An adult, breeding plumage, Laughing Gull was observed at 15h50, by Tom Devecseri, Mark Patry, Rob Pinella and I while birding from the easternmost tip at the Britannia Filtration Plant. The bird was flying along the Ottawa river approximately 30 feet off shore and 20 feet high. It was last seen flying south and rounding back inland towards Mud Lake. Good views allowed us to see the black hood, the complete red bill, the partial, white eye-ring, and the dark wing tips. The bird was approximately the size of a Ring-billed Gull.
Giovanni Pari Directions: (from downtown Ottawa): Courtesy of Christina Lewis "Britannia Point" - Take Hwy 417 west to exit #129 (Pinecrest / Greenbank Rds.) then go north on Pinecrest to Richmond Rd. Right (east) on Richmond to Carling Ave. Right on Carling and take the 1st left onto Poulin Ave. Follow Poulin to Britannia Rd.. Right (north) on Britannia to where it ends at Cassels St. Go right (east) on Cassels and take this road right to the very end; park at the gravel area near the public boat launch _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/