Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 14:57:41 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: John Hubbell Subject: PG County (Lesser Black-backed Gull), 11/24 This delightfully rainy morning, a Lesser Black-backed Gull flew into Bladensburg Waterfront Park around 9 a.m. It landed among several Greater Black-backed and Herring Gulls, providing nice comparisons in overall size, mantle color, leg color, and streaking on the head. Also seen: Red-shouldered Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, and many Song Sparrows. Bladensburg Waterfront Park is located on Rt. 450 between Kenilworth Ave (Rt. 201) and US Rt. 1. It is only about a 5 minute drive from either Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens to the south or Lake Artemesia to the north. Anything you see here is very close since the Anacostia River is not very wide and the viewing areas are right on the river's edge. This was a decent shorebirding location in season. Best light is in the morning (there is a trail on the far side of the river, accessed from Rt. 1, for better afternoon viewing). Also, not to be overlooked, good restroom facilities. John Hubbell Chevy Chase, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================