While this is definitely out of our area, it is worth noting that the Ross' Gull was still present today in Chambly, Quebec, although not at the waste water treatment plant lagoons where it has typically been seen since it's discovery on November 10th. Rob Bate and I found it via distant scope view from the Chambly Marina at approximately 2:30 pm. We called Gary Chapin, who was standing vigil at the sewage lagoons with Pat & John Thaxton and many other birders from near and far, and they all raced over and got on the bird. Even at distance its extremely small size, long wings, small head, tiny bill, very pale gray mantle and distinct pink body coloration were distinctive. It's a beautiful bird, very rare outside of its high arctic home, and as Joe said, worth the 5 1/2 hour drive from NYC.
Rich Fried Sent from my iPhone > On Nov 20, 2013, at 5:28 PM, <jgiunta...@aol.com> wrote: > > Nov. 19, 2013 > > Considering the tremendous rarity of the Ross’s Gull in Eastern North America > I decided to make the 400 mile one way trip to see this bird. This bird was > reported in partial breeding plumage, that is pink, and its location, just > north of the NY state border at Chambly Quebec, was listed at sewage lagoons > opposite #2417 Boul. Industriel (my Tom-Tom found it right away). The > information about exact location and unique color made for a high probability > of success. After leaving Nassau County at 4am I arrived at noon, waited 2.5 > hours and the bird appeared. The Ross’s Gull in this plumage was just a > fantastic sight. The thought that a bird that is hardly ever seen except > seasonally in northern Alaska or Siberia was here in front of me was totally > awesome. > > At the sewage lagoons there are three ponds but only one is close and easily > visible. There were many birders there helping to locate the bird among the > numerous Bonaparte’s Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls. > > It was a trip well worth it! > > To see if the bird is still present go to Birdingonthe.net, Quebec. Don’t > know French, no problem, just copy and paste the messages into the many free > online translation services. > > Best, > > Joe Giunta > > > > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
