RING-BILLED GULL (Larus d elawarensis ) 



Status . --Uncommon in offshore waters to the 30 fathom contour during fall 

 migration; uncommon over coastal waters within sight of land in winter. It is 

 an abundant spring and fall transient and winter visitant along coastal beach- 

 es, inlets, and bays from early August to mid-May, and is an uncommon strag- 

 gler in those areas during summer (Fig. 25). 



Maximum counts . --21 in 1.5 h, 2-15 km E Ocean City, 27 April 1974; 15 in 

 1 h, 2-10 km E Ocean City, 6 December 1975. 



(/) 



E 

 o 



CO 



X 

 X 

 X 



X 

 X 



u 



ul 



137 



118 



111 



95 





77 E 



- 54 ^ 



- 19 -3 



JFMAMJJASOND 



month 



I =0.1-1.0 1=1.1-10 



MEAN NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OBSERVED PER HOUR 



X = ZONE NOT SAMPLED IN THIS MONTH 



Figure 25. Seasonal abundance and seaward distribution patterns of the ring- 

 billed gull in the northern Chesapeake Bight, 1971-1977. 



BLACK-HEADED GULL (Larus ri dibundus ) 



Status . --Rare fall and spring transient and winter visitant. 



Records.— 1 imm, 18 km E Ocean City (38°22'N, 74°53'W), 19 November 1972; 

 1 ad, 2 km E Ocean City (38°19'N, 75°04'W), 12 January 1975; 1 ad, 37 km E 

 Ocean City (38°1?'N, 74°40'W), 3 February 1973; 1 ad, 28 km ESE Ocean City 

 (38°04'N, 74°06'W), 25 March 1973. 



Remarks . --Black-headed gulls were always seen among flocks of Bonaparte's 

 gulls within 50 km of shore, and showed no interest in chum. 



35 



