[mou] Ross's Gull, So. St. Paul

[Bruce Fall]

 From 10:45-11:30 this morning (Sat., 15 Dec.) I watched an adult  
winter Ross's Gull in the Mississippi R. in South  St. Paul, about  
1/2 mile N of the pedestrian overpass at Grand and Hardman Ave. I  
watched the gull both on the ice at rather close range (125 m, with  
30x scope) and in flight (125-250 m). All pertinent field marks were  
noted, including white wedge-shaped tail, tiny black bill, very small  
size, pink bloom on underparts, solid gray primary pattern (both  
dorsally and ventrally) with white trailing edge of wing. The initial  
location was at the edge of open water about 1/2 mile N of the  
pedestrian overpass. At 11:20 it flew N to a small patch of open  
water about 1 mi. N of the overpass, and landed on the ice. When I  
left to send this message (11:40), I could no longer see the gull. I  
do not know if it continued farther N, or returned to the original  
area of open water.

Bruce A. Fall,
Minneapolis