Betsy found a juvenile SABINE'S GULL in the gorge below the Horseshoe (Canadian) Falls around 2:30 this afternoon. It was still there when I showed up about 30 minutes later. The bird was feeding in the mist, usually nearer the Ontario side. There is no free parking in the vicinity of the falls. To check this area without a long walk, be prepared to pay about $10 for parking on either side or have someone drop you off. Viewing the gorge is better from Ontario than NY (Goat Island on the NY side).
The number of Bonaparte's Gulls on the river today was VERY impressive, especially for this relatively early date. No doubt the strong winds of the last three days had a lot to do with this as they drive the gulls into the river from Lakes Erie and Ontario. I estimated roughly 4-5000 around the falls and 3000 at the Whirlpool. We did not check Queenston where I suspect there were a few thousand more. Watching briefly at the power plants from the Adam Beck overlook half an hour or so before sunset, we saw a few thousand coming from upriver, rising up out of the gorge, and flying toward the Lewiston Reservoir. A lovely spectacle. Usually at sunset, the Bonys continue down to the mouth of the river. At the power plants late in the afternoon, the CALIFORNIA GULL was back at its favorite perch just above the concrete that juts out from the north corner of the Robert Moses power dam. We could not find this bird around noon. This is most likely the same individual that spent much of November and December last year in the very same spot. This bird has a tiny red spot on the lower mandible behind the black band that is very difficult to make out at this distance, unlike most adult California Gulls we see here. There were a fair number of large gulls today but no white-wings were found. I looked for but did not find any sandpipers above the falls. Good birding! Willie -------------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, N.Y. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
