Great Black-backed Gull in St. Louis County
2013-11-28

'Rare Regular' in Minnesota

Normally avoidant of birders and photographers, this confiding adult Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) posed for a Thanksgiving portrait at Canal Park, Duluth. This individual was first spotted by Ted Keyel on the 23rd; a different adult had been seen in the Duluth-Superior area since the 18th, and both adults were at Canal Park on the 23rd and 30th of November. At least four 1st-cycle and three 2nd-cycle Great Black-backeds have been documented and differentiated by digital images of their tail patterns so far this fall/winter; images of these and other Rare Regular larids in the Duluth-Superior area can be found at Karl Bardon's web site. The direct link to the Great Black-backed Gull images is http://www.pbase.com/karlbardon/gbbg_20132014&page=all

Peder H. Svingen