Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2001 19:17:10 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Re: 5-6 Little Gulls today @Back River In-Reply-To: Message of Sat, 7 Apr 2001 18:53:55 -0400 from Hi Kurt -- Yes, I think the flight you note IS a good sign for Little Gull -- they have quite a bit shorter more rounded wing than Bonaparte's Gulls and seem to have a more fluttery, flapping (rather than soaring) flight. Someone said they looked a bit swallow-like and someone else, nighthawk-like, but the idea is the same. Of course on the adults the dark underwing is the give-away but the "W" on the wings of the first-winter birds is also distinct. However, sittng down in a crowd of Bonaparte's, they can be the *devil* to see. We saw two land out on Diamond Point but it took a while to locate them. Then we all seemed to get more of a "eye" for them on the deck and saw four at once at one point. They are substantially smaller, smaller thinner bill, more rounded head with steeper forehead, but still tend to blend in pretty well. It gets mesmerizing after a while, looking at all those birds... Btw, when the tide is high, below the bridge seems to be best but when the tide is out and the mud at Diamond Point exposed, the birds really pour in there and that is the best vantage point. Cheers, Gail Mackiernan ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================