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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It looks as though we were very lucky last Monday… the Black-tailed Gull has not been seen anywhere up here since we initially found it!! cheers,
Martin Cachard Cairns
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still no sign of the Black-tailed Gull in Cairns today….
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still no sign of the BT Gull in Cairns today….
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No sign of the young Black-tailed Gull in Cairns today – we will be checking again Wed as well & keep this list posted…
Cheers,
Martin Cachard Cairns
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