Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 18:56:13 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: John Hubbell Subject: Kelp Gull, 2/9 and 2/10, + more On a recent California vacation, I got addicted to seeing life birds on a daily basis. Needing to see some new birds, I headed outside the beltway for a change. The Kelp Gull in Sandgates was the star of the weekend, present on both late Saturday afternoon (around 4:45) and early Sunday afternoon (around 1:30). On both days, it was found on the right (south?) side of the restaurant. On Saturday, it eventually flew out and settled on the water. On Sunday, it headed back to pilings behind the restaurant. Other birding locations during the weekend were the Horsehead Wetlands Center (Saturday morning), Chesapeake Beach / North Beach (Saturday afternoon), and Point Lookout (Sunday morning). Many Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead were seen at all three locations, as were smaller numbers of Red-breasted Merganser and Tundra Swan. Other birds seen included an American Bittern at Horsehead (South Meadow trail) and the following at Point Lookout: Common Loon (everywhere) Mute Swan (2, in a marshy area below the picnic grounds) Long-tailed Duck (20-25, off the fishing pier) Bonaparte's Gull (3, along the causeway) Brown-headed Nuthatch (many on the trail near the visitors center) That ought to hold me until I can get to Ocean City. 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 ======================================================================= =========================================================================