Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!uunet!edsews!edsdrd!gss From: gss@edsdrd.eds.com (Gary Schiltz) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Request for info: birding Niagara Falls Keywords: Niagara Falls, Thanksgiving Message-ID: <310@kepsalu.edsdrd.eds.com> Date: 9 Nov 90 14:55:37 GMT Organization: EDS Research and Development, Auburn Hills, MI 48057 Lines: 35 I'm leading a small group of birders to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada over Thanksgiving weekend (Fri, 11/23/90 - Sun, 11/25/90). Nobody in the group (including me) has been there in the winter, but I've always heard the birding is spectacular, with a number of unusual gulls (Thayers, Little, Iceland), ducks (Harlequin's, King Eider) and Purple Sandpiper being fairly regular late fall migrants. I have a lot of questions: o Which gulls other than the usual Bonaparte's, Ring-billed and Herring are most abundant at this time of year? o Any rules of thumb on how to tell Iceland and Thayer's apart? I have Kaufmann's Advanced Birding, from which I gather there are no hard-and-fast rules, other than LOTS of careful study over the years (I'm working on that :-<> ) o What are the best spots in the general area and at what time of day are the birds most active in those spots? I have an article from Birder's World, but any first hand information from the net would be appreciated. o Are there any good spots in the area for owls? A Great Gray would be nice, but I suppose November is a little early for one. Too late for Saw-whets? Also, if anyone is planning on being in the falls area during this time, I'd like to hear from you; maybe we could do some birding together. It's always nice to be able to attach a face to a name :-) ---- /\ What cheer, /\ | Gary Schiltz, EDS R&D, 3551 Hamlin Road | / o< cheer,