Great Black-backed Gull(Larus marinus) |
Year | Season | N | S | |
1962 | Spring | | | One adult seen in a flock of sitting adult and immature Herring Gulls on April 30 at Duluth by Janet C. Green. |
1976 | Fall | | | Immature at Duluth from 9-3 to 10-2, many observers (fide JG); third state rocerd. |
1981 | Winter | | | Minnesota's third state record: an individual at the Duluth dump from 1-3 until1-9 (mob); details in the Loon 54:66-67. |
1982 | Winter | | | An adult in Duluth from 12/16 until 12/22 and a different adult from 1/20 until 2/12 (mob). Details in The Loon 55:32-33 and 85. |
1985 | Fall | | | 11/17 Duluth, St. Louis Co. (one ad.) KL (The Loon 58:46-47) |
1986 | Spring | | | 3/15-29 Duluth, St. Louis Co. (l ad.) R. Johnson, m.ob., (The Loon 58:93). |
1986 | Winter | | | Both an adult and a first-winter individual were reported from Duluth intermittently between 12/15 and 2/18 (KE). Again see The Loon 59: 100-101 for details. |
1987 | Fall | | | 11/21 Wabasha (ad.) AP; first non-Duluth record (The Looh 60:46-47). |
1988 | Spring | | | 5/5 Duluth (1 ad.) BP (The Loon60:134). |
1991 | Fall | | | 11/22-30 Grand Marias, Cook County (first winter) Dick Rhume et al., 11/29 Black Dog Lake, Dakota County BL, et al. (The Loon 64:64). |
1991 | Winter | | | Adult present on the Mississippi River near Pigs Eye Lake in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington Counties from 12/7–1/1 mob, flying daily to roost at Black Dog Lake in Dakota County KB, and thereafter present only at Black Dog through at least 2/27 mob (The Loon 64:12/15). One first-winter individual reported from Knife River, Lake Co. 2/3 & 15, Duluth 2/28, and at Stony Point, St. Louis Co. 2/29 KE (The Loon 64:119–20). |
1992 | Spring | | | All reports: wintering adult in Dakota County last seen 3/8 TT (The Loon 64:12–15), wintering bird (first winter) at Knife River, Lake County, last seen 3/9 (The Loon 64:119–120). |
1992 | Fall | | | At least two individuals were present along the North Shore of Lake Superior: 11/7–18 Grand Marais, Cook County (first-winter) BS mob, 11/9 Duluth, St. Louis County (first-winter) KE (The Loon 65:50–51). |
1992 | Winter | | | Reported 12/16 Duluth, St. Louis Co. KE (The Loon 65:50–51). |
1993 | Winter | | | Reported in Duluth, 12/18–20 St. Louis DEd, PS et al. |
1994 | Spring | | | One report: 5/24 Lake Pepin, Goodhue Co. PBu (The Loon 66:146–147). |
1994 | Winter | | | A first-winter individual was reported from 12/9–1/8 in Duluth, St. Louis County PS, mob (The Loon 67:117–118). |
1995 | Spring | | | Reported 3/27 Pigs Eye Lake, Ramsey Co. (adult) KB (The Loon 67:181–182) and 3/27 St. Louis (first-winter) MH. The latter bird had been seen periodically since December (The Loon 67:111–112 and 1/7–118). |
1995 | Fall | | | Three birds, all in first-winter plumage: 11/11–12 Duluth, St. Louis County fide KE, PS (The Loon 68:69); 11/22 Black Dog Lake, Dakota County DBM; 11/25 Grand Marais, Cook County PS et al. (The Loon 68:68–69). |
1996 | Spring | | | Reported 3/30 from Old Cedar Ave. Bridge, Hennepin Co. (adult) SC, KB (The Loon 68:173–174). |
1996 | Fall | | | Reported 11/9 Duluth, St. Louis Co. (third-winter) KB. |
1997 | Fall | | | Reported 11/10–28 Cook (Grand Marais) KMH, mob, including two first-winter birds photographed side-by-side on 11/20–21 (KB). Another first-winter bird 11/26+ Dakota (Black Dog Lake) DEn et al. (The Loon 70:66–67) lingered until 12/20 when it was found dead. |
1997 | Winter | | | One first-winter individual present at Black Dog Lake, Dakota Co. died on 12/20 PBu, mob. Single first-winter birds were also noted 12/13 St. Louis Co. (Duluth) KB, PS, and on the Duluth and Two Harbors CBCs. The North Shore reports could involve the same individual. |
1998 | Spring | | | All reports: 4/14 St. Louis (first-year) KB, apparently the same bird relocated 5/8 (PS, KSu) and then seen intermittently through at least 5/30 mob. |
1998 | Fall | | | Only documented report: 11/8 Hennepin (first-winter on Lake Calhoun) PBu. Note: Erroneous date in proceedings article (The Loon 71:38). |
1998 | Winter | | | Reported 12/24 St. Louis (Duluth) PS (first-winter), presumably the same first-winter individual that overwintered at the adjacent Superior landfill in Wisconsin. |
1999 | Spring | | | All reports: 4/14 St. Louis (first-year) KB, 5/7–24 St. Louis (second-year) PS, mob. |
1999 | Fall | | | No reports. |
1999 | Winter | | | First-winter individual reported 12/13 Lake (Knife River) †PS. |
2000 | Spring | | | No reports. In recent springs, this species has usually been found in Duluth. |
2000 | Summer | | | Also a first summer record for Minnesota; immature documented 6/5 at Hearding Island in Duluth, St. Louis Co. †PHS. |
2000 | Fall | | | Both were juvenile/first-winter birds: 11/24+ Dakota (Black Dog L.) †ADS et al., 11/26 St. Louis (Superior Entry in Duluth) †PHS. |
2000 | Winter | | | First-winter bird from the fall season (11/24) reported through 12/16 Bloomington CBC (Black Dog Lake). Same individual seen 12/2 Hennepin (Lake Calhoun) mob. |
2001 | Spring | | | A first-year bird 5/7 Wilkin (Breckenridge lagoons) †KJB, JDa was the first one ever found in western Minnesota (The Loon 73:249–250). |
2001 | Fall | | | No reports. |
2001 | Winter | | | All reports: juvenile 12/4 (Duluth) MH, ph. †PHS, one adult 12/20 †Excelsior CBC, an immature (first or second-winter) 1/1–23 Dakota (Black Dog L. & Burnsville landfill) †ADS, †CRM, JPM, m.ob., and one adult 1/26–27 St. Louis (Duluth) ph. †PHS, †MH et al. |
2002 | Spring | | | Late south 5/1 Dakota (first-year at Burnsville) †KJB. |
2002 | Fall | | | No reports. |
2003 | Spring | | | No reports. |
2003 | Fall | | | Only report: 11/15 Lake (first-winter at Two Harbors) ph. †JWL. |
2004 | Spring | | | Two documented reports, both at Park Pt., Duluth: 5/20–27 (second-year bird, second latest date) RMD, JMu, ph. †MH, †JWL, ph. MSS, m.obs., 5/22 (first-year) †MH, †JWL. |
2004 | Fall | | | First-winter birds on St. Louis County side of Superior Entry 10/11 (1) †DA, 10/23 (2) †MH, ph. BSc. Only south report: 11/20 Hennepin (first-winter at L. Calhoun, second earliest south date) †PEB, †BAF. |
2004 | Winter | | | First-winter individual found 12/4 Hennepin (L. Calhoun) †BAF, †PEB. Presumably this same bird was seen on multiple occasions 12/23–1/6 Dakota (Black Dog L.) JPM, PEB, m.ob. and 2/8 Washington (Pt. Douglas) ph. JPM. |
2005 | Spring | | | One in its first plumage cycle 3/15 Dakota (Spring Lake P.R.) †CMB may have been the same individual frequenting various Twin Cities locations since early December (please see winter report). |
2005 | Fall | | | No reports. |
2005 | Winter | | | Documented 12/4 Dakota/Ramsey (1st-cycle, Hardman Ave.) ph. KJB. |
2006 | Spring | | | No reports. |
2006 | Fall | | | First-cycle bird on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry 11/5 ph. SLF, DBF, 11/8 DAY, 11/13 JWH, 11/18 DWK, JLO; presumably this same individual was at Canal Park 11/16–17 St. Louis ph. †KRE, CMB (also see winter report). |
2006 | Winter | 1 | | Presumably the same first-cycle bird first found 11/5 at the Superior Entry (see fall report) visited Canal Park, Duluth 1/6 St. Louis †KRE, JCC, CRM, LS. |
2007 | Spring | 1 | 2 | South reports: 3/24–25 Washington (Pt. Douglas) TPB, SJR, †DWK, 3/27 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) †CMB. New county record: 4/15 Cass (first-cycle at Kabakona Bay, Leech Lake) †DAY. [Corrected] |
2007 | Fall | 2 | | Reports from St. Louis: 9/8 (adult seen on Lake Superior “pelagic” boat trip near Wisconsin Point) m.ob., 11/17 (first-cycle, Duluth harbor) ph. KRE, 11/18 (a second first-cycle gull at the mouth of Miller Creek, distinguishable from 11/17 bird in photographs taken) ph. PHS. At least one of these first-cycle gulls lingered until 11/25 m.ob. One report also from Lake where a second-cycle gull was seen in Two Harbors on 11/23 JWL. Also see winter report. |
2007 | Winter | 1 | | A second-cycle bird reported 1/12–2/2+ St. Louis (Duluth harbor) probably was the same individual seen the prior two months at the Superior, WI landfill and at Two Harbors (Lake Co.) †PHS, ph. †KRE. |
2008 | Spring | 1 | | All reports from St. Louis: 3/16–4/12 (one second-cycle, Duluth) †PHS, 4/8–10 (adult on Silver Lake, Virginia) DBF, †SLF, 5/4 St. Louis (another second-cycle at Interstate Island) †PHS. |
2008 | Fall | 1 | 2 | Two north reports from St. Louis: 11/13 (first-cycle, Virginia) †ERC, 11/25+ St. Louis (fourth-cycle, Duluth) ph. KJB. All south reports: 11/20+ Dakota/Ramsey (first-cycle at Black Dog Lake and Pig's Eye S.N.A.) †JPM, †BAF, †DAB, †PEB; 11/30 Dakota (second-cycle at Black Dog Lake) †BAF, †DWK, †PEB. [Corrected] |
2008 | Winter | 1 | 5 | A minimum of seven individuals based on age class present in Duluth during period and seen by many: 12/1 St. Louis (3 first-cycle at Superior Entry) KJB, 12/5 St. Louis (fourth-cycle and 2 first-cycle, Superior Entry) KJB, 11/24. – 12/15 (4th-cycle) †PHS, 12/12 (2nd-cycle) †PHS, 12/16 (1st-cycle) †PHS, 2/1 (4th-cycle, probably same bird as one seen first half of Dec.) †PHS, 2/1–11 (adult) CLW, ph. †PHS. At least three 1st-cycle individuals present throughout December in Dakota/Washington and seen together 12/5 at Black Dog Lake JPM, BAF, PEB. The 3 in St. Louis and Dakota set a record high count for the state. |
2009 | Spring | 1 | | Fourth-cycle bird present in St. Louis (Duluth) since winter last observed 4/1 PHS. |
2009 | Fall | 1 | | Seven individuals differentiated by KJB's photos of tail pattern in St. Louis, principally at Duluth's Superior Entry and Canal Park (median arrival 11/15): 10/4–11/7 (first-cycle) ph. KJB, PHS; 11/7–21 (second-cycle) KJB, †PHS, ph. MLH; 11/14+ (adult, joined by second adult at Canal Park 11/19+) MLH, ph. KJB, ph. PHS; 11/21+ (second-cycle) ph. KJB; 11/22–25 (first-cycle) ph. KJB; 11/22+ (second-cycle) ph. KJB. Record high counts 11/21, 11/22 (4, one first-cycle, one second-cycle, two adults) KJB, MLH, PHS. |
2009 | Winter | 1 | | Over-wintered 12/1 – 2/28 St. Louis (Duluth) m.ob. Record high count of 7 1/1–17 St. Louis (Duluth) MLH, PHS. In addition, photographs by KJB of rectrices in flight indicate there were at least 16 different individuals present during the fall/winter period in Duluth/Superior (11 in MN in the winter). See also Fall report. |
2010 | Spring | 1 | | Two over-wintering birds were found in St. Louis (Duluth): an adult through 3/8, and a first-cycle through 3/22 (KJB). |
2010 | Fall | 1 | | Early north (median 11/15) 10/9 St. Louis (juv., Superior Entry) ph. PHS, all other reports from Duluth in St. Louis beginning 11/6 (juv., Canal Park) ph. †PHS. Total of 6 for the season including 5 first-cycles and a second-cycle bird 11/12+ KJB. |
2010 | Winter | 1 | | Only found in Duluth, St. Louis, but present there in record numbers. Numbers slowly grew throughout the winter, from 4 in late December, 6 in mid-February, 7 on 2/23 (5 first-cycle, 2 adults) ph. LKn, and culminating in a state high count of 9 on 2/26 (8 first-cycle and 1 second-cycle at 27th Ave. W.) PHS. At least one adult and another second-cycle were also present during the season, making a total of at least 11 birds. |
2011 | Spring | 2 | | Overwintered in St. Louis (various locations in Duluth) where an astounding 8 were found 3/13 (6 first-cycle, 1 second-cycle, and 1 adult at 27th Ave. West, Duluth) PHS. Smaller numbers reported through 5/7, then another appeared 5/25 (age?) ANy, and a second-cycle at Superior Entry 5/29 through 5/31+ (latest date on record, but see summer report!) ph. PHS. Only report away from St. Louis: 5/28 Cook (ad., Grand Marais) SLL, SG. |
2011 | Summer | 1 | | First summer record 6/6 St. Louis (second-cycle bird at Superior Entry) ph. PHS. |
2011 | Fall | 2 | | All reports: 9/23–27 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) ph. KJB, CHk, 11/12 Cook (unaged, Grand Marais) m.ob., plus two individuals at Canal Park, Duluth 11/15–28 (first-cycle) ph. PHS, 11/17+ (second-cycle) ph. KJB, ph. MLH, ph. PHS. |
2011 | Winter | 1 | 2 | All north reports from St. Louis (Duluth area) m.ob., with a season total of at least 8 different individuals including 3 first cycle and 3 second cycle identified by photos plus 1 third-cycle and 1 adult KJB; most probably overwintered. Single-day high counts 1/10 St. Louis (11, Canal Park) TAT, 2/7 (7, W.L.S.S.D. / 27th Ave. West) PHS, JLK, MLH. South reports 12/7–10 Wabasha (second-cycle) BRL, RLE, RBJ, DAC, 12/26 Goodhue (first-cycle) PEJ, DFN. |
2012 | Spring | 1 | | Observed in St. Louis (various locations in Duluth) as late as 3/25 (second-cycle, Interstate Island W.M.A.) PHS. High count 3/2 St. Louis (3, one first-cycle and two second-cycles at Canal Park) PHS. A first-cycle bird was later seen on 5/19 in Duluth ph. PHS, KSt. |
2012 | Fall | 1 | | All reports from St. Louis (Duluth) beginning 11/6 Canal Park (first-cycle) KJB (early median 11/15), 11/7 mouth of Lester River (adult) KJB, 11/10 Western Lake Superior Sanitary District facility (second-cycle). The first third-cycle bird was found 11/25 Canal Park PHS, and all four of these age classes were seen at Canal Park 11/27 KJB. |
2012 | Winter | 2 | 2 | Reported throughout the season north St. Louis (Duluth area) m.ob., with high counts 12/28 (Canal Park): 8 JLK and 7 (3 first-cycle, 1 second-cycle, 2 third-cycle, 1 adult) KJB. January-February counts were five or fewer. One report away from Duluth area: 2/22 Lake (Two Harbors) SMy. One adult south 12/8–18 Dakota, Hennepin (Black Dog Lake, then Lake Harriet) †CAs, ph. †CMB, †PEB, m.ob. |
2013 | Spring | 2 | 1 | All north reports from St. Louis except 3/17 Lake (adult, Knife River Marina) EBr. High counts 3/31 St. Louis (10, mouth of Miller Creek) KJB, 4/21 St. Louis (5, mouth of Miller Creek) JLK. Late north 4/28 St. Louis (mouth of Miller Creek) ph. AM, 5/6 St. Louis (third-cycle) ANy, 5/22 St. Louis (Park Point) KJB (median 5/5). Only south report 5/5 Hennepin (Lake Calhoun) SMC. |
2013 | Fall | 1 | | All reports were from St. Louis, primarily from Canal Park and Superior Entry. First found 9/27–29 (first-cycle) ANy, ALo, m.ob., followed by 10/19 TRK, 10/20 (second-cycle; same as 10/19 bird?) ph. MLH, ph. PHS, m.ob., and then regular reports from late October through the season's end. Peak count of 4 on 11/23 (two second-cycles, one near-adult, one adult) TRK, MLH. Seasonal total for Duluth of at least 8 (four first-cycles, two second-cycles, 2 adults) PHS. |
2013 | Winter | 1 | | All reports from St. Louis (Duluth, mostly Canal Park) m.ob. through 12/27 (1, JLK), with peak counts 12/1 (7) JLK, 12/13 (5) JLK. |
2014 | Spring | 2 | | All north reports 3/5 Lake (adult, near Two Harbors) †JWL, 3/17 Lake (adult, Knife River) ELC, 3/22 St. Louis (third- or fourth-cycle, Canal Park) ClN, 5/13 St. Louis (2, first-cycle and second-cycle, Park Point) ph. KJB. |
2014 | Fall | 1 | | All north 11/15 St. Louis (Superior Entry) AnG, RJ, MLH, 11/23 St. Louis (2, second-cycle and an adult, Canal Park) PHS, 11/29 St. Louis (adult, Canal Park) JCr. |
2014 | Winter | 2 | | Reported from Lake (Knife River Marina) 2/7 ClN. All other reports from St. Louis (Duluth) m.ob., with high count 1/19 St. Louis (4) GTe. Other reports were of 1–2 birds (adults, first-cycle) through early February. Last reported 2/9 JSf. |
2015 | Spring | 1 | | Only record was 3/28 St. Louis (Interstate Island W.M.A.) ClN, though there were reports of numerous individuals at the Superior, WI landfill throughout March. |
2015 | Fall | 1 | | One early north report 9/25 St. Louis (Superior Entry) JPR, HHD, then none until at least two showed up in Duluth: 11/21 St. Louis (Superior Entry) JPR, JLK, 11/22 St. Louis BMu, 11/24 St. Louis (adult, Canal Park) JLK, JPR, 11/28+ St. Louis (2, same adult, one first-cycle, Canal Park) ph. JWd, ToL, ph. JPR, ph. PHS. |
2015 | Winter | 2 | | Small numbers reported St. Louis (Duluth) from December to 2/7 m.ob., with high count 12/12 (4, all first-cycle) PHS. At least three different birds (adult, third-cycle, first-cycle) were seen throughout January, mostly individually. One report from Lake: 12/20 Two Harbors CBC. No south reports. |
2016 | Spring | 1 | 1 | All south 3/9–13 Wabasha (2, both third-cycles) †DAB. All north reports were from St. Louis, where last seen 4/28 (three age groups), then 5/3 (first-cycle, Duluth harbor) ClN. High count 3/15 St. Louis (4, Park Point R.A.) JPR. Also see Insufficiently Documented Reports. |
2016 | Summer | 1 | | New county record 6/15 Itasca (adult, Trout Lake) ph. SC. |
2016 | Fall | 2 | | All north 10/25–28 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) ph. PHS, RJ, MiO, 11/6 St. Louis (2 first-cycles, Superior Entry) ClN, 11/13 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) ClN, ph. LiH, BMu, 11/21–26 Cook (adult, Grand Marais Harbor) ph. SNe, ph. DLB, ph. JBs, ph. LiH, 11/26–30 St. Louis (adult, Canal Park) PHS, ph. ALx. |
2016 | Winter | 1 | | Reported throughout the season (through 2/16) in small numbers (1–2, including at least 2 adults and 1 first-cycle) St. Louis (Duluth). No other reports. |
2017 | Spring | 1 | 2 | All south 3/2–5 Hennepin (adult, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) †BAF, m.ob., then same individual 3/6 Dakota (Black Dog Lake, west outflow) BAF, m.ob.; also 3/26 Dakota (Spring Lake P.R.) †LiH. After no reports in second half of February, north reports resumed with at least four individuals found in Duluth in March: a first-cycle was found 3/5 (mouth of Miller Creek) SJy, NSg, ELa, LBy, followed by an adult 3/15 (mouth of Miller Creek) JPR, a third-cycle 3/18 (mouth of Miller Creek) JPR, three individuals (adult and two first-cycles) 3/19 (Interstate Island W.M.A.) PHS, after which numbers dropped until one adult was seen 3/26 JPR; a month later two first-cycles were found 4/28 Park Point JPR. |
2017 | Fall | | | First fall season with no reports since 2005. |
2017 | Winter | 1 | | The fewest reports since winter 2007: six dates (all singles) from 12/10–2/24 St. Louis (Duluth) JLK, JPR, ebd. |
2018 | Spring | 1 | | All reports were of singles in Duluth, St. Louis County, beginning 3/3 (mouth of Lester River) ASu, LiH, except for 3/21–22 (2 adults, Duluth Port Terminal) KnM, ASu, FJN. Late north 4/10 (adult, W.S.H.C.) FJN, and then over a month later an adult was found 5/27 (W.S.H.C.) ph. EBr. |
2018 | Fall | | | Â Second consecutive fall season this species has not been reported. |
2018 | Winter | 2 | | Singles reported St. Louis (Duluth) 12/19–1/12 m.ob., possibly all the same adult. This species appears to have declined in the Duluth area over the past few winters. One report from Cook: 1/20 (Grand Marais) MaJ. |
2019 | Spring | 1 | 3 | All south 3/18 Goodhue (first-cycle, Lake Pepin) PEJ, 3/20–22 Dakota, Washington (adult, Spring Lake) † EzH, m.ob. All north 3/18–21 St. Louis (adult, Duluth Harbor) FJN, m.ob., 5/18 St. Louis (third-cycle, Old Stella Jones Pier) JLK. |
2019 | Fall | | | Third consecutive fall season this species has not been reported. |
2019 | Winter | 1 | | Â Singles reported 1/17–2/16 St. Louis (Duluth) JLK, m.ob., possibly the same adult. The decline of this species in Duluth over the past several winters continues. |
2020 | Spring | 1 | | Only reported from St. Louis County: 4/11 (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) StK, 5/2 (adult, Park Point R.A.) StK, 5/20 (no age details, Park Point R.A.) PAl, m.ob. |
2020 | Fall | 1 | | Only report 9/30 St. Louis (first-cycle, Superior Entry) MLH (also see Insufficiently Documented Records). |
2020 | Winter | 1 | | Many reports from St. Louis (Duluth) of a first-cycle (starting mid December), joined later by an adult mid January. Apparently only 2 birds for the season, in contrast to 11 or more a decade earlier. |
2021 | Spring | 1 | | Only reported from St. Louis County: 3/2 (E 1st St.) RyS, 3/12 (adult, W.S.H.C.) FJN, 3/14 (E 1st St.) RyS, 3/27 (first-cycle, St. Louis Bay) PHS, 3/28 (Duluth Port Terminal) BEA, 4/1 (Interstate Island W.M.A.) AAz, 4/10 (Park Point R.A.) HTo, StK, 4/11 (2, Park Point R.A.) TRK, StK, 4/22–23 (Park Point R.A.) TRK, StK. |
2021 | Fall | | | Fourth fall season in last five with no reports. |
2021 | Winter | 1 | | All reports were from St. Louis (Duluth, various locations): many reports, nearly all singles, from 1/8 – 2/28 m.ob., of at least one adult and one first-cycle. Only one report of more than two: 1/13 (3, mouth of Miller Creek) ebd. |
2022 | Spring | 1 | | Only reported from St. Louis County: 3/4 (mouth of Miller Creek) RJS, 4/10 (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) StK, 4/20 (Park Point R.A.) SeM. |
2022 | Fall | | | No reports. |
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  | Rare migrant and winter visitant. |