Hi all,

Jo Anna and I birded the Eastern Shore most of the day yesterday (1-27).  We
arrived at the Salisbury Landfill at around 1120 and noted around 2000
(lowish estimate) gulls loafing on the hillside above the active dumping
area as viewed from outside along Naylor Mill Road.  One of the first birds
spotted was a immature (too far to tell if 1st or 2nd cycle) GLAUCOUS GULL
on the top of the mound.  I focused on the gulls on the pond and tallied 7
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (3 Ad., 2 third cycle, 2 first cycle) among the
thousand or so birds that cycled in and out of there.  The most interesting
bird was an adult THAYER'S GULL loafing and bathing in the water when first
spotted, and photographed as it flew back over to the landfill.  The
structure of the bird, dark eye, and especially the darkness and pattern of
the primaries seem to rule out a Kumlien's/Thayer's hybrid, please let me
know what you think.
From there we headed to Ocean City Inlet where some of the highlights were
55 COMMON EIDERs off the south jetty (there were at least a few more, but I
had to start a second count of the flock and I saw some drift into an area
where they were no longer visible), 3 GREAT CORMORANTS, 8 WHITE-WINGED
SCOTER, 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKs, and 7 RED-THROATED LOONs (in a tight group in
close to the north jetty) among the other regulars.

Photos of the Thayer's Gull can be seen at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeycerw/

Good Birding!

Mikey Lutmerding
Croom, MD