Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:38:18 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Jane Kostenko Subject: Kelp Gull, St. Mary's County, MD, August 28, 2002 I pulled into the parking lot of the Sea Breeze Crabhouse and Restaurant in Sandgates (St. Mary's County), MD, on Wednesday, August 28, 2002, at 1:30 p.m. Looking out the car window through the rain, I scanned the KEGU's favored pier, but saw only Great Black-backed Gulls. I turned around to scan the other pier and laughed outloud to see the Kelpster practically in front of me, uncharacteristically perched on the bulkhead. The feathers on the KEGU are very worn. The tertial crescent is completely gone, and the primaries show virtually no white; I couldn't make out the mirror on P 10 at all. However, it was preening vigorously and looked healthy enough to me. Directions to the Sea Breeze follow: Take MD Route 5 South from the Washington Beltway. About 20 miles south of Waldorf, Route 5 becomes Route 235. Continue south on 235 about 4.5 miles, then turn left (east) on MD Route 472 (Sandgates Road). The Sea Breeze is about 2.5 miles along on your left, one of two crabhouses on the Patuxent River. Jane Kostenko California, MD jane.kostenko@co.saint-marys.md.us ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================