Hi Gull lovers,
Bruce's strange gull in Boat Harbour in coastal southern Sydney is a
perplexing bird from his description.
If there was red on both mandibles it can only be Pacific. If it had white
mirrors and apical spots on its primary tips it could only be a Kelp. That
it lacked a black subterminal band to the tail does not eliminate Pacific as
to quote David James
"when adult Pacifics moult their tails in March-April their tail may
temporarily lack a black bar and appear wholly white." Wingspan June 1995 pp
34. I could imagine this being protracted into early May.
If Bruce confused his primary tips with tertial crescents then his bird is
probably a Pacific and a rare bird in Sydney. To my knowledge hybridisation
is unreported between these two taxa but certainly well known in a number of
northern hemisphere gulls.
>From his description the bird would be a probable 4 year bird in
non-breeding plumage.
Hope this helps and check out David's article for a solid reference.
All the best
Dion
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