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November 2009

MOU-RBA@LISTS.UMN.EDU

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From:
Erik Bruhnke <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Erik Bruhnke <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:21:58 -0700
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Today I went gull watching with Cameron Rutt and Aldo Reyes at the Superior
Entry. We gull-watched for just over 3 hours today. Among the many Herring
Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls we found one immature Glaucous Gull. Mike
Hendrickson joined up with Cameron, Aldo and I shortly after we arrived at
the Point. Peder Svingen joined up with us after the Slaty-backed Gull was
initially seen.

Every once in a while the whole flock of gulls would flush, and some current
gullwould land back on the entry sides, whereas other gulls would leave the
area. As the afternoon progressed, we found some new birds moving into the
entryway. After one of the flushes, I was scanning around, and noticed one
gull that landed on the MN side of the entryway. There was three things that
stood out on the bird as I viewed it for a few brief seconds through
binoculars.
1. Very dark back
2. Thick, contrastive, white trailing edge of the bird's wings.This is also
known as a 'skirt.'
3. Vivid pink legs.

I shouted out 'dark-backed gull', and we got on the bird right away. This
was the Slaty-backed Gull! I have been trying to see this gull for the past
several years (since the Slaty-backed Gull was observed a few years ago at
the Superior Landfill). Throughout my time at Northland College, I struck
out every winter, and right nowI'm walking on air to the fact that I got to
see this beautiful bird for the first time. Pictures are to come soon, but I
wanted to give everybody a head's-up that the Slaty-backed Gull was seen
today. I'm just starting with the photo editing now, and I'll be posting
those later tonight.


Good birdwatching,
Erik Bruhnke

Duluth, MN
NATURALLY AVIAN - Guided bird hikes and bird photography
[log in to unmask]
www.pbase.com/birdfedr/naturallyavian

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