Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 09:07:28 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Schoolhouse Pond Franklin's Gull There were many, many birds at the Schoolhouse Pond this morning, including a few splendid rarities. In fact, there were so many to sort through that I was quite late getting into the office (across the street). When I arrived there was a lone gull on the pond, along with about 20 mallards. The gull, which I judged to be a Franklin's Gull, had an extensive black hood extending clear across the back of the head and up to the top of the head. This made the gull distinctive, but what really stood out to me with the very small, slender, all black bill. The bill was noticeably smaller and thinner than the group of laughing gulls here yesterday. I then spent a lot of time sorting through the many Mrytle Warblers along both sides of the Pond. I counted over forty, with an especially large group along the boardwalk on the far side of the Pond near the marshy vegetation. The Mrytles were actually in the large trees behind the townhouses, but several were actually hopping on the boardwalk. Also on or near the boardwalk was the Swamp Sparrow (I assume the same one I've been spotting over the last week), a few White Throated Sparrows, and one first winter White Crowned Sparrow. At first I thought this bird was a tan White Throated, but the head stripes were lighter, there was no distinct lower border to the throat, and the chest was a lighter, more uniform gray. Also in the vicinity were two tail bobbing Western Palm Warblers, at times in the low trees, at other times on the boardwalk. In addition, I saw 3 Ruby Crowned Kinglets, 3 Wood Ducks, 1 Great Egret, 2 Great Blue Herons, and the usual Cardinals. Many gulls, geese, and ducks were flying into the pond as I left. Yesterday's highlights were the Swamp Sparrow and a Yellow Breasted Chat. Fred Shaffer Crofton, Anne Arundel. ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================