Thanks for the great description of all the gulls! 

I was at Jug Bay today from about noon until 1:30 or so.  I took a walk down the marsh trail and saw a whole lotta gulls.  Having seen the Iceland at Schoolhouse Pond not long ago, I found myself starting to look for white wings. 

Now, I do good on a lot of birds, but as far as gulls go, I'm just a ring-billed, herring and great black back girl at this point in my career.  And only if their plumage is in a familiar cycle.  Nothing exotic here - I just don't have the experience or courage to call a rare gull all by my little self.  

Yet I DID see a pale gull with white wings.  I reached for the book - didn't bring it.  Nor the scope.  Nor a friend who might know gulls.  So, it was just me and my imagination. In a sea of gulls, looking at a pale bird that looked, um "different".   I had this vague idea it also looked different than the Iceland that some friendly folks put me on at Schoolhouse Pond. 

So, maybe that Thayer's spent the morning on the AA County side.  Maybe not.  But it sure does suggest that there may be more interesting gulls out and about.  

And Jeff, I wondered where all the eagles went!  Saturday there were 7 eagles on the AA co side.  Today there was one very golden-looking juvenile Bald Eagle, that passed by, nothing else.  Obviously they were on your side, enjoying the picnic!  

What I did see was plenty of woodpeckers of most descriptions, including a PILEATED and lots and lots of common birds.  Heard a FISH CROW as well - first of the year for me.  Fancied I hear a few RUSTY BLACKBIRDS among an otherwise unidentified flock of black birds, but, like the gull, it may have been my imagination and could not confirm. 

Word has it, however, that Rusty Blackbirds do regularly overwinter at Jug Bay, especially on the Railroad Bed Trail.  So if anyone is interested, it may be a fruitful place to look.  Or listen. 

Joanne

Joanne Howl, DVM

West River, MD





-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Shenot <>
To: 
Sent: Wed, Jan 13, 2010 8:29 pm
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Jug Bay excitement today - Thayer's Gull


What a beauty of a day to work at home!  The morning was serene and birds seemed 
nactive until late morning.  Maybe they were enjoying a reprieve from frigid 
eather, and in no rush to find food.  Though cold, it seemed balmy after the 
eather of the last couple weeks.  Gulls started arriving today after Noon, and 
egan slowly aggregating on the PG side in one of their favorite loafing areas 
ear the mouth of Western Branch (just up from Mt Calvert Manor).  Around 2:15, 
 took a break from work to look and went outside with my scope to scan the 
lock.  These birds were very distant, but I could still id most of them, and to 
y surprise I quickly saw what I thought might be a white-winged gull.
It was sitting among about 1600 gulls, and was not in full view due to a gull in 
ront of it.  It had Herrings and Ringers on either side and was clearly between 
hem size-wise, and had a solid dark bill that was diagnostically small.  It had 
 pale head, back and shoulder (what I could see) and my first impression was a 
st-winter Iceland, but something looked different.  I had seen one a couple 
imes here already this year, and this bird was clearly not as white, sort of a 
irtier look than typical Iceland color.  After several minutes some gulls got 
p and it stood up, giving me a good look at it in the perfect sun.  I was 
hinking "Thayer's?"  Then a second wave got up and it got up with the them.  I 
ould clearly see a pale band in its tail as it flew, but then I lost it in the 
uge swirling flock.  An adult Bald Eagle passed by and landed on the opposite 
hore (AA Co).  I then checked my gull books while the gulls milled in the air, 
oping they would settle soon.  I was pretty convinced, but not certain and I 
anted another and a better look!
The gulls settled and I went over to Mt Calvert, in hopes of finding it again 
nd getting a close and better look.  But another adult eagle came by and roused 
he gulls again.   It circled once and then did something I haven't seen before.  
 have always wondered why gulls are so frantic about eagles.  I've seen eagles 
especially juveniles for some reason) go after waterfowl, but never gulls, 
ntil today.  A lone gull was standing next to the river and the eagle stooped 
n it, and to my surprise the gull just sat there and the eagle nailed it.  The 
ull was an adult Ring-billed, and seemed healthy (it flapped a lot until it 
ied) but I have to wonder why it just sat there when the eagle was coming at 
t.  The eagle then ate the gull ... where are the camera guys when you need 
hem?
After several minutes gulls began landing again, and in a short while most had 
ettled again.  To my great surprise, I refound the gull of interest, sitting 
gain.  The bird gods smiled and it stood up and turned.  This time I could see 
rue colors, and the "dirty" look was due to fine brownish tinting, and the tail 
nd wing primaries were noticeably darker than rest of body, but still very pale 
ompared to a 1st winter Herring gull's, which I had several to compare to 
earby.  I was certain now - 1st-winter Thayer's!  And after a few minutes the 
ulls all got up again as one of the eagles came by in a power flight, but did 
ot go after any.  I got a great look at the Thayer's in flight, but only 
riefly, sine I lost it agin in the mass of swirling gulls.  After this, about 
,000+ gulls left, and many headed toward Upper Marlboro but the rest headed 
ast toward the Bay.
Highlights:
Ring-billed Gull 1060, mostly adults
erring Gull 550, about 3/4 adults
hayer's Gull 1
esser Black-backed Gull 1 adult
reater Black-backed Gull 2, 1 ad. and 1 2nd-winter
In other bird news, we still have the Baltimore Oriole coming to our feeders, 
nd 2 American Tree Sparrows, but I did not see any Fox Sparrows here today.
Cheers!!
eff Shenot
room Md