I had my first semi-rare gull at Schoolhouse Pond of 2008 at lunchtime today
(1/4) with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. A medium sized group gathered
on the newly formed ice, although not in the numbers or variety that I was
hoping for. Other gulls included 60 Herring Gulls and approximately 700 Ring-
billed Gulls. Also present today were 2 male Northern Pintails, which is
somewhat unusual at the pond. Other birds of note this week included a Fox
Sparrow and an adult Bald Eagle on Wednesday morning (1/2). There have
also been huge flocks of starlings, robins and waxwings flying around Upper
Marlboro the last few days.
Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS |