3/25 - After work today, there were very few gulls (and only 2 Bonaparte's) at Southport Beach. Long Beach in Stratford was another story. The numbers of gulls were phenomenal the entire length of the beach, and around the "corner" to the Lordship Seawall and east to Stratford Lighthouse. I encountered Keith & Jen Mueller, and we enjoyed the constant motion of the plankton-feeding hordes, and looking through the flocks for rarities. (It was a pretty cold windchill). The numbers (rough estimates): -10,000 +/- Gulls, maybe 70% Ring-billed, 25% Herring, 5% Bonaparte's -1 first-winter ICELAND GULL flew west past the seawall. -about 20 NORTHERN GANNETS flying and diving farther offshore. Presumably the plankton has also attracted baitfish? -hundreds of Brant, and lesser numbers of scaup, ww scoters, rb mergs, long-tailed ducks, etc. I could have looked through them for hours, but sundown came. It was great enjoying the spectacle with delightful friends. Prior, there were 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS in the salt marsh behind 650 Long Beach Blvd. (McKinney NWR). Frank Mantlik Stratford