Black-headed Gull just north of MD border

Tyler Bell (bell@say.acnatsci.org)
Mon, 21 Dec 1998 09:16:53 -0500


Ospreyers:

FYI, there was a Black-headed Gull found just north of the Maryland
border in PA on the Susquehanna during the South Lancaster County CBC on
12/20. Keep your eyes open near Conowingo Dam!

-- 
Good Birding!                       The probability of a given
Tyler Bell                          event occurring is inversely
mailto:bell@say.acnatsci.org        proportional to its desirability.
California, MD                 
http://www.audubon.org/chapter/md/smas/

Subject:         So.Lancaster Co. PA CBC: some highlights
   Date:         Sun, 20 Dec 1998 19:40:41 -0500
   From:         penjerdel@SAPPHIRE.ACNATSCI.ORG

* From: Bob and Nancy Schutsky <birdtrek@epix.net>

Dear Birders:
We had a nice day today (12/20) for the SoLanCo PA CBC:
relatively warm, overcast most of the day, breeze 0-5 mph.
I've only heard from 5-6 groups so far, so there are still 
lots more to come in. At the moment we have 81 species, but 
that will go up. The real reason for this message is to give 
you some of the highlights and perhaps enlist some help in 
confirming a few reports.

BLACK-HEADED GULL-1(first-winter). New for the count. On the 
river at the end of Cook's Landing Road, 250 yards north of 
the MD border. I was chumming with bread and rolls at 10 am.
First came Ring-bills, then a few Bonaparte's, then the 
Black-headed. Plumage was typical 1st-winter, legs were fairly 
bright red, bill was red (NOT orange) at the base and black at 
the tip. It was still on the water with the rest of the flock 
when I left that spot at 11:15. I took about 10 photos. 
[Hopefully Eric's group saw it later?] Based on past experience 
with this species on the Susquehanna, I feel that you have a 
good chance of relocating this bird. Take lots of bread for chum.
Best light is in the morning.