[MDOsprey] Kelp Gull anniversary

Jane Kostenko (jkostenko@somd.lib.md.us)
Sun, 17 Oct 1999 12:37:42 -0400


    Patty Craig and/or Kyle Rambo could answer this as well, but you'll need
to hold off on your celebration for a while yet, Charlie. January is the
gull's first sighting date, and Valentine's Day is its first "naming" date.
It only *seems* like it's been here forever!!! Jane

Jane Kostenko
jkostenko@somd.lib.md.us
California, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: Charlie Muise <cmmbirds@yahoo.com>
To: mdosprey@ARI.Net <mdosprey@ARI.Net>
Date: Saturday, October 16, 1999 4:11 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOsprey] Kelp Gull, St. Mary's County, MD, 10/16/99, Update


>Does any one know the first date Shrimpy was seen and
>tentatively ID'd?  It seems it's nearing an anniversary,
>and I am always looking for a something to celebrate...
>
>Charlie
>
>--- Jane Kostenko <jkostenko@somd.lib.md.us> wrote:
>>     The Kelp Gull continues in St. Mary's County,
>> Maryland, on the pilings
>> behind the Sea Breeze Restaurant in the hamlet of
>> Sandgates, Maryland, where
>> it has been seen daily since my last posting of 10/10
>> (per visiting birders,
>> my own sightings, and those of reliable restaurant
>> staff). This marks at
>> least the fourth week in a row to boast daily sightings,
>> even on windy or
>> rainy days (when it hunkers down and is harder to pick
>> out).
>>     Today, Tyler and I (and visiting birders from CA, TX,
>> NC, and VA!) were
>> surprised to see that the Kelp Gull has, since two weeks
>> ago, replaced
>> several of its molted primaries, and now has apical spots
>> once again (the
>> all-black folded wingtips had made it rather easy to pick
>> out prior to
>> this). The flecking on the head hasn't gotten any darker,
>> but is still as
>> dark and as extensive as it was when first studied back
>> in February (do I
>> have a life?!) It never flew, but when it flapped, and
>> with the wings
>> folded, we didn't observe the wide trailing edge that it
>> had in the spring.
>> It was in company of about a dozen Great Black-backed
>> Gulls, making for very
>> nice comparisons in size, mantle color, etc.
>>     Directions to the gull are available; just send me a
>> message. Hotels in
>> the area are still benefitting from the gull's presence!
>>
>> 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.
>>
>>
>
>
>=====
>******************************
>Charlie Muise, Naturalist
>Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary
>Next to the Beautiful Chesapeake Bay
>Maryland, USA
>cmmbirds@yahoo.com
>******************************
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