Today I had three unusual bird observations to report from Jug Bay area.

At 1:00PM an E. Screech Owl called behind the house, with both whinny and 
tremelo (repeated) calls.  I only hear them around here 1-2 times per 
year; this is the first time I've ever heard one during the day.

At 2PM I saw a Northern Harrier (early, 1st of season) hunting low over 
the marsh.

Most unusual was a flock of Laughing Gulls (~30-35)... behaving like 
swallows.  I watched them hawk (course) over the marsh for over an hour 
(mid-day), erraticlaly flying rapidly about and snatching insects up on 
the wing.  I could not see what they were catching (too small), which is 
the strange part - why would gulls spend so much energy on such a small 
meal (for them).  They were fascinating to watch.  I think all the flying 
about kept the bugs stirred up, and the gulls just kept going and going!

It was a GREAT day for butterflies, I found over 20 species at the house 
today.

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD