White-winged Scoters
Glaucous Gull, with Ring-billed Gull (click to see the larger version)
A shrike flew in off the lake early this morning. I walked around the point looking for it without luck so it will have to remain unidentified. Either species is possible now though Northern is far more likely. A pale first year Glaucous Gull and a pale first year Thayer’s type Gull were at the west end of the beach.
I had a third or fourth cycle Great Black-backed Gull this morning. The bird flew in from the north, circled a couple of times near the harbor and continued south. Great Black-backed Gulls are very uncommon visitors to Montrose. I also saw the Snow Goose in the still frozen over harbor.
Glaucous Gull (click to see a larger version)
A first cycle Glaucous Gull has been hanging around Montrose Beach for a couple days. Thayer’s and Lesser Black-backed Gulls have also been seen at Montrose recently. These gulls are attracted to the dead salmon that wash up on the beach. Glaucous Gulls breed in the high arctic all around the world. They are rare but regular winter visitors to Illinois.