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Subject:

1st winter Iceland Gull at Schoolhouse Pond

From:

Fred Shaffer

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Tue, 14 Dec 2004 13:00:20 -0500

There is a 1st winter Iceland Gull at Schoolhouse Pond in Upper Marlboro
today (a little before 1 PM).  I found the gull during my lunchtime search
through the usual hordes of gulls which visit the pond during the colder
months.  There were several hundred gulls at the pond, and I found the
Iceland Gull about half way through my search.  Unfortunately, the gulls
lifted off, perhaps because of a passing eagle or hawk.  Many of the gulls
left, but some of the larger ones hung around, and fortunately the Iceland
Gull was one of them.

I got pretty good looks at the gull through my bins.  The bird was all
creamy, off-white, with white wingtips and an all black bill.  When
extended, the wing still showed all white.  A very pretty gull.

Also present were a decent number of Laughing Gulls for mid-December,
although they may decide to leave with the cold, blustery weather coming
in.  Large numbers of Herring Gulls were also present, along with a
smaller number of Ring-billed Gulls and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (3rd
winter and 1st winter).

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS