I had a good walk around Schoolhouse Pond this morning, with lots of birds singing and a nice variety of gulls flying over.  The highlights included one flyover adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (with a group of Herring Gulls), 4 continuing Blue-winged Teal (2 males and 2 females), and at least 14 Wilson's Snipe at the rear of the pond.

It is interesting how the mix of gulls flying over Schoolhouse Pond each morning varies from day to day.  Yesterday I had larger numbers of Laughing Gulls flying over (100+), making me think that I would predominately be seeing and hearing them for the rest of the spring.  But today I had only 7 Laughing Gulls, but had groups of Herring Gulls (including a lot of 1st year gulls) flying overhead, totalling over 60 heading towards the landfill.  Gulls mixed in with the Herring Gulls included a 2nd year Great Black-backed, the adult Lesser Black-backed, and a few Ring-billed Gulls.  I haven't had any flyover Bonaparte's Gulls here yet this spring.  

The Blue-winged Teal continue to feed unobtrusively in the vegetation at the rear of the pond.  There have also been a few Green-winged Teal at the rear of the pond, but I didn't see them today.  Also present were a few Wood Ducks, a Double-crested Cormorant, 2 Osprey, and several singing Chipping Sparrows.

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, Anne Arundel

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