The gull, just coming out of breeding plumage, was still there this morning from
7.05am onwards, and stayed at the Salisbury Downs oval for approximately 45
minutes, before flying off to the south. Rather than fly in with a flock of
Silver Gulls, it flew over alone and was the first to arrive over the site.
It appeared to check the oval for signs of other gull life and, realising that
there were none present, it then flew off a short distance to the east.
About five minutes then elapsed before about 70 Silver Gulls arrived in loose
flocks. Almost as soon as they arrived the Franklins Gull returned and joined
the flock. One of the observers present saw it feeding on worms on the oval,
which was covered in a thick blanket of dew. I went there the previous afternoon
and there was not a gull to be seen anywhere. It would seem to suggest that
they only feed on the oval after it has received rain or when there is dew
about.
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