[MDOsprey] St. Mary's County, MD, Kelp Gull (YES) Update 8/19/99

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    The St. Mary's County, MD, Kelp Gull has been at the Sea Breeze daily on
August 17, 18, and 19. (It was also seen by visiting birders on 8/15, but
not present (per reliable staff at the restaurant) on 8/16. When I stopped
in after work on August 19, the kelp gull was in the presence of no less
than five Great Black-backs.
    Though worn of feather, the kelp gull does not have any visible feather
loss. Its eye is still bright, clear yellow, its orbital is still
astoundingly reddish-orange, the legs are still yellowis-green (with black
toenails), and the orange wash above the gonys is still there.
    It did give me the added bonus of calling for a full minute, often
leaning far, far forward and downward (I actually thought it was going to
up-chuck), before emitting its hoarse caw-ing squawk; then it flew off
downriver and I lost sight of it.
    The restaurant staffer said it had flown across the river (and the
Calvert County line) on 8/18 in the early evening.

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.

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