birding-aus

Black-tailed Gull - Cairns Esplanade TODAY

To: birding-aus threads <>
Subject: Black-tailed Gull - Cairns Esplanade TODAY
From: martin cachard <>
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2013 18:01:41 +1100
Hello all,

Terry Reis & myself have just found a single Black-tailed Gull from about 
2:00pm today at the Cairns Esplanade. Also present with us at a later time was 
Adam Arnold. The gull was still there at 4:00pm when we left the scene.

We believe the bird was at first immature non-breeding stage - plenty of photos 
have been taken by myself & Terry, both on the deck & in flight.

All other possible gull species have, we believe, been successfully ruled out 
leaving us in no doubt whatsoever that we have made a positive ID as a first 
immature non-breeding Black-tailed Gull.
I will be processing my photos later today & these will be available for 
scrutiny from tonight - one or 2 will be posted on Birdline North Qld later 
also.
Salient ID features we noted as significant (among others) were - pink basal 
2/3rd's of bill with dark tip, pink legs & feet, overall size being only a 
little larger than Silver Gull but heavier-set & thicker headed & too small for 
a Kelp Gull, short legged, & wholly black tail with marginal white tip prob 
5-10mm thick...

Both Terry & I will be writing up this record for submission to BARC for 
acceptance.

I believe this will be the first confirmed sighting for Cairns, & it was 
certainly a new species for Terry, myself & Adam.

Cheers for now,

Martin Cachard
Cairns
0428 782 808

                                          
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