Slaty-backed Gull in St. Louis County
2009-11-30

'Casual' in Minnesota - Five or fewer records in St. Louis County for the Fall season

This near-adult, third-cycle Slaty-backed Gull was first seen around 0915 today, 30 Nov, at Canal Park in Duluth by Karl Bardon, and presumably it is the same individual seen by Karl and others earlier in November on the Duluth side of the Superior Entry. The gull was not present when I looked for it about an hour later, but between ~1100 and noon it reappeared on the breakwall on the south side of the Canal Park shipping channel, and was seen and photographed by Peder Svingen and myself. Since I assume Peder (and possibly Karl) have better photos than I of the gull standing on the breakwall, I submit this photo showing this species' classic "string-of-pearls" pattern on the under surface of the outer primaries.

Kim R. Eckert