Kelp Gull update (2/17/99)
smcage1 (smcage1@mail.ameritel.net)
Wed, 17 Feb 1999 09:03:25 EST
Ospreyers:
The St. Mary's County, MD possible Kelp Gull was seen at first light this morning, Wednesday, February 17, 1999, by several visiting birders. Tyler Bell and I arrived around 7:05 a.m. and the bird was on the pilings behind the Sandgates Restaurant. It was aggressively chasing other gulls, and was more active than we've ever seen it. Jack Wright, of McLean, VA, and Tom Stock, of DC, and another birder whose name we failed to get, heard the gull call this morning while it was sitting. Jack, who does not have internet access, but gave his phone number for queries (703-821-2781) said the gull called for approximately 20 seconds in deep staccato bursts of sets of 3, 4, and 5 sounds; the sounds were sometimes "bup, bup, bup, bup" and sometimes "buh, buh, buh, buh". Jack said it was unlike any gull he'd ever heard before. Those of you who may have listed to Jon Dunn's video last night might be able to compare this description to what you heard and let us know!
Jane Kostenko
smcage1@mail.ameritel.net (work)
jkostenko@somd.lib.md.us (home)
California, MD