Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 12:52:02 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: PG Lesser Black Backed Gull & imm. Bald Eagle Rather than walk around the pond at lunch today, I decided to sit and study the approximately 1,500+ gulls that were present. Gull numbers have been low at the pond at lunch recently (only a few hundred or less), so I decided to take advantage of the big numbers today. Out of the crowd of mostly Ring Billed, Laughing, and Herring Gulls, I pick out one adult Lesser Black Backed Gull, noting its small size relative to the Herring Gulls, streaked head, and its mustard-colored legs. While I was scanning the group for other unusual birds, the entire flock took off and scattered at the approach of an immature Bald Eagle, which circled the pond several times rather low before heading towards the Patuxent. Other interesting birds this week have included an adult Bald Eagle (Monday), 2 Sharp Shinned Hawks (this morning), a Red Shouldered Hawk, and the four Great Egrets which continue at the pond. Fred Shaffer Crofton, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================