canberrabirds

RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull

To:
Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull
From: "Simon Mustoe" <>
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:50:15 +0000

  Mike,

  The weight of adult silver gulls is pretty much exactly half that of
  black tailed gull (~250g compared to 500g+). Length is pretty
  meaningless when comparing the size of two birds in different families
  when one is slim and small, the other very large and bulky.

  As for the description of the bird, you may join me in ceremoniously
  burning all the popular Australian fieldguides. Allow me to quote from
  text on juvenile Silver Gull from HANZAB, which is the only guide to
  be trusted, though slightly bulky to carry in the field!

  "Differ from adult by: varying  faint brown smudge in front of eye and
  brown wash over crown, nape and ear-coverts...and pale grey wash on
  lower hindneck...Bill, dull black, with brown at base; some have
  varying pink tinge...Legs and feet, pink-grey to pink-brown".

  Regards,

  Simon Mustoe


      ______________________________________________________________

From: "Mike Grigg" <>
    To: "'Simon Mustoe'" <>, "Geoffrey Dabb"
    <>
    CC: <>,
    <>
    Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:16:41 +1100 (AUS Eastern Standard Time)

  Simon,

  While I wouldn't know a Black-tailed Gull if it fell on me, I'm rather
  perplexed by your response to Geoffrey's photos.  How can it be a
  young Silver Gull if it has pale (yellowish) legs and a pale yellow
  black tipped bill. My Field Guide ( Michael Morcombe)  shows a juv
  Silver-Gill as having dark (brown) legs and a dark (blackish) bill.

  My Field Guide also gives the size of a Silver-Gull as 39-42 cm and a
  Black-tailed Gull as 45-48 cm.  The difference of some 6 cm is hardly
  'almost twice the size' as you indicate in your e-mail.

  Grateful your advice


  Mike

  'Own Your Life'
  []  0427 604 994
  []  

  -------Original Message-------

From: [2]Geoffrey Dabb
Date: 11/21/06 09:29:31
  To: [3]'Simon Mustoe'
  Cc: ;
  
  Subject: [canberrabirds] RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull

  Thanks, Simon.  The problem of not seeing the whole bird, then.  I
  suppose Ill just have to keep looking!  Geoffrey

  ______________________________________________________________________

From: Simon Mustoe 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 8:43 AM
  To: 
  Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Ignore previous email


  Geoffrey,

  Sorry, you can ignore my previous request. I just found the images you
  posted. Unfortunately, the bird is just a young silver gull.
  Black-tailed gulls would be almost twice the size with bright yellow
  and much heavier bills.

  All the best,

  Simon.
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