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.
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Proceedings
Species: Gulls, Terns
Black-legged Kittiwake
Ivory Gull
Sabine's Gull
Black-headed Gull
Little Gull
Ross's Gull
Laughing Gull
Short-billed Gull
California Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Slaty-backed Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Gull-billed Tern
[White-winged Tern]
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Forster's Tern
[Royal Tern]
Sandwich Tern
Elegant Tern
[Black Skimmer]

Slaty-backed Gull (C) (Larus schistisagus)Start Date 2006-01-01
RefFirstLastLocationCounty23CommentStatus
79:501968-01-04Knife RiverLake(record #2006-100, vote 0–10). This published record (The Loon 41:55–56) of a dark-mantled gull had never been reviewed by the Committee. In light of this species' recent occurrence in Minnesota, the observer submitted contemporaneous field notes and requested that it be evaluated as a Slaty-backed Gull. As a potential first state record predating the recent record in Cook County (record #2006-064), all ten members voted. While referring to this record as “tantalizing” and “intriguing,” all agreed that several key criteria for the identification of this species were not noted. For example, the folded primaries were described as “alternately black and white,” but it was unclear how many primaries had black markings, and the extent of the white subterminal mirrors on the two outermost primaries (p9 and p10) was not described. Most importantly, there was no mention of the so-called “string of pearls” formed by white tongue tips on p5 or p6 through p8. Not Accepted
68:1641996-04-081996-04-13Red WingGoodhueThis potential first state record was studied by three observers, but only one of them felt certain enough of this adult gull's identity to document it as a Slaty-backed. While the Committee unanimously felt the identification might well have been correct, it was also felt that for a record to be accepted, especially a first state record, all the observers should agree on the identity of the bird. Additionally, the identification of an adult Slaty-backed Gull and separation from other dark-mantled gulls is most difficult and relies heavily on a detailed description — or preferably a series of photos — of the exact dorsal and ventral wing patterns. But the documentation submitted, while lengthy and well written, unfortunately does not provide a thorough enough description of the wings. Not Accepted
179:502006-07-212006-08-14Grand MaraisCook(record #2006-064, vote 10–0). Exhaustive field notes and numerous photographs documented the state's first record (see The Loon 79:11–15). This adult was found dead on the 15th and the specimen was donated to the Bell Museum of Natural History. Accepted
avian
information
2006-07-212006-08-14Cook7/21-8/14 Cook (first state record) (first county record)
First state record 7/21+ Cook (adult at Grand Marais) KMH; photographed by m.ob. with written documentation by †DAB, †PBB, †PCC, †KRE, †MLH, †SES, †FVS, †PHS.
279:1232006-12-032006-12-13Black Dog LakeDakota(record #2006-105, vote 7–0). Second state record. Photographed and documented with written details on multiple dates by experienced observers. Of related interest was an adult Slaty-backed Gull at Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa 16–24 December 2006 (IOU 2006) that appeared strikingly similar to the individual at Black Dog Lake. Accepted
avian
information
2006-12-032007-01-24Dakota12/3-1/24 Dakota (second state record) (first county record)
An adult was well documented 12/3–5 and again 12/9–13 Dakota (Black Dog Lake) providing Minnesota's second record †JPM, †BAF, †ADS, †PEB, m.ob. Amazingly, the state's third record was soon discovered 1/14–25 Washington and Dakota (Pt. Douglas Park and Mississippi River off Prescott, WI) ph. †JPM, †MAO; documentation also provided by †PEB, ph. †BAF, ph. DWK, ph. †PHS. After its initial discovery, this bird spent most of its time on the Mississippi River just south of Pt. Douglas, on both sides of the state line (Dakota County, MN and Pierce County, WI); towards the end of its stay, it was found roosting at Black Dog Lake (DWK, ChM). This was likely a fourth-cycle bird based on markings in a few rectrices as well as on the bill. It bore a strong resemblance to an individual previously seen and photographed in LaCrosse, WI (D. Jackson fide DWK).
79:1232006-12-092006-12-13Black Dog LakeDakota(record #2006-105, vote 7–0). Second state record. Photographed and documented with written details on multiple dates by experienced observers. Of related interest was an adult Slaty-backed Gull at Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa 16–24 December 2006 (IOU 2006) that appeared strikingly similar to the individual at Black Dog Lake. Duplicate
79:1232006-12-16Black Dog LakeDakota(record #2006-106, vote 0–7). Documentation for this individual, which was reported on the Bloomington Christmas Bird Count, did not eliminate other species of dark-mantled gulls. An adult Slaty-backed had been seen in this area earlier in the month, but it could not be refound after the 13th (see Accepted record #2006-105). Not Accepted
79:11-142007indexFirst Slaty-backed Gull for Minnesota
379:1232007-01-142007-01-25Mississippi River and Black Dog LakeDakotaWashington(record #2007-003, vote 7–0). Third state record. Also photographed and documented with written details on multiple dates by experienced observers. Accepted
79:1232007-01-142007-01-25St. Croix River near Point DouglasWashington(record #2007-003, vote 7–0). Third state record. Also photographed and documented with written details on multiple dates by experienced observers. Duplicate
avian
information
2007-01-142007-01-25Washington1/14-25 Washington (third state record) (first county record)
An adult was well documented 12/3–5 and again 12/9–13 Dakota (Black Dog Lake) providing Minnesota's second record †JPM, †BAF, †ADS, †PEB, m.ob. Amazingly, the state's third record was soon discovered 1/14–25 Washington and Dakota (Pt. Douglas Park and Mississippi River off Prescott, WI) ph. †JPM, †MAO; documentation also provided by †PEB, ph. †BAF, ph. DWK, ph. †PHS. After its initial discovery, this bird spent most of its time on the Mississippi River just south of Pt. Douglas, on both sides of the state line (Dakota County, MN and Pierce County, WI); towards the end of its stay, it was found roosting at Black Dog Lake (DWK, ChM). This was likely a fourth-cycle bird based on markings in a few rectrices as well as on the bill. It bore a strong resemblance to an individual previously seen and photographed in LaCrosse, WI (D. Jackson fide DWK).
80:1712008indexSlaty-backed Gull in St. Louis County
480:1152008-01-102008-03-15DuluthSt. Louis(record #2008-007, vote 7–0) (The Loon 80:171–173). Fourth state record. Adult in basic plumage, photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2008-01-102008-03-15St. Louis1/10-3/15 St. Louis (fourth state record) (first county record)
Adult in definitive basic plumage 1/10, 1/12, 1/13, 1/27 St. Louis (Duluth) ph. JWL, ph. †PHS, MLH (The Loon 80:171–173). Presumably the same adult frequented the Superior Landfill in Douglas County, Wisconsin, 12/21 through 4/12 KJB, m.ob., but the only sighting in Minnesota after January was 3/15 †PHS. Fourth state record.
581:1152009-03-28Black Rush LakeLyon(record #2009-007, vote 6–1). Fifth state record since 2006 and the first for western Minnesota. Adult, photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2009-03-28Lyon3/28 Lyon (fifth state record) (first county record)
Adult found 3/28 in Lyon at Black Rush Lake was the fifth state record and the first for western Minnesota, ph. †RJS.
682:32009-10-282009-12-13Superior Entry and Canal Park, DuluthSt. Louis(record #2009-051, vote 7–0). Sixth state record. Third-cycle bird, photographed. Discovered and seen sporadically at the Superior Entry through 6 December, and by many observers at Canal Park 30 November – 13 December. Accepted
avian
information
2009-10-282009-11-30St. Louis10/28, 11/13, 30 St. Louis (sixth state record) (second county record)
Third-cycle bird present in St. Louis (Minnesota side of Superior Entry) beginning 10/28 ph. †MLH, ph. †KJB, ph. †PHS, ph. †KRE, ph. EBr and observed intermittently through the end of the season. Sixth state record, all since 2006.
avian
information
2009-12-042009-12-13St. Louis12/4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13 St. Louis (seventh state record) (third county record)
The sixth state record was a third-cycle first found 10/28 (see Fall report) and still present 12/4–13 St. Louis (Canal Park and Superior Entry, Duluth) ph. †KJB, †PHS, KRE, ph. MLH, ph. MSS.
83:32009-12-06Black Dog LakeDakota(record #2010-004, second round vote 0–7). This record (original vote 5–2) was discussed at the 5 December meeting and recirculated for a second vote. This record was submitted by a highly competent observer, but was rejected primarily due to insufficient details. This difficult-to-identify species was also viewed under rather poor lighting conditions and at a considerable distance. Some members thought the description under these poor viewing conditions did not eliminate possible hybrids or other large larids such as Glaucous-winged Gull or “Vega” Herring Gull. Not Accepted
783:992010-12-19adult at Canal Park, DuluthSt. Louis(record #2010-048, vote 7–0, photographed; The Loon 83:141–142). Accepted
avian
information
2010-12-192011-01-16St. Louis12/19, 1/16 St. Louis (eighth state record) (fourth county record)
Adult first seen on 12/19 at the Superior Landfill in Wisconsin was later found that same day in St. Louis at Canal Park where it was exhaustively documented and photographed ph. †KJB, ph. †PHS (The Loon 83:141–142). It was last seen in Minnesota on 1/16 KJB. Seventh state record and third for St. Louis.
885:32012-12-302013-01-15Superior Entry and Canal Park, DuluthSt. Louis(record #2012-047, vote 7–0). Adult, photographed. The record was welldocumented by two veteran gull observers. It is interesting to note that a Slaty-backed Gull has been seen in Duluth every year since 2008. At a minimum, there have been two different birds because the 2008 record was an adult, whereas the 2009 record was a third-cycle individual. Accepted
avian
information
2012-12-302013-01-05St. Louis12/30, 1/1, 5 St. Louis (ninth state record) (fifth county record)
One adult seen 12/30–1/5 St. Louis (Superior Entry then at Canal Park) ph. †KJB, ph. †PHS, ph. JLK, m.ob. This is the eighth record for the state.
991:32018-10-282018-11-01at the boat dock behind the casino and hotel in Grand PortageCook(record #2018046, vote 7–0). Third or fourth cycle, photographed. Ninth state record. Accepted
avian
information
2018-10-282018-11-01Cook10/28, 29, 30, 11/1 Cook (tenth state record) (second county record)
  A well documented third-cycle represented the ninth state record of this species 10/28–11/01 Cook (Grand Portage Marina) ph. † KRE, ph. † EzH, ph. ASu, ph. REn, m.ob.
1093:472020-08-28Port Terminal, DuluthSt. Louis(record #2020-049, vote 6–1). Apparent late second-cycle or early third-cycle, photographed. The tenth state record and the second earliest southbound record. Accepted
avian
information
2020-08-28St. Louis8/28 St. Louis (eleventh state record)
The tenth state record was an apparent late second-cycle or early third-cycle found 8/28 St. Louis (Port Terminal) ph. †PHS. This represents the second earliest record for the state.
1193:1112021-11-222021-12-03 Lake Pepin, Lake CityWabasha (record #2021-084, vote 7–0). Adult, photographed. First county record.

Accepted
avian
information
2021-11-22Wabasha11/22 Wabasha (twelfth state record) (first county record)
The first south report of this species since 2009 was an adult found 11/22 Wabasha (Lake Pepin) ph. †PEJ. It was last reported in early December.
avian
information
2021-12-03Wabasha12/3 Wabasha (thirteenth state record) (second county record)
 One report: 12/3 Wabasha (adult continuing from 11/22, Lake City) ph. †PEJ.
 
 Nine records: one spring, one summer-fall, one fall, one fall-winter, four winter, and one winter-spring. Recorded in four of the last ten years, most recently 2018.

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