Hoping for an early juvenile Bonaparte's Gull, I have been checking Seacliff Beach almost daily since this site always has lots of gulls. After a nice rainstorm this morning, there were many hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls on the beach, the majority being recently-arrived adults. Among them I finally found a single juvenile after much searching.
This is record-early for Point Pelee of this age class (juvenile) by a single day (July 20 in both 1998 and 2006). I saw the first adult birds here on July 9 (a bit early), and there was a report of some at Pelee Island on July 5. Even more interesting, Bruce and Ben Di Labio found a juvenile Bonaparte's Gull on July 16 at Ottawa (Shirleys Bay). I am assuming that this must be record-early for all of southern Ontario, although I do recall some early sightings over the years (Port Perry? Presqu'ile?). Bruce posted a photograph of his bird here: http://brucedilabio.blogspot.ca/ These are the type of sightings that would indicate an early nesting season in the Far North. If so, juvenile shorebirds should also be seen on early dates this year too. By this date there are usually some fall-migrant (adult) Little Gulls at Point Pelee, but so far I have seen none. Seacliff Beach is just west of the Leamington Dock at Lake Erie. Alan Wormington, Leamington ____________________________________________________________ Refinance Now at 2.38% $150,000 DYNAMICREGION mortgage $583mo. Fast & Easy Quotes! (3.23%APR) http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/50082b3c96b432b3c457bst51duc _______________________________________________ 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/
