Great Black-backed Gull in St. Louis County
2010-12-11

'Rare Regular' in Minnesota

First-cycle Great Black-backed Gull at Canal Park, Duluth, 11 December 2010. Also present was a second-cycle Great Black-backed Gull, adult Glaucous Gull, adult Iceland Gull, third-cycle probable Iceland Gull, second-cycle probable Thayer's X Iceland Gull, and at least 8 Thayer's Gulls of all ages. Three Ring-billed Gulls were hanging tough despite highs in the teens and winds NNE 25-35 mph. On the 10th, a second first-cycle and an adult Great Black-backed were also present at Canal Park for a total of four Great Black-backeds. Minnesota has nearly 90 records of Larus marinus -- a remarkable change in status for a species with only three records prior to 1982.

Peder H. Svingen