This afternoon I decided to follow up on John's gull report in Washington County. John is indeed correct that Great Black-backs are virtually unknown there. No one regularly birds and reports from the C&O Canal in Washington County. The previous record for Great Black-back Gull in Washington County came from the same area on Mar. 7, 2000, and much to the chagrin of the observer, secretary of the records committee, he was informed his sighting was reviewable by the committee.
   I also used the opportunity to check the heronry site where Great Egrets have nested in recent years, as discovered by Dave Czaplak.

Potomac River and C&O Canal Towpath from Sandy Hook to Milepost 62 above Lock 34:

Canada Geese, Black Ducks, and Mallards were common among the rocks. I also saw one male Blue-winged Teal, four Common Mergansers, and four Double-crested Cormorants. Sitting on the rocks or flying up and down the river were about 12 Herring Gulls and at least three Great Black-backs, one first-winter/summer, one third-winter/summer, and one undetermined age near adult. Along the towpath I heard two Pine Warblers. All the chickadees were Carolinas. Tree Swallows were working the area high above the river

Potomac River and C&O Canal Towpath from Lock 31 to about Milepost 59:

Canada Geese, Black Ducks, and Mallards were common among the rocks. There were also about 15 DC Cormorants. At least two more Great Black-backs were in this area, a first-winter/summer bird and an apparent adult; several Herring Gulls also. One Bald Eagle was sitting tight on a nest. At the heronry I saw only Great Blue Herons occupying about 15-20 nests. Other birds along the towpath included three Fish Crows and two Yellow-rumped Warblers.

   With the lack of recent rains there are many exposed rocks in the river creating great habitat for the waterfowl and gulls. It's a pity no one from Washington County birds here. It is a great place for waterbirds.
   On this first day of spring, appropriately Spring Beauty was abundantly in bloom.
--
Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD


---- John Hubbell <> wrote: 
> There was a bit of a large gull fall out late this afternoon on the 
> Potomac River in Washington County near Harpers Ferry.  In the area of C&
> amp;O 
> Canal Lock 34, there were 10 Herring and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls.  If 
> 
> I'm reading the yellow book correctly, the Black-backs are good birds for
>  
> Washington County.