I stopped over at the landfill reservoirs 5:50AM this morning and spotted 5 gulls flying around at the East Landfill Reservoir. There was one alternate plumage Bonaparte's Gull (with black head) and the others were ring-bill size, one of which appeared to be a 2nd year ring-bill with a very black leading upper edge of the outer half of the wing. The birds eventually moved over closer to me and then continued over me and left the reservoir. These may have been some of the birds Steve spotted as the storm was moving in last night (and may have retreated back to the reservoir because of the thunderstorm).
I also heard and saw the Great-tailed Grackle at the usual spot in the willows north of the culvert. This was about 6AM. The bird was viewable on the back side of the willows on a leafless tree that sticks out a bit over the reeds - viewed from the culvert as well as further south. I moved over to the South Landfill Reservoir and searched for the Black-necked Stilts without finding any (although they are probably there - just hiding in the grasses in the SW corner of the reservoir). I searched from both the south and north roads. Although the birds were first only seen from the south road there was at least one that has been viewable from the north road at the far west end. I saw it yesterday walking along the south side from one end of the visible shoreline to the other end and then retracing its steps (twice walking right in front of an American Bittern - the bittern never moved during the encounter). On my way back home I stopped at the grackle spot and saw him out in the reeds about halfway between the willows and the water - still calling away. Bob Ekblad Olmsted County in SE Minnesota http://www.Birding-Minnesota.com -----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steven Houdek Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2018 8:27 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [mou-net] Black-legged Kittiwakes- Olmsted County The bird in question did appear to have a dark trailing edge to the underwing, suggesting first winter Bonapartes. The upper wing was patterned with the M. I now believe this to be the most likely identification. Sorry for the confusion. Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: Steven Houdek <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, 05 May 2018 20:30:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [mou-net] Black-legged Kittiwakes- Olmsted County Six birds in flight over east landfill reservoir, heading to the northwest. A brief glimpse of at least one juvenile with bold M pattern on the back when circling. Steven Houdek ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
