Today, after years of procrastination, I finally got around to going to 
see the Kelp Gull at Sandgates. Bob Schutsky and I arrived about 11:30 
AM. The only bird in site was Shrimpie sitting on a piling about 30 feet 
in front of us. We had excellent views for about 5 minutes. After about 
a minute, it jumped off the piling to the sand where it coughed up a 
pellet and proceeded to eat it again. It appeared to have a couple of 
small clams in it with other unidentifiable material. It then coughed up 
a second pellet and did the same. It then flew up river out of site. So 
we went into the Sea Breeze to have lunch. While we were waiting for our 
food, Shrimpie flew by and landed on the sand a little to the right of 
its original spot with some Herring Gulls. It then flew to the pier in 
front of the restaurant for a second and then went down to the sand out 
of sight from us. That was the last we saw of it. After lunch, we went 
on the pier and threw out some tidbits in an attempt to lure it back but 
we only had Ring-billed Gulls respond to our offering.

Other birds seen were Horned Grebe, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Long-tailed 
Duck and Ruddy Duck.

Les

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Les Eastman
mailto:[log in to unmask]
Havre de Grace, MD

The eagle looked down on the river below
And he wrapped his wings round him and he fell like a stone
And the big salmon fought but the talons held true
And he shuddered as the world turned from silver to blue
                               Steve Earle