Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 23:27:13 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Michael O'Brien Subject: Re: Frederick County Highlights Mime-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Dave, Did you consider Laughing x Ring-billed Gull hybrid? After years of reflection and studying my sketches, my first Frederick County Laughing Gull (which was on New Design Road, I think) got axed from my county list. I now believe it was a hybrid traveling with the migrant Ring-bills. The only reason I bring this up is because it strikes me that a Laughing x Ring-bill hybrid my be nearly as likely as an out of season Laughing Gull. Characters that you might look for on an adult hybrid at this season include a paler mantle than a Laughing Gull (tough to judge without other Laughing Gulls around), a partially pale (pinkish or yellowish) bill, a streaked component to the gray wash on the head, and a little more white in the wings. Food for thought anyway. Best, Michael O'Brien West Cape May, NJ >The surprise of the day was in a field along Lily Pons Road. Mixed in >with thousands of Ring-billed Gulls was a Laughing Gull. ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================