Great Black-backed Gull in St. Louis County
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'Rare Regular' in Minnesota

Presumed fourth-cycle Great Black-backed Gull (GBBG) observed by Erik Bruhnke and Peder H. Svingen at Canal Park, Duluth, 2/13/2009. Note bill size and shape with dark markings on tip; long, pale pink legs; sparse grayish-brown streaking on head and nape; blackish mantle with worn or brownish-tinged lesser/median upper secondary wing-coverts; narrow white tertial crescent; and relatively small white apical spots on folded primaries. This individual was first found by Peder H. Svingen in the Duluth harbor 2/1/2009. An adult GBBG sporting a yellowish bill with red gonydeal spot, unstreaked white plumage on its head and neck, relatively large white apical spots on its folded primaries, and showing a long white tip on p10 with a white mirror on p9 in flight, was found by Christopher L. Wood while leading a WINGS tour 2/1/2009. Both birds were refound and photographed side-by-side on the 11th.

Digiscoped image by Peder H. Svingen, Nikon Coolpix P80, Leica Televid 77mm APO.