[mou] Lesser Black-backed Gull - Lake Mille Lacs

[Steve Weston]

At about 3pm today (thursday) I observed a first year Lesser Black-backed Gull on the south west corner of Lake Mille Lacs just a little ways south east of the casino.  The gull was at rest with a flock of about 50 Ring-billed Gulls.  ID had to wait until I got home to look at Harrison's Seabirds.  I was surprised at the ID, as there are virtually no summer records of this gull in the summer in Minnesota.

Description:  The gull was larger than the largest Ring-billed Gulls, yet not as large as I would expect for a Herring Gull.  Back and wings were checkered brown, not as fine as with Thayer's.  Wing tips and tail were brown.  Rest of bird was whitish, except for a dark spot around eye and darkish line extending back from eye.  there was also a dark smudge on the head behind the eye.  Legs were pale pink and bill, which was heavier than the Ring-bills, was all black.

Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN
sweston2 at comcast.net
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