On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, David Yeany II <> wrote:
> I know this is late, but I thought that I would add some highlights of the
> chase J.B. Churchill and I took yesterday (10/28)  for some of the recent
> Eastern Shore goodies. Leaving Cumberland at 4:30AM, we arrived at
> Blackwater NWR shortly around 9:15AM and birded the area until about
> 11:00AM. As reported by Joe Hanfman, we had excellent views of the 2
> HUDSONIAN GODWITS in pool 5 from the access between Wildlife Dr and Key
> Wallace Dr. Also exciting was a lone AMERICAN AVOCET, 2 WILSON'S SNIPE, a
> single, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, and 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. We then headed
> to the Salisbury landfill and surveyed the mass of gulls between 12:30 and
> 2:00PM. We estimated there were about 2,000+ total gulls, and not one of
> them was a California Gull. Our most interesting observation was 5 LESSER
> BLACK-BACKED GULL. Even so, it was still a great time chasing birds on the
> Eastern Shore!
>
> Good birding,
>
> David
>
> --
> David Yeany II

I put some photos on Flickr of the Godwits and also an interesting 1st
year Herring Gull at the landfill that had a yellow bill and yellow
legs. The only thing I can make of this is that it is an aberration.
I'd expect Herring Gulls at this age to have a bill that is all black
until at least late November. Interesting seeing this kind of color in
this plumage.

Godwits
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fusionmonger/4057274022/

Herring Gull
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fusionmonger/4058142142/

J.B.
-- 
John B. Churchill
Frostburg, MD
http://www.westernmdbirding.com/