Franklin's Gull in Hennepin County
2011-12-13

Five or fewer records in Hennepin County for the Winter season

A Franklin's Gull has been seen on both Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis since December 4th. Today I observed this bird on Lake Harriet standing on an ice shelf preening. It was smaller than the nearby RBGU, and the mantle was darker, the thick eye arcs conspicuous, the depth of the dark hood, and the tinges of red in the bill and legs. I have seen this FRGU on both lakes during the day.

Conny M. Brunell