Birders, Just after noon today at Mather's Park in Fort Erie - 2 Cormorants flying very close to shore (50ft) with one being notably smaller than the other. A quick look in the scope showed a bird with a dark bill and dull throat, but no obvious white feathers (that I could see, with precious little time). As they flew away, the smaller individual showed a considerably lighter body (looking 50% thinner) as I watched them leave. Not the best look, but for all intents and purposes it was a Neotropic Cormorant. At the very least, this is a heads up that it is "out there". Both birds were flying very slowly along the shoreline, but I could not relocate them.
Other birds at the river mouth included 1 Pomarine Jaeger, 1 Phalarope Sp. 2 Sabine's Gulls, 5 Little Gulls and 2 Peregrine Falcons. Other sites: Catherine St. Parking Area - 1 Sabine's Gull, 1 Little Gull, 1 Leucistic DC Cormorant Control Gates - 4 Little Gulls Below the falls - thousands of gulls, nothing of note The marine forecast for tomorrow calls for strong westerly winds, which may help provide a repeat performance for some of these species. A scope is valuable. I also hear that Len Manning may be present, so bring something to get an autograph - just in case! Brandon Holden www.PeregrinePrints.com Directions - Mather's Park - (thanks to Marcie Jacklin): Follow the QEW towards Buffalo,USA.Take the Central Ave Exit (last exit before the USA. Turn right on CentralAve, then right onto Lakeshore Rd. Park in the lot across from the Old FortErie historic site. Catherine St. Parking Area is at the extreme east end of Catherine St. in Fort Erie. _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide