I had a great morning walk around Schoolhouse Pond today.  Huge numbers of 
gulls were flying over towards the landfill, most of which were immature Ring-
billed and Herring Gulls, and noisy breeding plumage Laughing Gulls.  However, 
mixed among these gulls were 23 Bonaparte's Gulls.  The Bonies were in 
scattered, small groups, with the largest group consisting of 9 gulls.  The 
number of gulls flying over was very high today, with it often being a 
continous stream of a variety of species.  Also seen were 2 Lesser Black-
backed Gulls (1 adult and 1 1st year).

Other flyovers included one Common Loon, 5 Double-crested Cormorants, and 
four Great Blue Herons.  Also of note was one Solitary Sandpiper, one Killdeer, 
and two Greater Yellowlegs on the rear mudflats.  A lone Caspian Tern hunted 
over the water.  

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS