We went to the Oyster River mouth in West Haven this afternoon and saw our first-of-the-year Bonaparte’s Gull there as well as several Northern Gannets flying over the sound. The gull was following a feeding flock of Red-breasted Mergansers, flying and landing amongst them as they dove for fish. Perhaps the mergansers were stirring up some plankton. In any case, this is the beginning of the annual season when you can see Bonaparte’s Gulls (and look for rarities such as Black-headed and Little Gull) at this location. These small gulls like to roost on the sand bars here at low tide. In years past, there were hundreds of Bonaparte’s Gulls seen here. In recent years, the maximum number is usually about 2 dozen. Nice all the same. Chris Loscalzo and Marianne Vahey, Woodbridge Sent from Mail for Windows