I went kayaking for a few hours on the Patuxent River today in the vicinity of Eagle Harbor and Trueman Point. I put in at Cedar Haven Park just north of Eagle Harbor and then kayaked south along the river. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly a group of gulls on the pilings at Trueman Point. This is the spit of land on the north side of Eagle Harbor along the Patuxent. There is an abandoned building with a fishing pier and pilings at the point. I used to bird this point in the past, but in recent years gates and no trespassing signs have gone up leaving a boat the best way to see the birds in this area.
The birds at this pier included 43 Laughing Gulls, 15 Ring-billed Gulls, 1 Forsters Tern, and 1 adult Black-headed Gull. I watched the Black-headed Gull from close range for about 10 minutes at approximately 11:30. The bird appeared to be in full winter plumage with no trace of a hood and only a black ear spot on the head. The bill was red with a black tip. The mantle was pearly gray, comparable in darkness to the Ring-billed Gulls, but perhaps appearing a little more silvery or pearly as opposed to gray. Legs were a bright orange-red. When the birds stirred, I saw both the white wedge on the upper surface of the wing and the dark underside to the primaries (or "hand"). This was the best views I've had of the underside of the primaries and this particular field mark for this bird.
I then kayaked towards Chalk Point where I counted 41 Double-crested Cormorants, a few more Laughing Gulls and Ringers, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 3 Barn Swallows, and 1 Royal Tern (over the middle of the Patuxent).
On my return north, I stopped again at the pier at Trueman Point and the Black-headed Gull was still present. Also present was perhaps an even more interesting gull. At first I thought it was a Laughing Gull, but the field marks did not add up. Notes that I made in the field include:
1. Gray mantle, only slightly darker then the surrounding Ring-billed Gulls and significantly lighter then the Laughing Gulls.
2. Faded, worn grayish hood, mostly gone by wear but appearing gray not black. Also of note was the hood came well up the nape leaving most of the nape white. The surrounding Laughers had hoods covering most of the nape.
3. Legs were a dark gray/blackish.
4. Bill was a dull yellow with a black tip. The black tip covered about 1/3 of the bill (the tip).
5. Structurally, the bird looked similar to the Laughing Gulls.
6. Primaries were a worn brownish-black.
This was definitely an interesting gull and was not a match for any bird that I've seen before. As I was observing it, my kayak drifted into one of the pilings, and several of the gulls (including the Black-headed Gull) flew to the center of the river and set down. I did not relocate the mystery gull.
Of course, some gulls like this are impossible to identify to species, but my best guess would be a Laughing/Ring-billed hybrid (see photos I.5 on page 14 of the new gull guide by Howell and Dunn). Structurally, it looked like a Laughing Gull, but the hood and bill was wrong. Also, the bill was yellow except for the tip. The mantle was what first drew my attention to the bird, as it was significantly lighter then the surrounding Laughing Gulls. Although I am loathe to take my camera with me on my kayak, I may go back down there later this week to get another look at these birds on the chance that they remain in the area. Yes, a second year Gray-hooded Gull also crossed my mind, but I won't even go there. The gull seemed a better match for a hybrid anyway.
Please note that Trueman Point is private property, although you may be able to scope the area from the nearest public road (Trueman Point Road). Gulls and terns are almost always on the pilings and piers in this area. Cedar Haven Park is the nearest public parkland and is about 1/4 mile or so to the north. The park makes for a good put-in for kayaks and canoes. This is definitely the first time that I've seen a Black-headed Gull and it was only the second most interesting gull of the day.
Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS
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