Dear Sun Spots: My daughter and I were traveling in Aroostook during the Columbus Day weekend. When we were on Route 1 between Houlton and Presque Isle there were freshly picked fields of potatoes with hundreds of sea gulls in them. There is no ocean or large body of water in the near vicinity. We both had different ideas as to why they were there but nothing definite. Could you give us a practical explanation on this? – Roland Cote, Mexico.

Answer: Sun Spots contacted Maine Audubon and according to Staff Naturalist Judy Walker, the seagulls you most likely saw were Ring-billed Gulls. Judy pointed out that these familiar gulls breed primarily inland in North America, specifically near the Great Lakes, and migrate from their breeding grounds to winter grounds along coasts from British Columbia and Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. The Ring-billed Gull feeds on insects and earthworms and forage while walking on land. The freshly picked potato fields created the perfect environment for their foraging diet.

For more information about the Maine Audubon or Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat, visit the Maine Audubon Web site at www.maineaudubon.org. And, to learn more about the Ring-billed Gull or other bird species, Judy Walker suggests visiting the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Web site at www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/allaboutbirds.

In addition, Stella Walsh a naturalist volunteer, also at Maine Audubon notes that gulls, although usually associated with the coast, are not just “sea” birds. For example, Ring-billed Gulls typically make their home on lakes and rivers. Even gulls normally associated with the coast will forage and sometimes winter inland. The Mormons credit gulls with saving their early settlement in Utah by devouring a plague of grasshoppers. Your reader’s gulls were likely taking advantage of the recently turned over field, eating the invertebrates exposed by during potato harvest.

Dear Sun Spots: The Farmington Emblem Club is having a craft fair on Nov. 5 and Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tables are still available. You can call Debbie at 779-1716. Thank you. – Debbie, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: My coworker and I disagree.

I say the actor that does the Wellpatch commercial is William Shatner. She says no. Who’s right? – Kristin Goodhart, No Town.

Answer: Your co-worker is right! Sorry. Sun Spots contacted The Mentholatum Company who say the actor is Roy Leake Jr. Unfortunately they had no more information about him. So you lose this one! Incidentally, Sun Spots has found several references and reviews mentioning this actor who seems to work out of the Los Angeles/California area.

Dear Sun Spots: Do you know of anyone who buys leftover lawn sale items? I have some stuff that I would like to sell, windows, swing set chair, dresser and little things. Thanks. – Rita, No Town.

Answer: Sun Spots does not have any on a list, and perhaps there might be some readers out there interested in this and willing to contact the column with information.

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