Hi Everyone,

I had to stop by the Columbia Crossing center today, and decided to check for June's Great Black-backed Gull from Saturday. This would have been a new Howard Co. bird for me, so I stopped at the far end of the Target parking lot and scanned the light posts. I noted three Ring-billed Gulls, then came across a very unexpected bird - a MERLIN.  Yes, the fabled "Columbia Parking Lot Effect." It was on a post between Target and Borders as of 4:30 p.m. Thanks for posting the gull, June!

I'll post photos from this weekend, including a couple shots of the SABINE'S GULL, in a couple hours.

Cheers,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Elkridge, MD
bill_hubick AT yahoo.com
http://www.billhubick.com/


----- Original Message ----
From: June Tveekrem <>
Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2006 12:26:20 PM


At 11:00 this rainy morning there was a Great Black-backed Gull at 
the Target in Columbia Crossing center...