13-Oct-04 First, I'm reporting a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Black Rush Lake in the basin north of CR 59.
This individual was about the same size [slightly larger] as Ring-billed Gulls present. It had a very dark gray mantle, white head, neck, and breast, and showed a white, unblemished tail. The wing tips were black, with no white "windows" present when the bird extended its wings for a stretch. The entire head, hindneck, and side of the neck of was white with buff-gray streaking - especially near the top of the hear around; concentrating in the area around the eyes. This streaking was faint lower on the front and sides of the neck, and almost absent on the hindneck. Its bill was bright golden-yellow with a red oval spot on the lower mandible near the gonys - the oval's length extending horizontally along the lower mandible. Eye color was light yellow with a dark iris. Leg color was not observed. Also in this location was a plegadis sp. It was flying around too much to ID conclusively. If that's not enough, a female or immature Peregring Falcon was also flying around; trying (without success) to grab a Franklin's Gull for lunch. Finally, not far from this location in a new development just south of the city limits of Lynd (in the area of the sewage ponds) were 4 Smith's Longspurs. They kicked up while on the construction equipment road down toward the new wetland being created for the development. They were seen at very close range for several minutes. A LeConte's Sparrow was also seen in this area. Looks like I got all my October birding done in one day. Roger Schroeder Marshall, MN
