Back in December of 2011, I went to Baltimore County Maryland to see this adult Black-headed Gull:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiag1VIxrTDvUa270zEitn0oFA_Q6fH0cNgCwO9LQWEEpCFfwyXGvmyauBYFLJi7ypbuov6Ck1QzjlJXzYYqJbMSUBDWP7tsMqagvsNwz4mqqKRYQqab7gSQOTvSrBaH75lQra03qqwuiPH/s640/DSC_0202.JPG) |
BHGU. 14 December 2011. Baltimore County, MD. |
Then last week, while in the Baltimore area again, I learned that this same bird (presumably) had returned to the same mall parking lot (Hunt Valley Mall):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaHUgg2vQQaAmT0DrOefp0vdp9mdWp3D5RM643Q8wvRfD3HqLP4tIc-gmtV7LP8rqXWK7BNUymsMdBoDCb7p_pAQFtPagC_l_VwCf381RG7VzqaMgmgv9LhzAIqFv-A7v0MUBWEoPI0bV/s640/DSC_0145.JPG) |
BHGU (same individual above in basic plumage). 26 March 2013. Baltimore County, MD. |
The reoccurence of this individual reinforces the notion that gulls exhibit strong site fidelity.
A BHGU in alternate plumage is a first for me in the United States and so I was very pleased.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M4ABi3drRnV4u80D6goIWx0lF2rc8BNEjXgL62EmXLNED8I4S98pHmmts-qcvU7uNoRV1AEclxMc5SV8KHNOhF0xr1Lr8ICS8VPiGitEFV9Ca9ssJwjMSIyAMiRGVaFiRIhtRQ6-hJ-5/s400/DSC_0104.JPG) |
Although the coloration of this bird's legs are a deep red, they appear black in this
photo as they sit in the shadow of its tail. |
Interestingly, this smaller gull sat among the larger Ring-billeds but behaved in a very similar fashion, but even more aggressive and vocal when coming in for handouts. To read more about this click
here.