The "new" assembled mass of birders that collected at Conowingo after the
Sabine's Gull flew down river around 3PM were not disappointed. (They also
endured the 1/2-hour rain shower.) The Sabine's Gull returned up river
around 3:45PM, flew to the dam and landed in the tailwater catching a fish
(photos taken by George, the eagle watcher). It then flew back downstream
of Roland Island (the big island) and landed on an emergent rock were it
rested for about an hour. It then took flight heading up towards the dam,
circled around a few times there and then headed past the assembled mass at
the south parking lot, eventually disappearing out of view down river around
5:25PM. (The whole sequence from the rock to the dam and down river was
photographed by Bill Hubick.)
This makes the 17th gull species that has been observed at Conowingo. The
list includes: Laughing, Franklin's, Little, Black-headed, Bonaparte's,
Common (Mew), Ring-billed, California, Herring, Thayer's, Iceland, Lesser
Black-backed, Slaty-backed, Glaucous, Great Black-backed, Sabine's, and
Black-legged Kittiwake. I have been fortunate enough to have seen all of
these species there. Unfortunately my fellow Conowingo gull fanatic, Rick
Blom, is no longer with us to have seen this one. I am sure that Les
Eastman would share my sentiments, wishing --- "Rick, this one's for you!"
Gene
Gene Scarpulla
Millers Island, Maryland
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