Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2003 13:21:14 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Peter Lev Subject: Franklin's Gull MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I had a FRANKLIN'S GULL on the mudflats at Diamond Point Rd., Eastern = Baltimore County, today between 10:30 and 11:00 AM. Description: Larger than Bonaparte's, smaller than Ring-Billed. From = the crown down to the bill was white, but dark hood on back of head, = around eye, and on cheek. Some of the hood had a spotted pattern-- = e.g., top of head; other areas were darker. Dark bill, dark legs. The bill was smaller and narrower than Laughing = Gull (the other possibility). Also, the hood was more extensive than = Laughing Gull, and the bird was smaller overall. This bird was standing at the front edge of a very large mudflat, quite = close to land, and it cooperatively stayed put for the 20 minutes I = observed it. I am confident of the ID, but would welcome other opinions. I checked = the Yellow Book and noted that there is only 1 record for Franklin's = Gull this late in the year. Also seen were Killdeer (13), Bonaparte's Gull (about 100), Ring-billed = Gull (several hundred), Herring Gull (about 15), Greater Black-backed Gull (20+). For directions to the site, see Claudia Wilds' book or the Balt. Bird = Club site guide to Baltimore City/County, or contact me offlist. As I was leaving the parking lot I saw something large in the sky. = Pulled out the binocs and, sure 'nuff, it was a Bald Eagle. Peter Lev Baltimore Bird Club =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =========================================================================