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(finally...) A gull with two mirrors, Wollongong pelagic, 25/06/2011.

To: Elizabeth Shaw <>, Birding Aus <>
Subject: (finally...) A gull with two mirrors, Wollongong pelagic, 25/06/2011.
From: David James <>
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 17:20:31 -0700 (PDT)
Hi Elizabeth,
 
Silver gulls are indeed common and very easy to identify, so birders don't give 
them much attention.  It is not necessarily easy to identify a similar vagrant 
gull from overseas amongst them (say Red-billed or Black-billed from NZ, 
Hartlaub's from Africa, Black-headed or Brown-headed from north, etc). If you 
want to find and identify rare birds it is best to know the common birds really 
well. Gulls are also great subjects for learning how plumages and moults work 
because they are tame, easliy bribed, and their feathers are bigger than those 
nervous little waders. It's not everone's cup of tea, so no to "should look at 
Silver Gulls" and yes to "must look at Silver Gulls"! 

David James, 
Sydney

==============================

From: Elizabeth Shaw <>
To: Birding Aus <>
Sent: Tuesday, 5 July 2011 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] (finally...) A gull with two mirrors, Wollongong 
pelagic, 25/06/2011.

Does this mean I should be looking at Silver Gulls more closely?  I thought 
they were an easy bird to identify - and they're everywhere here!
Elizabeth Shaw
Phillip Island
Victoria



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