After 46 hours of absence, the St. Mary's County, MD, Kelp Gull turned back up at the pier behind the Sea Breeze Restaurant at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2. Several birders were watching the bird, and the manager called me at work. I got there at 4:45 and the kelp gull was bathing, after having munched on some raw oysters. I last saw the gull at 5 p.m., when I packed up my stuff. The restaurant manager said the bird wasn't seen after that tonight. Several of us had searched the waters (in vain) off Route 257 near the 301 bridge around noon, following up on a sighting called in to the restaurant by some homeowners. The bird they had seen had flown before I got there, and, to my knowledge, no birders found the kelp gull in that area at all. I'll be there at first light again Wednesday, but I give up on guessing whether the bird will be there or not! Jane Kostenko jkostenko@somd.lib.md.us California, Maryland Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why they call it the PRESENT.