Dear All the description below does sound OK for an adult black-tailed gull. It would be good if someone could get some photos etc/
Rob Morris
Brisbane, Australia
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:23:46 +1000 Subject: Re: Birdline sighting 16131 received From: skipperbenweston@gmail.com To: robert_p_morris@hotmail.com
Hi Rob I dont have a camera so cant take a photo. As I write this the bird is sitting with a bunch of silver gulls on the boat launching ramp at the Gladstone yacht club. Im 65 years old and have been an avid birdwatcher since my teens. The bird is larger than a silver gull but smaller than a pacific gull and it lacks that birds huge bill, mostly white with back and wings charcoal grey/black. There is a black band to be seen in its tail when it is in flight. This band is situated about 3/4 of the way down the tail. The bill is of a yellowish green colour and the legs are grey green. I have never seen a bird like this here in Gladstone before and at a guess would say it hitched a ride on one of the many Chinese ships that come here to take on coal. The bird also has a scruffy apearance but is quiet tame. Ben .
On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 12:02 PM, robert morris
HI Ben
as this is a major rarity – could you give a few more details and perhaps a photo? e.g. could you please let me know the age and some kind of description.
Thanks
Rob Morris
Brisbane, Australia
> From: notifications@eremaea.com > To: charms1960@bigpond.com; dez.wells@bigpond.com; robert_p_morris@hotmail.com
> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 09:09:01 +1000 > Subject: Birdline sighting 16131 received > > Species: Black tailed gull > Date: 1/10/2011 > Site: Gladstone Marina > Region: Australia: Queensland
> Notes: Single bird watched as it fed on a dead fish for about 20 mins. Saw this bird about 2 weeks ago but couldnt get close to it. > Observer: Benjamin Weston > Further Information: > Email: skipperbenweston@gmail.com
>
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Comments
2 responses to “Reported Black-tailed Gull in Gladsone”
I wonder if Ben could tell us whether the bill has a vertical dark band or red-and-black band near the tip. Such band should be present in a Black-tailed Gull. Without it there are other options such as immatures of several species including Kelp Gull.
Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136
So is that the marina on Bryan Jordan Drive ?
Tony