Birds on the Niagara this weekend

Oh sure, you can find a complete list of events for Birds on the Niagara here https://bird-niagara.org/ but if you are a cheap, take advantage of free parking and admission to the Cave of the Winds. Tell the parking lot attendant and the ticket seller you are with Birds on the Niagara. Admission is free.

As spectacular as the gulls are, the ice below the Bridal Veil Falls and Cave of the Winds may be even better. The bridge is the 4th largest in the last century.

If you are into gulls, there will be bird nerds around with scopes near Three Sisters Island and elsewhere. If you are lucky, someone will point out the difference between a lesser black backed gull and a greater black backed gull.

You might even have a chance to see a glaucous gull or a glacous-winged gull, species seen in Niagara this winter that usually overwinter in California.

If you are really lucky (I haven’t been yet) someone will show you the ever-so-elusive vega gull.

Lucky birders get to see an anhinga or snowy owl. I can count a glaucous but not glaucous winged.

Vega? What the heck is that? It looks like a herring gull but comes from Siberia and has never been seen here before.

OK, I admit the gulls mostly look alike. Still, I strive to tell them apart. Some are easy – ring-billed with its ringed-bill, the gigantic one with the black back, (great black backed) or the smallish one with the black cheek patch, (Bonaparte’s)

Still, they are here, they are ours and they deserve to be celebrate.

While you are on Goat Island, continue counter-clockwise to the Three Sisters Island parking area. Bring birdseed. Feed the chickadees and the titmice. If you are lucky, you might even get a downy woodpecker or a nuthatch.

Be sure after to go to DiCammilo's on Linwood for a slice of pizza or some  soup or even hit Wine on Third or the Red Coach Inn for dinner.  Friends don't let friends support Delaware North or Hard Rock Cafe.