Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 09:14:28 EST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Back River WWTP Hi all -- Barry made his first trip to Back River WWTP and suroundings on Friday. He had called the place ahead of time to ensure access, but when he got there was waved through by guard who saw his bins so who knows what the "official" policy is. (We and others have been turned away in past). Intereestingly, for the FIRST time in 20 years' of birding Back River, he found NO (zero, zip, nada) gulls actually IN the plant! Yet everything looked pretty much the same as last year. However, there were upwards of 900-1000 Bonaparte's Gulls above the Eastern Blvd. bridge (Diamond Point). These were roosting and he saw no rarities, but it was quite windy and hard to work the birds as they were facing away from him. There were also some few Bonies out over Back River itself. We will be going up there 2 times a weeks for the next few weeks, in hopes of seeing Little Gull and perhaps some other species which often come through at this time of year. Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper Colesville, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================