I took the afternoon off with the intention of birding along the 
Patuxent.  However, I noticed the large group of gulls at the Schoolhouse 
Pond, and decided to get a quick look.  While scanning with my scope, I 
came across a 2nd winter Franklin's Gull.  The bird was very distinctive, 
with a dark, complete hood.  The bird was dark all around its head, 
including the crown, the "forehead" (over the bill) and the chin.  The 
bird also had a different gis than the Laughers, with a short, straight 
bill without a droop at the tip.  It also seemed to have a shorter neck, 
although this could be due to posture.  Also noted was the clean, white 
nape.

I watched the bird from approximately 12:10 until a little after one, when 
it lifted off, circled once around the pond and headed in the general 
direction of the landfill.  The underwing was light, but appeared to have 
slightly more black in the tips than an adult would. 

Also present:

Over 1,200 Laughing Gulls
5 Ring-billed Gulls
8 Herring Gulls (5 1st winter, 1 2nd winter, 1 3rd winter, and 1 adult)
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (1st winter).

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS