Hello everyone, Sunny, calm (in fact, nearly tropical) conditions enhanced the experience for many birders from Quebec, Ontario and the U.S. who came to Chambly to see the Ross's Gull today. 'Twas a bit of a chase, as the gull was not immediately present upon the arrival of three Ottawa and two New York birders at ~ 12:15 PM. However, there were reports from others that the gull had been seen in the AM, and was likely in the sewage lagoons at the municipal composting site (Boul. Industriel opposite #2417). At approx. 1:30 the bird was seen flying to the lake at Fort Chambly, and it spent approx. 1 hour on the lake before it flew back to the lagoons. Our Ottawa contingent saw it (distantly) on the lake, then (excellently) on the first pond, where it was feeding with several Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gulls. It was still present when we departed ~ 3:15 PM. Though there was no staff at the municipal site today, the gate was open and birders were able to walk up and have good views of the 1st lagoon.
Thanks to Langis Sirois for the very helpful information he posted to ONTBIRDS yesterday, and for the directions below: For information on recent observations, you can visit the web site of the Page des oiseaux rares of the Regroupement Québec-Oiseaux http://www.quebecoiseaux.org/index.php?option=com_oiseauxrares&Itemid=133&lang=fr (NOTE: this web site is in French, but Google can translate it well enough). Directions: from Ontario, either from the 401 or the 417, take the new highway 30 and exit at highway 10 that is Autoroute des Cantons de l'Est. Go in the East direction on highway 10 and exit at Boul Fréchette ; go North on Fréchette and turn right on Boul Franquet, then right on Boul Industriel. To go to Fort Chambly, continue on Fréchette to Avenue Bourgogne and turn right on Bourgogne, or if you are on Industriel, go North, turn left on Boul de Périgny then right on Fréchette and right on Bourgogne. Great birding! Chris Lewis Ottawa, ON hagen...@primus.ca _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
