A Balmy Gull Extravaganza

This weekend was the one I chose to head up to the Niagara River to check out the gulls and other birds.  It turned out to be an excellent time!  A good number of gulls were on the river...and birders too!  The weather was balmy--certainly the warmest I have experienced there for this time of year.  I met lots of familiar people and even three fellow Bloggers!
No photos, as I gave the camera a rest this weekend.  Birds were too distant to photograph anyway, but he scenery was nice.  Actually for a brief period this morning, there was a nice sunrise.
I left Wallaceburg at 05:30 Saturday morning to get an early start.  I was going to check on that suspicious pelican on the way to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but missed the turn somehow.  I got it on the way home this afternoon.
Upon arrival at the mouth of the Niagara River, Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway pulled into the parking lot in front of me, and others I knew were already there looking at the Razorbill.  This alcid was visible right away!  It was undoubtedly my target bird for the weekend, and the others were just nice to see.  It appears that this bird is likely a first year bird.
I followed other birders upriver including Mark Peck, Barb Charlton, Tyler Hoar et al to the Queenston docks. From there we could see two adult Little Gulls.
On the way to Adam Beck, we checked for roosting Black Vultures, but to no avail.  Turns out this was the only day there were not seen! (not surprising to me).  Today, Brandon Holden and Jenn Bock spotted 5 well over New York soil before lunch.
At Adam Beck yesterday, the Franklin's Gull was well seen, and later sitting on the "roosting rock" upriver.  We also had at least 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (one a 2nd cycle-not often seen), 2 Thayer's (1 adult, 1 first cycle), perhaps 4 Iceland plus the usuals.  Glaucous was absent, as it has not come in with numbers yet.
Very few Bonaparte's here, but lots at the roosting rocks and whirlpool

I heard that there was a Black-legged Kittiwake at the Whirlpool, so I went up there to find it.  Brad Carlson helped me find it swimming on the water.  There was also a first cycle Little Gull there.
At the Falls with the Mark Peck party, we only found a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  No Purples yet!
I spent the rest of the afternoon at Adam Beck and "apparently", left just a few minutes before the California Gull was spotted!  Oh well, you cannot be everywhere all the time.  I had to go eat supper, and if anyone knows me, I don't miss meals!  It was one that Barb Charlton was after, making an impressive 315 for her Ontario list this year.

Early this morning I started at the Whirlpool.  However, I checked the north side which is actually quite good for viewing gulls.  Birders less often go to the viewing spot it seems.  I saw hundreds of bonies, but nothing unusual.
I then spent some time at Adam Beck seeing all the usuals.  Bored with that, I headed down to NOTL to get another look at the Razorbill.  Brandon and Jenn were there among others.  Just before I left Queen's Royal Park, I spotted an adult Little Gull among the bonies.
Not done for the morning, I went back up to Adam Beck.  I walked up the trail to view the roosting rocks spot.  While I was there a Northern Mockingbird perched for quite some time, and a few Eastern Bluebirds were feeding on berries.  Also there was a Yellow-rumped Warbler (first one in quite some time!), and chickadees.
Back to Adam Beck, a bonus bird came upriver and worked the area.  A Pomarine Jaeger (juv)!  It is the first jaeger I have seen there.  Likely the same one seen downriver earlier.
Almost forgot to mention, I had some Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins flying over Adam Beck early this morning.  First redpolls I have encountered this fall!
By this time it was raining quite heavily, so I headed homeward.  I made a brief stop to see that pelican, then booked it home in the rainy, windy weather.  A long, crappy drive......!
Next weekend will likely be good as well since it is supposed to get colder this week.

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!

November Notes

It has been a long week it seems, but Friday is almost here.  We had more seasonable weather today (high of 1 degree C), but the SW winds are kicking in again tomorrow to drive up the temperature.  

We will try again at the "Tip" this weekend, as we are overdue for some decent birds!  With the strong SW winds, the odds are with us that something of note will appear.

Dunlin at Pelee's icy Tip in December

This is the time of year many check out the Niagara River for gulls and other birds.  A Razorbill has been at the mouth for some time now, and many of the usual gulls are being reported.  The old standby California Gull has already been reported at the Adam Beck overlook.

Adam Beck overlook in November

The days are too short this time of year for us working folk to do much birding during the weekdays.  I have a bit of time at the beginning of the day, but that is quickly fading as December approaches.  I check out Port Lambton's Brander Park and the St. Clair River there.  Monday was birdy, with perhaps 3 dozen Juncos, a Purple Finch, Hermit Thrush and American Robins among others.  A Brown Creeper has been creeping around the park every day this week.

The St. Clair River has been slow, but I have been seeing Bonaparte's Gulls every day, cruising around.  Ducks have been scarce, but in recent years we do not see many until late December.

I have here a photo of the King Eider at the Tip of Point Pelee from last Sunday as taken by Steve Pike.  The bird was a bit distant, but some detail can be seen.

King Eider  at Point Pelee Tip 13 Nov 2011 (photo be Stephen T. Pike)

My other hobby of ships and boats always gets a plug on this blog once in a while.  I have some followers that enjoy this type of thing as well.  

Tomorrow is the 53rd anniversary of the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley in Lake Michigan.  It broke in two on one of those famous " last trip " of the season.  Only two men survived.

Donald and Dorothy Langridge

It has special interest to me because my dad's cousin (Dorothy) was married to

a sailor in that fleet who at one time sailed on the Bradley.  

I have several on board photos.

Dorothy died last spring just a few months short of her 100th birthday.  The Mann's tend to live well into their 80's or 90's, and she has the distinction of living the longest.  (My grandfather made it to just short of 97).

I hope I am not crazy enough to still be birding when I get old!