I visited Sandy Point State Park this afternoon and found a flock of 
Bonaparte's Gulls just off shore.  The birds were feeding on the water, 
picking at the surface.  I scanned the flock of about 50 birds, primarily 
hoping to find a Little Gull.  Birds were occassionally flying in or 
leaving.  During my second scan, I came across a 1st winter Black-headed 
Gull feeding among a small group of Bonies.  The bird was resting on the 
water feeding with the other gulls.  It was noticably larger than the 
Bonies, and had a bi-colored bill, pale orangish-red with a black tip.  The 
gulls, as well as the surrounding ducks flushed at a passing speed boat, 
and I lost the gull in the activity.  Some of the Bonies settled back down, 
but I was unable to relocate the Black-headed Gull.  

Other birds present included four Long-tailed Ducks, five Horned Grebes (a 
variety of molts), two Common Goldeneyes, and the usual Bufflehead and 
Scaup.  Other gulls included Ring-billed, Herring, and a few Great Black-
backed.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS