Hi fellow birders: A large flock of gulls has settled on the ice near the north shore of the Rideau River just west of Bank Street at Billings Bridge. It was getting towards dusk, but it was possible to make out about 30 Great Black-backed Gulls, a dozen Herring Gulls, one Ring-billed Gull, seven Glaucous Gulls (a mix of adults and juveniles) and two Iceland Gull juveniles. There may be other things, including hybrids, mixed into this flock and more gulls were coming in as I had to leave. There are also two male Hooded Mergansers on the river to the east of the Bridge among hundreds of Mallards and some Black Ducks.
Good birding Peter Hall Directions: Take Bank Street south from Highway 417 for several kilometres, passing about halfway the bridge over the Rideau Canal. Parking is available on side streets just north Billings Bridge. _______________________________________________ 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
