MOURC Proceedings Archive for The Loon

	MOURC Proceedings Archive - Gulls, Terns	Accepted Duplicates
	This is the 1981 to present Records Committee Proceedings archive for The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. The last 2 years are available to MOU members.

Families

Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
New World Quail
Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys
Grebes
Pigeons, Doves
Cuckoos
Nightjars
Swifts
Hummingbirds
Rails, Gallinules, Coots
Limpkin
Cranes
Stilts, Avocets
Plovers

Sandpipers
Jaegers
Alcids
Gulls, Terns
Loons
Shearwaters and Petrels
Storks
Frigatebirds
Boobies and Gannets
Anhingas
Cormorants
Pelicans
Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons
Ibises

New World Vultures
Osprey
Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
Barn Owls
Screech-Owls, Owls
Woodpeckers
Caracaras, Falcons
Flycatchers
Vireos
Shrikes
Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows
Martins, Swallows
Kinglets
Silky-flycatchers

Nuthatches
Wrens
Thrashers, Mockingbirds
Dippers
Thrushes
Old World Flycatchers
Old World Sparrows
Pipits
Finches
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Towhees, Sparrows
Yellow-breasted Chat
Blackbirds, Orioles
Warblers

Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks

Proceedings

Species: Gulls, Terns

	Ref	First	Last	Location	County	Comment	Status
Great Black-backed Gull (R) (Larus marinus)						Start Date 1936-01-01
	21:63-64	1949	index			Minnesota Record of the Great Black-backed Gull
	31:26	1959	index			Great Black-backed Gull Seen on the North Shore
	34:99-100	1962	index			Unusual Gull Observations in Duluth
	41:55-56	1969	index			Observation of a Black-backed Gull
	48:176	1976	index			Great Black-backed Gull in Duluth
	54:66-67	1982	index			Fourth Minnesota Record of Great Black-backed Gull
1	54:147	1982-01-03	1982-01-09	Duluth	St. Louis	(vote 7-0) Loon 54:66-67)	Accepted
2	55:117	1982-12-16	1982-12-21	Duluth	St. Louis	(vote 7-0; Loon 55:32-33)	Accepted
	55:32-33	1983	index			Fifth Great Black-backed Gull Record for Minnesota
	55:85-86	1983	index			Another Observation of Adult Great Black-backed Gull at Duluth
3	55:117	1983-01-20	1983-02-15	Duluth	St. Louis	(vote 7-0; Loon 55:85-86)	Accepted
4	58:42	1985-11-17		Duluth	St. Louis	(vote 6-1; The Loon 58:46-47).	Accepted
	58:46-47	1986	index			Great Black-backed Gull at Duluth
	58:93-94	1986	index			Great Black-backed Gull, Duluth/Superior Entry
5	59:143	1986-12-15	1987-02-22	Duluth	St. Louis	(votes on all five records 7-0; The Loon 59:100-101).	Accepted
	59:100-101	1987	index			Overwintering Gulls at Duluth, 1986-87
6	59:143	1987-01-10	1987-02-18	Duluth	St. Louis	(imm.) (votes on all five records 7-0; The Loon 59:100-101).	Accepted
7	60:13	1987-11-21		near Read's Landing	Wabasha	(vote 7-0; The Loon 60:46-47).	Accepted
	avian information	1987-11-21			Wabasha	11/21 Wabasha (first county record) 11/21 Wabasha (ad.) AP; first non-Duluth record (The Looh 60:46-47).
	60:46-47	1988	index			Great Black-backed Gull Record in Wabasha County
	60:134	1988	index			Great Black-backed Gull in Duluth
8	61:10	1988-05-05		Duluth	St. Louis	(vote7-0; TheLoon60:134) .	Accepted
9	61:121	1988-12-02	1988-12-11	Black Dog L.	Dakota	(vote 7-0; The Loon 61:39).	Accepted
	avian information	1988-12-02	1988-12-11		Hennepin	12/2-11 Hennepin (first county record)
	61:3-4	1989	index			A Gathering of Gulls
	61:39	1989	index			A Great Black-backed Gull at Black Dog Lake
	63:154	1991-03-08		St. Paul	Ramsey	(vote 0-7) . While it was agreed that this probably was a "black-backed" gull of some kind, there was no mention of leg color and no direct size comparison available with any other gulls; therefore, the possibility of Lesser Black-backed Gull is not precluded .	Not Accepted
	64:15	1991-04-20		Palisade Head Wayside	Lake	(vote l-6). Although it was agreed the identification of this adult gull was probably correct, the observer was unable to see leg color, and the size of the bird was uncertain since no other bird was present for direct size comparison. Therefore, the possibility of Lesser Blackbacked was not eliminated.	Not Accepted
10	64:15	1991-11-23	1991-11-30	Grand Marais	Cook	(vote 7-0; The Loon 64:64,65).	Accepted
	avian information	1991-11-29	1992-03-10		Ramsey	11/29-3/10 Ramsey (first county record) 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).
	64:12-15	1992	index			Notes on the Adult Great Black-backed Gull in the Twin Cities, December 1991
	64:64	1992	index			Great Black-backed Gull at Grand Marais
	64:119-120	1992	index			Great Black-backed and Iceland Gulls at Knife River
11	64:138	1992-02-03	1992-02-28	Knife River	Lake	(vote 7-0; The Loon 64:119-120).	Accepted
12	65:33	1992-11-07		Grand Marais	Cook	(vote 7-0).	Accepted
13	65:33	1992-11-09		Duluth	St. Louis	(vote 7-0; The Loon 65:50-51).	Accepted
14	65:33	1992-12-16		Duluth	St. Louis	(vote 7-0; The Loon 65:50-51).	Accepted
	65:50-51	1993	index			Additional Great Black-backed Gull Sightings
	65:94	1993	index			Immature Great Black-backed Gull at Grand Marais
15	66:127	1993-12-18	1993-12-20	Duluth	St. Louis	(The Loon 66:50).	Accepted
	66:50	1994	index			A First-winter Great Black-backed Gull
	66:146-147	1994	index			Great Black-backed Gull on Lake Pepin
	67:45	1994-03-26		near Baudette	Lake of the Woods	Because the leg color of this dark-mantled adult gull was not noted and its overall size was not clearly described, the possibility of Lesser Black-backed Gull is not precluded. In addition, the observer apparently did not use optics and the description was apparently written from memory about four months after the observation.	Not Accepted
16	66:127	1994-05-24		Hok-Si-La Park	Goodhue	(The Loon 66:146-147 ).	Accepted
	avian information	1994-05-24			Goodhue	5/24 Goodhue (first county record) One report: 5/24 Lake Pepin, Goodhue Co. PBu (*The Loon* 66:146–147).
17	67:45	1994-12-09	1995-01-15	Duluth	St. Louis		Accepted
	67:111-112	1995	index			Great Black-backed Gull
	67:117-118	1995	index			Great Black-backed Gull in Duluth
	67:181-182	1995	index			Great Black-backed Gull in Ramsey County
18	67:165	1995-03-27		Pigs Eye Lake	Ramsey	(The Loon 67:181-182).	Accepted
	avian information	1995-03-27			Ramsey	3/27 Ramsey (second county record) 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 117–118).
19	67:165	1995-03-27		Duluth	St. Louis	(The Loon 67:111-112).	Accepted
20	68:58	1995-11-12		Duluth	St. Louis	(The Loon 68:69).	Accepted
21	68:58	1995-11-22		Black Dog Lake	Dakota		Accepted
22	68:58	1995-11-25		Grand Marais	Cook	(The Loon 68:68–69).	Accepted
	68:14-34	1996	index			Gull Migration in the Twin Cities
	68:68-69	1996	index			First-winter Great Black-backed Gull in Grand Marais
	68:69	1996	index			Another Great Black-backed Gull in Duluth
	68:173-174	1996	index			Great Black-backed Gull in Hennepin County
23	68:164	1996-03-30		Bloomington	Hennepin	(The Loon 68:173).	Accepted
	avian information	1996-03-30			Hennepin	3/30 Hennepin (second county record) Reported 3/30 from Old Cedar Ave. Bridge, Hennepin Co. (adult) SC, KB (The Loon 68:173–174).
24	69:28	1996-11-09		Duluth	St. Louis		Accepted
25	70:44	1997-11-10	1997-11-28	Grand Marais	Cook	(photo record #97–79, vote 7– 0).	Accepted
26	70:44	1997-11-26	1997-12-18	Black Dog Lake	Dakota	(record #97–78, vote 7–0, The Loon 70:66–67).	Accepted
27	70:156	1997-12-13		Duluth	St. Louis	(photo record #98-32, vote 7–0). Four of the 16 records were found to	Accepted
28	70:156	1997-12-20		Duluth	St. Louis	(record #98-10, vote 7–0).	Accepted
	70:156	1998-02-06		Duluth Twp.	St. Louis	(recirculated record #98-20, vote 0–7). After reconsideration, the Committee felt the record was in doubt for several reasons: e.g., the observer had incorrectly assumed others had seen this bird and, therefore, did not carefully study it; it is unclear if other gulls were present for direct size comparison, which leaves the overall size of the gull in doubt; and the description is only written from memory nearly three months after the sighting. There was one record among the 16 discussed at the meeting for which voting has not yet been completed; however, the documentation was sent to an authority on the species who recommended the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, 30 May 1998, Winona, Winona Co. (potential first state record #98-60). The following records were voted on by mail January – July 1998 and found to	Not Accepted
29	70:156	1998-04-14	1998-05-30	Duluth	St. Louis	(record #98-39, vote 7–0).	Accepted
	avian information	1998-11-08			Hennepin	11/8 Hennepin (third county record) Only documented report: 11/8 Hennepin (first-winter on Lake Calhoun) PBu. Note: Erroneous date in proceedings article (The Loon 71:38).
30	71:36	1998-11-09		Minneapolis	Hennepin	(record #98–96, vote 7–0).	Accepted
31	71:156	1998-12-24		Duluth	St. Louis	(record #99-13, vote 7–0).	Accepted
32	73:35	2000-06-05		Duluth	St. Louis	(record #200055, vote 5–2).	Accepted
	76:39	2000-06-05		Duluth	St. Louis	(record #2003-40, vote 2–5). This out-of-season record had previously been voted on and Accepted, but the current Committee voted to reconsider the record and reverse that decision. This immature gull was seen and documented by a very experienced observer, and may well have been correctly identified. However, the tail pattern was unclear, being described as “sold dark brown” at one point, which does not fit Great Blackbacked Gull of any age.	Not Accepted
	avian information	2000-11-24	2000-12-16		Hennepin	11/24-12/16 Hennepin (fourth county record) Both were juvenile/first-winter birds: 11/24+ Dakota (Black Dog L.) †ADS et al., 11/26 St. Louis (Superior Entry in Duluth) †PHS.
33	73:168	2001-05-07		Breckenridge sewage ponds	Wilkin	(record #2001-21, vote 6–1).	Accepted
	avian information	2001-05-07			Wilkin	5/7 Wilkin (first county record) 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).
	avian information	2001-12-15	2002-01-04		Hennepin	12/15, 20, 1/4 Hennepin (fifth county record) 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.
34	76:39	2002-12-15		Bloomington and Excelsior Christmas Bird Counts	Dakota	(record #2003-14, vote 6–1). This record was originally not published in the CBC or seasonal reports in The Loon because initially the documentation was incomplete. However, additional documentation, including photographs, was later submitted.	Accepted
35	76:39	2002-12-15		Bloomington and Excelsior Christmas Bird Counts	Hennepin	record #2003-14, vote 6–1). This record was originally not published in the CBC or seasonal reports in The Loon because initially the documentation was incomplete. However, additional documentation, including photographs, was later submitted.	Accepted
	avian information	2003-11-15			Lake	11/15 Lake (first fall record) Only report: 11/15 Lake (first-winter at Two Harbors) ph. †JWL.
	avian information	2004-11-20			Hennepin	11/20 Hennepin 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.
	avian information	2004-12-04			Hennepin	12/4 Hennepin 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.
	avian information	2005-02-08			Washington	2/8 Washington (first county record) 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.
	avian information	2005-12-04			Ramsey	12/4 Ramsey (third county record) Documented 12/4 Dakota/Ramsey (1st-cycle, Hardman Ave.) ph. KJB.
	avian information	2007-03-25			Washington	3/25 Washington (second county record) 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]
	avian information	2007-04-15			Cass	4/15 Cass (first county record) 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]
	avian information	2008-11-28	2008-11-30		Ramsey	11/28-30 Ramsey (fourth county record) 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]
	avian information	2008-12-08	2008-12-26		Washington	12/8, 14, 16, 18, 22, 26 Washington (third county record) 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.
	avian information	2011-05-28			Cook	5/28 Cook (first spring record) 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.
	avian information	2011-06-06			St. Louis	6/6 St. Louis (first summer record) First summer record 6/6 St. Louis (second-cycle bird at Superior Entry) ph. PHS.
	avian information	2011-12-07	2011-12-10		Wabasha	12/7-10 Wabasha (second county record) 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.
	avian information	2011-12-26			Goodhue	12/26 Goodhue (second county record) 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.
	avian information	2012-12-08	2012-12-18		Hennepin	12/8, 12/12-13, 14, 15, 16, 18 Hennepin 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.
	avian information	2013-03-17			Lake	3/17 Lake (second spring record) 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.
	avian information	2013-05-05			Hennepin	5/5 Hennepin (ninth spring record) 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.
	avian information	2014-03-05	2014-03-17		Lake	3/5, 17 Lake (third spring record) 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.
	avian information	2016-03-09	2016-03-13		Wabasha	3/9-13 Wabasha (third county record) 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.
	avian information	2016-06-15			Itasca	6/15 Itasca (first county record) New county record 6/15 Itasca (adult, Trout Lake) ph. SC.
	avian information	2017-03-02	2017-03-06		Hennepin	3/2, 4, 5, 6 Hennepin 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.
	avian information	2019-01-20			Cook	1/20 Cook (second winter record) 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.
	avian information	2019-03-18			Goodhue	3/18 Goodhue (third county record) 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.
	avian information	2019-03-20	2019-03-22		Washington	3/20, 22 Washington (fourth county record) 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.

	Rare migrant and winter visitant.

Notes:

The information in the above table comes from several different sources. The count in column 1 indicates which of the sources is considered the primary source.
	'Accepted' MOURC entries from The MOURC Proceedings
	'Not Accepted' or 'Rejected' MOURC entry from The MOURC Proceedings
	Accepted MOU records assembled by David Cahlander
	Sighting records for ()
	Avian information from the occurrence maps, in dark red, assembled by Robert Janssen. Seasonal report for the species/season published in The Loon or The Flicker has been added.
	Information from The Loon index assembled by Anthony Hertzel and David Cahlander