[mou] Slaty-backed Gull report

[Kim R Eckert]

I just received a phone call from Ken Hoffman who reports that he and 
Molly saw a gull in Grand Marais, Cook Co, they identified as an adult 
Slaty-backed Gull. It was seen about 6 pm today on the East Bay side of 
town. They based their ID on the gull's dark pink legs (i.e., darker 
than on Herring Gull), overall size similar to that of Herring Gull 
(i.e., too small for Great Black-backed), and broad white trailing edge 
to the blackish upper wing surface seen in flight.

I forgot to ask Ken if they considered the possibility of Western Gull 
(which I'm guessing would be more likely than a Slaty-backed to stray 
out-of-range in July?), and, if so, how that species was eliminated. 
(There was no answer when I called back a few minutes ago to ask about 
this.) Both Slaty-backed and Western gulls would be first state 
records.

Ken and Molly will be looking for the gull again tomorrow morning, and 
I will check back with them and I post any further updates at that 
time.

Kim Eckert