Friday 25 November 2011

Niagara tomorrow

Like many southern Ontario birders, I will heading to the Niagara River area tomorrow in search of gulls and waterfowl. This time, I will be leading a trip with the University of Guelph Wildlife Club as we do our annual gull extravaganza. There are a number of rarities that are frequenting the area, such as the long-staying Razorbill, the 3-4 Black Vultures, an adult California Gull, a Franklin's Gull, and a Black-legged Kittiwake. I'm hoping that we are able to locate at least some of these birds as many would be lifers/new Ontario birds for some of the members coming along on the trip.

In other news, tons of rarities have been showing up across the continent! Check out this White-breasted Nuthatch, the first one EVER for Newfoundland. You may have to scroll down a bit to see it.

I mentioned previously about a Graylag Goose that was present near Montreal. Amazingly, a Fulvous Whistling-Duck was found in the same flock of birds a few days later!

Gray Flycatchers are cool little birds, and one showed up near Louisiana. A few years ago one was found by the Skevingtons on a Christmas Bird Count, and it hung around for a few months! Unfortunately that was before I was into birding.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jboslerbirds/6367234165/in/pool-ebird

BC had its 3rd ever Summer Tanager the other day - what a bird!

And of course, we can't forget the Hepburn's Gray-crowned Rosy Finch that was found near Thunder Bay a few days ago. Pretty crazy! I'm not sure if this subspecies has been seen in Ontario before?
http://northshorenature.blogspot.com/2011/11/gray-crowned-rosy-finch-hotspot-in.html

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