Yup, I have just started “Year #9” of this blog, and it has been a fun journey. Starting the year off are some rare birds. I am down in Florida for two weeks, and while on my bicycle ride this afternoon I found a bird which is increasingly rare in Florida, a Limpkin. This wading bird mainly eats only one kind of snail, and with all the development in Florida habitat which supports its needs is increasingly rare. Amazingly enough, even though I had only seen a Limpkin once before in my life (eight years ago), I actually recognized this bird. Given there were two Limpkins, not just one, and the fact that these birds do not migrate, I suspect I now know their territory. Finally, having a Super Zoom Bridge Camera (Canon SX-70) in my bike bag allowed me to document the experience.
Meanwhile up at home on Lake Superior, an extremely rare Ivory Gull has shown up. These gulls belong up in the Arctic, mainly near Greenland. The gull spends part of its day at Canal Park. Six years ago when an Ivory Gull showed up in Duluth, folks actually put out smoked salmon for two weeks as an offering for the bird in the hopes of keeping it in the area. Use these two web cams each morning to see if birders are gathering. Last time people flew in from all around the country to see the bird.
And my Limpkin photographs …
Hi is there someone or website that people post about that Ivory Gull? I’ve been watching the webcams but it’s hard to see, and there is a storm today. But if some is posting sightings I’d like to know where and when. I see gulls but most seem to have black wings. I assume this one would be all white? Is it an adult?
You have a number of options, none of them guaranteed. Bookmark / subscribe to the Minnesota Ornithologist Union Bulletin Board. See the root of their web site for MOU-Net. In addition use eBird for St. Louis County. Many, many folks will post an eBird sighting if they see the gull. Via eBird you may also subscribe to rare bird alerts for St. Louis County in Minnesota. You will need an eBird account which is free. Here is the link for St. Louis County … https://ebird.org/region/US-MN-137/activity?yr=all&m=
Thank you so much. I have never seen a Limpkin, but I did see the Ivory Gull when it was here in Duluth the last time.