Re: St. Mary's County Kelp Gull (NOT SEEN) 3/1/99

Jane Kostenko (jkostenko@somd.lib.md.us)
Mon, 3 May 1999 21:03:18 -0400 

Leslie--
    I'm so sorry to be so late in responding. Believe me, your notes made a
valuable addition to the ever-unfolding story of the Kelp Gull's
disappearing act, and I've noted it all down in the records book. Thanks for
sharing the information and the fun observations! jane

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.

-----Original Message-----
From: Leslie Roslund <Lroslund@bluecrab.org>
To: mdosprey@ARI.Net <mdosprey@ARI.Net>
Date: Monday, March 01, 1999 11:19 PM
Subject: Re: St. Mary's County Kelp Gull (NOT SEEN) 3/1/99


> So sorry to hear that the Kelp Gull was a no-show on 3/1.  Perhaps it
>will return - sure hope so.
> But in case it does not return, I will take the time to describe a late
>afternoon sighting of the bird, and its departure on 2/28.  My wife and I
>took the 2 and 1/2 hour drive from Easton to Sandgates in the rain Sunday
>afternoon, arriving around 3:40.  We watched the bird until nearly 4:00
>p.m.  Our last observation of it was atop the piling opposite the favored
>feeding piling to the right of the Sea Breeze restaurant.  It had been
>working the surf, alone, in front of our car, and then had perched for
>awhile on a piling on that feeding walkway about halfway to the end.
>Another birder, from Alexandria, whose name I did not catch, arrived later
>than us, stared at the distant Great-Black-backed gulls for awhile, then
>came to our car, in the rain and asked which was the Kelp Gull.  He was
>surprised, but pleased to hear that the close bird was indeed the one of
>special interest.  While we were talking, the feisty Kelp Gull booted a
>Herring Gull off the right side piling - sat there for awhile as if hoping
>for a late afternoon snack - then lifted off and flew to the northwest,
>disappearing behind the Sea Breeze.
> Soon thereafter, we entered the Sea Breeze, signed the register, and took
>a seat in the restaurant at the back, just beyond where Kurt Gaskill and
>his party were seated.  For the next hour, we, with others, ate, chatted
>and watched Great-Black backs. From our window views there was no further
>sign of the Kelp Gull.
> Did anyone have a later sighting?  If not, then we would claim that the
>bird was last seen departing the feeding station and heading northwest in
>the rain at about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 28th.
>
>Les Roslund
>Lroslund@bluecrab.org
>Easton, MD
>