over Queenston.  Vultures were seen in the distance and a couple, unidentifiable were perched in trees.  While we were scanning, Jean Iron and Ron Tozer arrived along with Mike Nelson and Maris Apse.  We saw several vultures and were able to pick out 3 Black Vultures in the distance.
On to the famous Adam Beck overlook.....
A number of familiar faces were there including Marianne and Aaron Balkwill who were overlooking the bonanza of gulls.
Several Kumlien's Iceland Gulls were present in various ages as well as a Thayer's and a few Lesser Black-backed.
A brief stop at the north side of the Whirlpool revealed spectacular scenery, but very few gulls.

I then headed north of the falls to look out there.  Countless gulls to go through!  It was nice to see that many gulls, but again nothing rare.  Several Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present as they normally are at this location.
At one point I heard a flock of White-winged Crossbills fly over, to add to the day's list.

"The barge"  (been there since 1918!)

My next stop was the breakwall and control structure farther upriver.  Another Lesser Black-backed or two and one that probably was a hybrid Herring X Lesser Black-backed.  Lots of gulls there too, anyway!
I then walked back downriver and met up with Tozer and Iron, Apse and Nelson. Others came along too.

We looked hard for the Black-headed Gull, but to no avail.  At one point Mark Cranford and Jean Iron had a very brief look at a Black-legged Kittiwake.  Where did it go?  We looked and looked and it was never seen again!  It probably went into the gorge.

No Kittiwake!

I then headed back to Adam Beck.  On the way, I checked into the Hampton Inn.  Quite a few OFO members were staying there.  I like the location and they have an excellent breakfast!
At Adam Beck overlook, probably half a dozen Iceland Gulls were present, but no Glaucous.  At one point Willie D'Anna picked out a "Nelson's" Gull.  An interesting bird to look at.  It was a bit darker overall than the one we had at Point Edward a month ago.

Sunday was a soaker.  I started at Adam Beck with the OFO group where the same birds from the previous day were seen.
I then went above the falls on my own.  I tried hard to pick out something different, and at one point I believe  I had the Black-headed Gull.  It was very brief though.  No Purple Sandpiper either!  I would have settled for a Dunlin at that point.  There sure were a lot of birds to sort through. Probably the most gulls I have seen there.
More familiar faces came along and I had a nice conversation with Hugh Currie.
I took one more look at the control gates area and for a second I thought I was at Rondeau when I saw a familiar face in the form of Steve Laforest, leading a group of birders!
After picking out more Lesser Black-backed and a possible Herring X Great Black-backed, I had enough by noon.  I was soaked and decided to work my way home.

West of London I took a leisurely drive along highway 2 stopping at few spots. One was the old golf course at Wardsville.  It was recently acquired by the Thames Talbot Trust and has reverted back to natural state.  It is a place to check in the future...

Niagara Birding

 A Row of Glaucous Gulls! 

This is the time of year birders flock to the Niagara River to look at gulls, waterfowl and any other birds of note.  Some excellent birds have been reported there this year, including the Razorbill at the mouth of the river, and the Black Vultures near Queenston.  They were once again reported today, and hopefully will be present for the weekend.

I plan on heading up there after a few year's absence!  I used to go every year, but have held off in recent times.  I first went  back in the 1990's to join field trips led by Martin Parker.  By doing that, I got a feel for the river and what to expect.  Certain spots are good vantage points for gulls and other birds.

A good starting point is the mouth of the river at Niagara-on-the-Lake at the park there.  It is an excellent spot to see grebes and loons and perhaps a Razorbill!
Other points include the Queenston docks where you can get right down to river level.  A little ways upriver, the Adam Beck overlook is a famous spot to see many species of gulls, including the annual California Gull.

Upriver from that, if you want to get warm and take a break, go into the Butterfly Conservatory.

The Whirlpool area is a good spot to look down on the gulls for species such as Black-legged Kittiwake.  I once saw a Franklin's Gull here.
There are various spots to look on the river, but above the falls you can look for other gulls and ducks.  Here you can also look for Purple Sandpiper on the slimy rocks.  I have not heard of any reports yet this year, but some should be there by now.
Beside the Enginerium building is a good outlook spot.  Keep your eyes open for other birds.  Back in 1995 I found a Yellow Warbler in the trees there that was apparently record late at the time.

Along the way, you meet other birders and you can exchange information as to what has been seen.  I always meet people I know, so that is helpful.
Weather looks fairly warm this weekend, unusual for this time of year.  I found it was always cold and windy almost every time I went in the past.
It is a long, crappy drive to get there, and perhaps that is why I do not go as often as I used to, but it should be an interesting weekend.  I know I will probably meet at least one birder there who reads this blog!

Brrrrr!