Hi folks,

During my lunchtime gull viewing at Schoolhouse Pond, I found a beautiful 
adult Iceland Gull on the frozen surface of the pond.  The gull was among over 
300 Ring-billed Gulls and approximately 30 Herring Gulls.  I saw the bird both at 
rest on the ice, and perhaps more tellingly, in flight.

At first, I thought that it may have been a Thayer's Gull due to the slightly 
brownish eyes.  I also noted the smallish yellow bill, with a distinct greenish 
tint, and the smallish, rounded head (compared to the Herring Gulls).  I 
watched the bird on the ice for a few minutes, when it stirred and then flew 
several times over the pond, including twice very close to my location.  I got 
great views of the bird and the under and upper sides of the wing, and 
distinctly noticed the limited medium-gray (not black) in the wingtips, 
restricted to the outermost primaries only.

This was my first white-winged gull of the season at the pond.  Things have 
been pretty slow this winter, despite the large number of Ring-billed and 
Herring Gulls that have been showing up daily.  However, the pond is mostly 
frozen over now, and should stay frozen at least for the next week.  There 
are the biggest number of gulls at the pond when it is frozen, so the coming 
weeks could be interesting.

There have been one or two Great Egrets at the pond this week, although I 
did not notice them today.  The Trumpeter Swan (#962) has been vocalizing 
loudly this week.

Fred Shaffer

Patuxent MOS