[MDOsprey] Kelp Gull, St. Mary's County, MD, Update 12/1/99

Jane Kostenko (jkostenko@somd.lib.md.us)
Wed, 1 Dec 1999 12:26:06 -0500


    The St. Mary's County, Maryland, Kelp Gull was present today, Wednesday,
December 1, 1999, at the usual spot on the pier behind the Sea Breeze
Restaurant, between 11:15 and 11:45 a.m. A small craft advisory has
whitecaps whipped up on the river, and impressive waves were breaking on the
restaurant piers. The Kelp Gull stayed hunkered down for much of my time
there, but stood up and did an odd little dance when a Great Black-backed
Gull came over too close. The Kelp Gull is looking really sharp--the deep
black mantle easily separated it from the rather dingy-looking GBBGs, and
the crisp, clean white trailing edge on its wings was really wide. The legs
are still yellowish-green. Its head was more slanty-looking than usual, but
it was holding it in to the wind and bobbing, like it kept falling asleep
and jerking its head back up. All in all, it was a very pleasant (though
chilling!) December sighting!
    Notes in the sign-in log at the restaurant also indicate that birders
had excellent looks at the Kelp Gull on Tuesday, November 30, at 11:30 a.m.
Visiting birders report that the gull was seen over the weekend, but not
continuously throughout either weekend day--it was seen at 8:30 a.m. on
November 27 by Ohio birders, not seen throughout that day or the next
morning by other birders, but then seen by the Montgomery County MOS chapter
on November 28, at 3:30 p.m. All bets are off as to predicting times when
the bird is best seen!

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.