At lunch today, I got the chance to sort through the first large group of gulls 
to gather on Schoolhouse Pond this fall.  The majority of the gulls at 
yesterday's big sit were mostly flyovers.  Today's flock consisted of 
approximately 240 Laughing Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 5 Ring-billed Gulls, and one 
1st winter Bonaparte's Gull.  The Bonie was on the water with the Laughing 
Gulls and stood out due to its small size and lighter mantle relative to the 
Laughing Gulls.  I also got good looks at the Bonaparte's Gull in flight when it 
made several passes over the pond as the group of gulls stirred at a passing 
hawk or eagle.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS