Greetings all - yesterday, the 23rd, 32 intrepid birders yet again hit the open waters of Erie off Vermilion and Huron Ohio. We scoured the lake between five and fourteen miles offshore. Two Parasitic Jaegers, two unidentified jaeger species, two first-year Franklin's Gulls, and THREE juvenile Sabine's Gulls were highlights. A single phalarope species was a flyby at 6 miles out. At fourteen miles offshore (less then 2 miles from the Canadian border) we had a mega flock of gulls feeding (Ring-billed and Herring) with a single Bonaparte's Gull and a likely Sabine's Gull within. At 7 miles offshore we had 2 Sabine's Gulls briefly come in to the chum line, and at 6 miles out further to the west we had a single Sabine's approach the boat for great views. Several fast moving flocks of Common and Forster's Terns, and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were additional pickups. Upwards of ten water spouts offered stunning and dramatic displays as we pushed between two fronts during the day. Photos will be posted later today at http://northnw.wordpress.com



JB

Jen Brumfield
Cleveland, OH
Bird illustrator and birding tour guide
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www.jenbrumfield.com
www.northnw.wordpress.com

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