At about 3:45 Sunday afternoon, I found an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Superior Entry. It was perched on the Minnesota breakwall. I did an initial scan from the base of the WI breakwater of the gulls standing at the END of the Minnesota breakwater, and this bird stuck out like a sore thumb. I was excited so I went as fast as I could over the treacherous rocks to scan from the lighthouse at the end of the Wisconsin breakwater. The gulls were ultramellow, and the LBBG was at least partially obscured most of the time by loafing Herring Gulls. To make things more difficult, it was resting with it's bill tucked in it's wing a lot as well. But I did get to see a red spot on a yellow bill, yellow legs, and a very dark gray (not as black as GBBG or Scandinavian race of LBBG) back. The bird was approximately Herring Gull size, but again, being obscured, a perfect size comparison was impossible. All the gulls took off at about 4:20, and I did not keep tabs on the LBBG. 1/2 the gulls went out to sea, and the other half landed on the MN breakwater again, but I could not relocate the LBBG.
Also present: 1 1st Winter Thayer's Gull 1 1st Winter Glaucous Gull Not present: Great Black-backed Gull - this one will jinx me forever. I did relocate the 1st Winter LBBG in Knife River today as well. Gull city, baby! Dedrick Benz Winona, MN PS Grand Marais festival was a blast! Thank you, all!
