Niagara Weekend... Part 2!

Notice above how I said the my 'original' favourite gull was Ring-billed. That was all about to change.
          There had been a juvenile Black-Legged Kittiwake reported just upriver beneath the falls over the past week, and we were told it had been seen less than an hour ago. We speedily walked over, but I only got on it for a split second before it disappeared into the mist. Because I wasn't content with my view, I decided to stay until it reappeared, hoping for photo opportunity, and also lending two more eyes to the the many others searching. In Niagara, and birding in general all it seems to take to find a rarity, is time, and a concentrated number of people looking.
          Sure enough, about a half-hour later, someone (not sure who) called it out, circling at the base of the falls. It was surprisingly easy to pick out, and it's diagnostic black 'M' stuck out like a sore thumb. Everyone watched as it cycled around in the falls, soaring 50 meters or so below us. Occasionally it would glide up to eye level, and then dive back down into the depths. Made for an amazing experience, and some awesome photos! It may not be a lifer, or a yearbird, or even an Ontario yearbird (see here), but it was still incredible, and much better views than my Hamilton bird, and I suppose you could call it an Ontario 'photograph lifer'!

See the black 'M' pattern? Similar to a toned down version of a juvenile Sabine's Gull I think

The black neck collar is something that Bonaparte's also lacks. The water at the bottom of the falls is intense!

Proof that I was in Niagara, the control gates are in the back

A juvenile Great Black-backed Gull also caught my attention briefly, before I was pulled back to the Kittiwake.

So despite seeing these birds on they're breeding grounds in Newfoundland earlier this year, Ring-billed Gull was still my favourite. But this lil' cutie managed to change my mind. And that was after seeing them like this:

Juveniles cuddled up in the (extremely) thick fog, in Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland

Crazy how different the adults look, very plain but also really pretty!

Just before I left, I turned around to see a Peregrine Falcon fly by with a bird in it's talons! I got some pretty bad pictures, but Jack Farley's picture made it clear that it was a Bonaparte's Gull!
          Our next stop was the Control Gates. Immediately upon arriving, Josh Vandermeulen pointed out a large all white gull flying North over the gates. A Glaucous Gull, my last expected gull yearbird! I quickly scanned through the massive duck flock that always seems to gather in this exact spot, and found that it was a good mix of Greater and Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and fewer numbers of Canvasback. I didn't have too much time, as we needed to be back in Kitchener relatively early, so I quickly walked back to the car, not knowing that a Snowy Owl and Northern Rough-winged Swallows were seen while I was there! Guess nobody felt like telling me... That's fine.
          Just as I opened the to the car, I heard a croaking call coming from behind me, I turned around and a Common Raven came into view! It was soon joined by another, which landed on top of the gate building and was immediately bombarded by crows.

I see Ravens pretty often up at my chalet, but I think that this is the first photo I've ever taken with a Raven and Crow together!

From the gates, we drove to our second last stop in Niagara, Adam Beck (again). There wasn't much to see except 2 more Iceland Gulls, so we continued to our last stop in Niagara.

          The Queenston Heights Overlook is a pretty controversial birding spot, at least in my opinion. It's the most reliable spot for Black Vultures in Ontario, but the thing is, it's not in Ontario. The Vultures roost on a church on the American side, but since you can see them from Ontario, people list them on their Ontario list. I also do this, but if I did a big year I definitely wouldn't count them.

          Every time I go, I also get deja-vu, because I visit this spot every year, and take pretty much the exact same picture. See:

2017

2016

2015

As you can tell, I got a new lens in 2017, and the lighting was pretty bad in 2016.

And that's it! Overall a great trip!

Gull Species: 7 (plus Thayer's)
Waterfowl Species: 16
Vulture Species: 2

Until next time, Ethan.