Allan Bension Rob Benson and I visited Cooktown on Saturday flying in
via Skytrans from Cairns early in the morning and returning to cairns in
the evening. (There are two flights each day except Sunday). We caught
the minibus from Cooktown airport and were escorted to the last known
spot for the bird. The airport / bus staff new all about it and were
keen to show us the bird. It wasn't quite where they took us though. We
bumped into Colin Judkins who had just seen it sitting one light pole
next to the National Parks building on the waterfront about 50 metres
upriver. It stayed there for quite a while allowing photographic
opportunities before moving to where we were originally which was on the
waterfront near the "Tree of Knowledge". Under this tree is its
favoured lunching spot apparently feeding on chips with a couple of the
local Silver Gulls. At lunch time we bought some fish and chips
(recommended but tell them to hold the salt) and fed the waiting gulls
(SBG included - it was waiting for the free feed!). This all occurred
when the tide was high. Later in the day at low tide the SBG was way out
on a mud bank further upstream and a scope was required.
The bird has some damage to its right foot, some of the web missing and
a hole through some of it. It didn't seem to be suffering from this
though. The underparts appeared to be oil contaminated too. The bird
also appeared to pant at times, perhaps it was a bit warm for it.
There were 9 birders there all up, including some locals, with
representatives from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and of course
Queensland.
I had been to Cooktown once before with my parents Margaret and Greville
Reidy (just prior to a fantastic trip to Torres Strait organised by Mike
Carter) on the rumour of a large grey backed type gull there. We dipped
on that one.
A great twitch and excellent work by all involved in the ID.
The bird should be there for a while. It won't die of starvation (maybe
a poor diet though).
Happy twitching.
--
John Reidy
Sydney
Phone 02 9871 4836
Fax 02 9871 2616
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