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
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