Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 18:52:43 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Redheads & Lesser Black-backed Gulls It was a very pretty day at Schoolhouse Pond today, particularly after work. Highlights from today included a group of 3 male Redheads. They clustered together on the open water at the pond. I believe that this may be the first time I've seen Redheads at the pond in the 15 years I've been checking it daily. Large numbers of gulls were present, particularly in late afternoon. Highlights from these included 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; a first winter gull and a third winter gull. I don't see third winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls too often. It had some black on the tip of the bill, faint markings on the tail (seen in flight), and a less "sharp" mantle then the adults. Yesterday, a female Bufflehead was present. However, the usual Gadwall and Shovelers were nowhere to be found, either yesterday or today. Fred Shaffer Patuxent MOS glaucousgull1611@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================