birding-aus

Lesser Black-backed Gull spp Baltic Gull in Broome

To: Nicholas Haass <>, birding aus <>
Subject: Lesser Black-backed Gull spp Baltic Gull in Broome
From: robert morris <>
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:26:40 +0000
Hi Nicholas
I agree generally, and heuglini was my initial reaction, and I was happy with 
those thoughts last night when I had time to look at literature / photos.
I have seen a lot of both L.h.heuglini and L.h.taimyrensis in the field and the 
only issue I had with taimyrensis was that it seems very dark. I think that 
heuglini is typically darker grey/black than taimyrensis and there is normally 
more contrast between the darker primaries and general back / mantle, covet 
colour. Whilst heuglini is not as black as Baltic Gull (where there is little 
or no contrast) it is often only a subtle contrast on heuglini (which would fit 
this bird perhaps?).  That said, I have not seen the bird and light plays a 
major role in this perception of shades of grey.The bill size and shape on both 
is quite variable although typically slighter on heglini (i think!?). I think 
structurally the bird is too heavy for a L.f fuscus (Baltic Gull).
I won't be going to Broome to look at it though! Too much to do in SEQ!

Rob Morris 

 

Brisbane, Australia 


> Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:14:58 -0800
> From: 
> To: 
> CC: ; ; 
> 
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Lesser Black-backed Gull spp Baltic Gull in Broome
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> For those who have already booked their flights (not me): Following up on 
> Mike's comment regarding the ID of the bird, Martin Gottschling and I had a 
> look at the available pictures. Here our summary at this point:
> 
> Overall, looks like a bird of the Lesser Black-back complex and Kelp can be 
> ruled out.
>  
> Too pale and too stocky/heavy for fuscus fuscus.
>  
> Moult: Completely old primaries, most secondaries seem to be new – primaries 
> will be moulted next. Moult pattern fits Heuglin’s.
>  
> The relatively dark iris and the slightly drooping bill could speak for 
> taimyrensis.
>  
> So our conclusion as of this point would be a likely Larus heuglini 
> taimyrensis versus a possible Larus heuglini heuglini.
> 
> Looking forward to seeing more pictures after the weekend!
>  
> Cheers,
>  
> Nikolas
>  
> ----------------
> Nikolas Haass
> 
> Sydney, NSW
> 
> 
> ________________________________
>  From: Nikolas Haass <>
> To: Mike Carter <>; "" 
> <>; Jeff Davies <> 
> Cc: George Swann of Kimberley Birdwatching 
> <>; Tony Palliser <>; 
> Jim Allen <> 
> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 8:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Lesser Black-backed Gull spp Baltic Gull in Broome
>  
> 
> Hi Mike, Jeff et al.
> 
> Good stuff - that's exciting! Heuglin's is certainly an important ID 
> contender - although it looks more like graellsii and intermedius than 
> fuscus. The short description certainly points towards fuscus! I am 
> definitely not going to 'tick' it but I would love to see the photos. Are any 
> photos online?
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Nikolas
>  
> ----------------
> Nikolas Haass
> 
> Sydney, NSW
> 
> 
> ________________________________
>  From: Mike Carter <>
> To:  
> Cc: George Swann of Kimberley Birdwatching 
> <>; Tony Palliser <>; 
> Jim Allen <> 
> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 4:09 PM
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Lesser Black-backed Gull spp Baltic Gull in Broome
>  
> The twitchers among you that so wish, foolish or bold enough to take our word 
> for it (that is Jeff Davies and I), should start making preparations to go to 
> Broome to see the Black-backed Gull currently frequenting the rubbish tip. 
> Based on two photos received from Jim Allen and three from George Swann, we 
> believe that it is the nominate Baltic race of Lesser Black-backed Gull. We 
> have requested other views. It is a very black-backed, elongated slender gull 
> with yellow legs, smallish head, relatively slender bill with a small gonys. 
> We have considered female Kelp but believe it to be too slight in build. 
> Harder to eliminate is Heuglin's Gull but we consider this individual to be 
> too dark on the upperparts for that species.
> There are as yet no accepted records of this taxon for Australia but several 
> of us consider that a bird photographed previously in Broome by an overseas 
> visitor was this species and there is a banding recovery from Cocos (Keeling)
>  Islands. Thus the species is on the Supplementary List. 
> 
> Mike Carter
> 30 Canadian Bay Road
> Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
> Tel  (03) 9787 7136
> ===============================
> 
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
> send the message:
> unsubscribe
> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> to: 
> 
> http://birding-aus.org
> ===============================
> ===============================
> 
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
> send the message:
> unsubscribe
> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> to: 
> 
> http://birding-aus.org
> ===============================
                                          
===============================

To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: 

http://birding-aus.org
===============================

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU