While birdwatching at Canal Park this afternoon with my friend Kirk Mona, we had some great looks at Thayer's Gulls, an Iceland Gull (one 1st-cycle Kumlien's, plus the individual noted below), a few Ring-billed Gulls and about 50 Herring Gulls. Upon arriving at Canal Park around noon today, a distant Northern Goshawk flew by, heading due north in a migration-fashion! Northern Goshawk http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711005 Iceland Gull (possibly Glaucoides race) http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711004 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141710997 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711002 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711003 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711001 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141710994 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141710995 Thayer's Gull http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711009 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711007 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711008 Ring-billed Gull http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141711006 Fun quiz http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/141710999 Iceland Gulls come in two "races"... the kumlieni race and the glaucoides race. The Kumlien's race is a slightly bolder-marked, tanpale-gray-detailed race of Iceland Gull. They breed throughout the islands along the northeastern-most tier of the Hudson Bay region. Most of the "Iceland" gulls observed throughout the Great Lakes during the winter months are believed to be of this race/form. The Glaucoides race breeds along the central and southern shores of Greenland. This race as a whole, is even paler than the Kumlien's race. Seeing an Iceland Gull is a treat and privilege to witness, regardless of the race or variety. Iceland Gulls are gorgeously-frosty, almost like the "Hoary Redpoll" version of the Thayer's Gull, if that makes sense :-) The extra-pale appearance overall, plus white "hands" throughout the outer primaries on this interesting Iceland Gull seen today is reminiscent of the Glaucoides race of Iceland Gull, which constitute many of the Greenland-dwelling Iceland Gulls. Feedback is welcome. Thanks, and enjoy the photos! Good birding, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN -- *NATURALLY AVIAN* - Guided Birdwatching Trips and Bird photography www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.naturallyavian.blogspot.com [log in to unmask] ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html