I searched through the gulls at Schoolhouse Pond during lunchtime (and slightly beyond) today.   When I went out, I ran into Mikey Lutmerdig and Dave Mozurkewich, who had already found the Black-headed Gull.  We got fairly extended views of the bird and at times pretty close, although it spent much of the time sleeping.  The lighting and conditions were much better today, but the bird still displayed a remarkably dark (at least to me), though distinctly reddish bill.

Also present was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, a partially leucistic Ring-billed Gull and two 1st winter gulls that had characteristics of "Nelson's" Gulls.  There were so many interesting gulls that I didn't do a very good job on my total numbers, but at the peak there was probably 150 or 200 Herring Gulls and 600 or so Ring-billed Gulls.  

Perhaps most interesting was an adult gull that looked (structurally and plumage-wise) like an adult Ring-billed Gull, but had no black ring on the bill.  The bill was all yellow (with perhaps a slight greenish tinge) and the legs were perhaps a shade darker than the surrounding Ring-billed Gulls.  However, the mantle, head shape, overall size and shape, and eye color (yellow) all pointed towards a Ring-billed Gull.  The bill seemed to be the same size and shape as the surrounding Ringers, but it was all yellow, with no black ring or red gony spot.  I got some digiscoped pictures of the bird and Mikey may have gotten some better photos.  Good birding,

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, MD