Iceland Gull in St. Louis County
2011-06-02

'Rare Regular' in Minnesota - Five or fewer records in St. Louis County for the Summer season

First-cycle type Thayer's Gull seen on both sides of the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line at the Superior Entry, 2 June 2011. This image replaces a previously uploaded image of the same bird taken 31 May. This individual is entering its second plumage cycle but still has a blackish bill. A second-cycle Thayer's with a dark-tipped bill has also been seen and photographed here through at least 4 June so at least two different Thayer's Gulls have lingered into June. Minnesota has only one previous summer season record -- a first-cycle bird found and photographed by Karl Bardon at Wisconsin Point and the Superior Entry 4 and 30 June 1998.

Peder H. Svingen