Sabine's Gull in St. Louis County
2018-10-10

'Rare Regular' in Minnesota

Mediocre image of Sabine's Gull (due to 25-30 mph winds and steady light rain at the time) on the ballfields at the Park Point Recreation Area in Duluth. Note the yellow-tipped bill and complete blackish hood, indicating an adult still in breeding plumage. (Most Sabine's records in MN are of juveniles.) Seen by the Minn. Birding Weekends group, and first spotted by Judy Johnson. After about an hour it flew off over the bay side of Park Point and appeared to be heading towards downtown Duluth. (Later that day John Richardson saw two juvenile Black-legged Kittiwakes flying E past the Lester River – also apparently blown in off Lake Superior by the strong NE winds which gusted to 50+ mph.)

Kim R. Eckert; "digiscope" image with Leica 25-50x spotting scope.