Submission No 459: Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan, Avoca Beach, NSW. 26th March 2005 (Unpublished).

This submission relates to the sighting of a black-hooded gull in full breeding plumage flying North along the surf line at Avoca Beach, Central Coast NSW on the 26th March 2005.

The view was very brief (10-15 seconds) but did allow the observer to note a distinctive black hood, conspicuous white eye-ring, red bill, darkish grey wings with a white trailing edge and black wing tips.

Despite the extreme brevity of the sighting four members voted in favour of acceptance, being convinced that the description rules out Laughing Gull. As pointed out in the submission the conspicuous eye-ring and the lack of white between black wing tips and the grey wing support Franklin’s Gull. Desenting members felt that the case fell short of enough information to be certain particularly given the magnitude of the find and lack of photographic or other corroborative opportunities.

To date BARC has accepted 12 records of this species in Australia and this report may well have been another.

Verdict: Not Accepted

References & Bibliography:

· Dwight, J. 1925. The Gulls (Laridae) of the World: their plumages, moults, variations, relationships and distribution. Bull. Amer. Nat. Hist. 52: 63-401.

· Grant, P.J. 1986. Gulls: a Guide to Identification. 2^nd edn. Poyser, Calton.

• Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins 1990. The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Oxford University Press; Melbourne.

Tony Palliser

Chairman Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)