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Subject:

Glaucous Gull, Schoolhouse Pond, 12/11

From:

Clive Harris

Reply-To:

Clive Harris

Date:

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:11:48 -0800

I did some birding in PG County this morning.  I stopped first at Piscataway but waterfowl numbers were relatively low and about 75% of those present were Gadwall, with little else unexpected.  There were large numbers over on the VA side presumably sheltering from the wind but too far to make out what they were.

I had better luck at Schoolhouse Pond.  A large group of gulls were settled on the water and I quickly picked out a 1st winter Glaucous Gull.  It was quite cooperative, flying around a bit (often in response to being attacked by American Herring Gulls) but stayed around for the whole time I was there.  OK, it was not as cooperative as another white gull a number of us have seen recently but it was close enough in to make it worthwhile to take some pics:
 
http://www.harrisbirds.com/GLAUCOUS11.htm
 
Also present were 2 different adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a 2nd winter LBB.  Looks like it is shaping up to be a good winter for Glaucous gulls.
 
Good birding
 
Clive Harris
Cabin John, MD