RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull

["Mike Grigg" <>]

Simon,

 

Many thanks for the explanation.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

'Own Your Life'

 0427 604 994

 m("bigpond.com","mikegrigg");">

 

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

 

From:

Date: 11/21/06 13:50:20

To: ; m("iinet.net.au","gdabb");">

Cc: ; m("vicnet.net.au","birding-aus");">

Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull

 

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 

 

 

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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

 m("bigpond.com","mikegrigg");">

 

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

 

From:

Date: 11/21/06 09:29:31

To:

Cc: ; m("vicnet.net.au","birding-aus");">

Subject: [canberrabirds] RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull

 

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

 

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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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