July 6 - Dipping on Little Gulls

I woke up around 6 a.m. and packed to leave, on another humid, overcast morning.  I did a short walk down toward the river, but the mosquitoes were so voracious that I turned back around.

At least the mayflies don't bite . . .

I gassed up and headed toward the Lake Erie town of Port Dover, where eBird reports of Little Gulls had been posted in the last week.

I arrived at 11 a.m., and there were a lot of terns and gulls on the breakwater on the east side of the Lynn River.  There was also a thunderstorm just off to the south over the lake, which was threatening.
I scanned the bird flock, but although there was a large flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls, with Herring and Ring-billed gulls, and some Common and Caspian terns, there was not a Little Gull to be seen.
I did see at least one banded tern, but was unable to read any numbers.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been conducting status assessments on the Common Terns for decades.

This tern is banded; couldn't read any numbers . . .

As the rain changed from ‘gentle’ to a heavy downpour, I went into the Harbor Pizza place and had their chicken wings for lunch.  The service was a little slow, but they tasted fine.

This next-door business caught my eye, since Friday the 13th is my Birthday

Several lightning flashes and thunder claps had scattered the bird flock, and there were few remaining when the storm ended, so I got on the road and headed west.

Nearby thunder and lightning sure spooked the birds!

Going through town, I see that Presbyterian Pastor Pam has a great sense of humour.

And, who could resist the opportunity to go through a hamlet called Frogmore?

I kind of zig-zagged through western Ontario, arriving at Bkejwanong, the Walpole Island First Nation Reserve.The Bkejwanong First Nation operates the Ferry across the St. Clair River, which is as full as has ever been recorded this year due to the continual rains.

Walpole Islander Ferry

It cost me $8 to make the 7-minute crossing from Walpole Island to Algonac, Michigan.

City of Algonac Ferry

The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is pretty lax here, compared to the havoc they wreak along the U.S.-Mexico border.

America!  Freedom!  Yess?

Back in the States, I worked my way north and west, avoiding Detroit, to Interstate 69 and pulled off, taking a room at the Best Western in Lapeer, Michigan for the night.

Calling it quits for the night . . .

Shannonville eBird Checklist is Here

Port Dover eBird Checklist is Here