proceeded to the bridge at Manotick but saw very few ducks 
because the river was still open. However, one late Belted 
Kingfisher was seen flying overhead. After an exhaustive search 
of the area turned up no spectacular sightings, they headed for 
Barnsdale Road at the Rideau River. Nothing was seen but a few 
Mourning Doves at a local feeder. 
The Nepean Dump was the best stop of the day. On the way 
there, a dark phase Rough-legged Hawk was seen battling the 
strong winds as it flew over the open fields. At the dump were 
500 Herring, 60 Great Black-backed, 16 Iceland and 11 Glaucous 
Gulls. The plumages of the white-winged gulls ranged from first 
winter through to adult. This provided good experience for 
field identification for many of the group. 
The next target of the enthusiastic birders was the back- 
roads of the Richmond area, where a few fortunate observers had 
a brief glimpse of a Snowy Owl. 
The last stop was the Jack Pine Nature Trail on Moodie 
Drive. It was fairly quiet on the various trails, and activity 
centred on the feeders where Black-capped Chickadees and Evening 
Grosbeaks gorged themselves with reckless abandon. A Cooper's 
Hawk was observed flying overhead, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch 
was spotted at a suet feeder near the parking lot. By this 
time, the flurries had become a steady downfall, bringing a 
premature finish to the day. 
Great Black-backed Gulls feeding at the Nepean Dump on December 
6, 1986. At one time this species was a rare sight in the 
Ottawa area. Photograph from a slide by Bruce Di Labio. n 
