This evening (11/20) there was a second winter California Gull on Lake Calhoun. It was seen beginning from around 4:00 PM at the NW corner of the lake as it swam, flew several times, and stood on the floating pier currently moored in this corner of the lake.
It is a generally dark-bodied and pale headed immature gull. In flight the bird shows a completely blackish tail, clean white uppertail coverts and rump, and a bluish-gray mantle and scapulars. Both the secondaries and greater coverts present a solidly dark bar, along with dark outer primaries. Standing or swimming views show a long straight bill, with a dark tip (sharply demarcated). The extreme tip of the bill and the 2/3rds basal portion are pale. Bill is long and straight, with no appreciable gonydeal angle. Irides are dark. Size is between Herring and Ring-billed, though closer to the former than the latter. Obviously larger than RBGU. Head shape is rounded, producing a gentle appearance. No white appears in the folded primaries, though both the tertials and the greater coverts have some pale feathering marbled into the tips of otherwise solidly dark feathers. Primaries extend beyond tail about the length of the bill. Also present on Calhoun this evening were Thayer's Gull - at least two adults were well seen on the floating pier. Franklin's Gull - this bird was on Lake Harriet on Saturday evening along with at least three plumages of Thayer's Gulls: first basic, second basic, and adult basic. Common Goldeneye - flock of 12 Common Merganser - flock of 9 Good luck! Paul Paul Budde Minneapolis
