All just a quick note to let everyone know that the locals on Bribie Islands found Pacific (2) and Kelp (1) at the weekend. Paul Walbridge chance upon them yesterday (news doesn’t seem to filter out from Bribie – perhaps because it’s an island?!) and there is still at least 1 Pacific Gull there today. So if you’re after a couple of regional rarities – head up to Bribie Island. The birds are on the inland side of the Island around Bongaree – just north of Buckley’s Hole which is also worth a look. cheers
Rob Morris
Brisbane, Australia
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On Wed, 29 May 2013 06:08:37 +0000 Robert Morris wrote (in a posting about uncommon-to-Bribie-Island gulls) “news doesn’t seem to filter out from Bribie – perhaps because it’s an island?!”
Perhaps there was another reason these sightings were not reported the moment the sightings were actually made. Perhaps the people who first found these birds weren’t perfectly sure of the identifications of the gulls in question. Perhaps they didn’t want to put out false information and have anxious birders complaining about having their time wasted.
It is my understanding that Pacific Gulls have not been reported on Bribie Island before and there is only one previous accepted sighting of Kelp Gull.
As it so happens, I live near the location of the sightings and I was contacted late Monday afternoon with advice that possible sightings of 2 Pacific Gulls and 1 Kelp Gull had been made either on Sunday 26 th or Monday 27 th. I was told that the person/s making the sightings were reasonably sure of their identifications but wished to have confirmation. A couple of hours later I was sent reasonably good digital photos, taken early Monday afternoon, of one of the Pacific Gulls and the Kelp Gull and was asked if I could try to get some better shots of the three gulls. It was too late that day for me to do that but I was able to get photos of the Pacific Gulls Tuesday morning and the Kelp Gull early Tuesday afternoon. I was examining and processing the images for passing on to trusted experts for confirmation when I was contacted by phone by Paul Walbridge who was, by chance I believe, at that time on Bribie Island and had just seen one of the Pacific Gulls. Obviously in an act of courtesy and good will he wanted to alert me to the presence of that gull as he was aware of the significance of such a sighting. I informed him that I had just been out getting photographs of the bird and told him that there was a second Pacific Gull and that there was also a Kelp Gull nearby. I gave him the details of the location of the Kelp Gull.
Paul asked me if I had informed Birding-Aus and I told him that I was not the person who had found the gulls and I was not inclined to do the reporting. It has always been my principle not to claim or report such sightings if I have not been the original observer but, rather, to allow the original observer the honour and pleasure of doing the reporting. In this case it was my understanding that the original observer was waiting for confirmation of the identities of the gulls. In my opinion it is always best if the person who made the original sighting does the reporting as there is more chance the report will be accurate. If the original observer makes it clear they don’t wish to submit a report then it would seem reasonable to me for another person who has actually seen the bird/s to then submit a report.
Considering the sort length of time that had passed I think it is somewhat unfair to suggest that “news doesn’t seem to filter out from Bribie – perhaps because it’s an island?!”.
Or perhaps that doesn’t satisfy the instant-gratification junkies modern technology seems to be spawning.
Or perhaps some birders thrive on rumour?
So here’s a couple of rumours. Rumour 1: In a discussion I had this afternoon (Wed 29th) I was advised of a possible sighting of an Adult Pacific Gull (additional to the two first year Pacific Gulls already reported) at Bongaree, Bribie Island. Rumour 2: In the same discussion I was advised of a possible second Kelp Gull also at Bongaree, Bribie Island. Those two new birds were said to have been first sighted this afternoon, Wed 29 th May.
I must advise that I was unable to find either of these birds but the two first year Pacific Gulls were still on display this afternoon. I did not see the original Kelp Gull today.
Bob Inglis Sandstone Point Qld “Pied Butcherbird Central”
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