The BLACK-HEADED GULL was visible around 7:20 this morning, when the fog began to dissipate, and flew away around 7:30. It had not returned by the time I left at 8:00.

I had sworn off looking for this bird after my fourth attempt, which was last Thursday, three hours of standing around in slush. We had tried for it the previous Thursday, when it was first reported, I was gone for the next four days, and after three strike-outs last week I had given up. However, the multiple positive sightings over this past weekend, when I was away again, lured me back for what I hoped would be the last time. When I arrived a little after 7:00, all I could pick out were CANADA GEESE, seemingly hundreds, most of which took off. I set up my scope near the bucket and was glad that the gulls were directly across. I had very clear looks at the Black-headed Gull, which is a little smaller than its seven companion RING-BILLED GULLS, with a black spot behind the eye and a small dark bill (not enough light to see color at that time). In flight, I could see the white on the leading edge of the wings and dark on the undersides. It called once, sounding different than the Ring-bills, a little higher and raspier.

I spent the next half-hour trying to count ducks. It was still very gloomy, and ducks that were up in vegetation on the banks were especially hard to see. I am confident of at least 22 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 29 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 5 WOOD DUCKS, 3 REDHEADS, 58 MALLARDS, 26 AMERICAN WIGEONS, 6 RING-BILLED DUCKS, and 1 GADWALL. There were also 6 TUNDRA SWANS.

Leslie Starr (the photographer slept in)
Baltimore

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