Thanks Michael for that interesting information.
Given that there is overlap in the range of the Kelp (Cape) Gull and
wintering Baltic Gulls (L. f. fuscus), that Nikolas provided evidence that a
Kelp Gull can breed with other species (Kelp Gull x American Herring Gull in
North America), and that there still seems to be a debate about the physical
characteristics of the mystery gull, I reaffirm my hypothesis that the bird
at Broome could be a Baltic x Cape Gull hybrid. For that to be true, it
would mean that a Baltic Gull would have needed to extend its winter stay
along the east coast of southern Africa into the breeding season of the Cape
Gull. There's been strong (cyclonic) winds over the Indian Ocean over the
last couple of weeks, so it's not inconceivable that a Baltic x Cape Gull
hybrid (if one exists) has been blown across from the eastern coastline of
southern African to the Australian coastline.
But I agree with Jeff that the combined probability of all that happening
and then being found in WA by a birdwatcher is extremely slim - but still
possible.
Cheers (from rookie gull watcher),
Stephen
Dr Stephen Ambrose
Principal Ornithologist
Ambrose Ecological Services Pty Ltd
Ryde, NSW
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Michael
Raymakers
Sent: Friday, 25 January 2013 9:24 AM
To:
Subject: Lesser Black-backed Gull
Some info that was passed on to me by a friend/client prof Henrik Kylin, has
nothing to do with latest sightings. I know birders in Johannesberg have
been twitching one just North of the city, unusual for them to come that far
south.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/avss2cxj4hnc8j3/lhQjepwHTB
Hope this is of some interest to the members.
Kind Regards
Michael
Natural Encounters
Wildlife Tours & Safaris
30 Spring Street,
Prahran, 3181
Melbourne,
Victoria,
Australia
Home Phone: +61 3 95252201
Mobile Phone: +61 4 98257009
email -
Facebook - www.facebook.com/michael.raymakers.3
Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/Nat.Encounters
Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/profile/view
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
|
