I walked around Schoolhouse Pond early this morning and then at lunchtime and had some nice surprises and new arrivals.  In the morning, two Lesser Yellowlegs flew in and landed on the mudflats at the rear of the pond.  The birds walked about on the mudflats.  Also present in the morning were 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  Large numbers of gulls flew over, including 209 Laughing Gulls, 43 Herring Gulls, 6 Ring-billed Gulls and my first flyover Great Black-backed Gull at the pond this fall (an adult).

At lunchtime, the yellowlegs were gone, but 7 Buffleheads (5 males)and 1 Hooded Merganser (female) had shown up and were floating on the pond.  Also of note was a late Gray Catbird that was foraging in some dense brush at the pond's edge.   Other birds of note during the day included 3 Double-crested Cormorants, Wood Ducks, Northern Shovelers, and 4 Eastern Bluebirds (including 3 brilliant males).

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS