Large numbers of gulls gathered in the bay between Stratford Point, Short Beach and the Housatonic River around 3:30PM today. I estimated about 3,500 individuals, with a steady stream of newcomers arriving constantly. The bulk of the birds seemed concentrated on the slightly submerged sand bar that parallels the breakwater, but many hundred gulls were sitting near the water line on the Short Beach. All lifted off within about 30 seconds after a boat passed and the flock later settled on the beach off Francis Street just east of the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center at Milford Point. Currently, large numbers of gulls are gathering just offshore at Stratford Point. I spent the last half hour counting waterfowl and got about 6,000 Greater Scaup in a long line extending east from Stratford Point, as well as a flock of 2,700-3,000 Scoter sp. (almost all White-winged Scoter as far as I could tell) to the southwest of the point. An adult Northern Gannet flew low over the Scaup flock as I was scoping them. ======= Twan Leenders Conservation Biologist Connecticut Audubon Society 2325 Burr Street Fairfield, CT 06824 Tel. (203) 259 6305 ext. 114 Email: tleenders@ctaudubon.org