Memorandum to:         The Director of Birds Australia

From:                          Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)

Date:                            21^st January 2008

Voting Members:         Mike Carter                   Danny Rogers

                                    Rohan Clarke                 Glenn Holmes

                                    John Hatch                    Jamie Matthews

                                    Tony Palliser                 Andy Silcocks

cc.                                John Darnell                             

Submission No. 518: Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini Derby, WA. 19^th – 29^th August 2006 (unpublished). Submitted by: Peter & Rhonda Barrand.

Verdict: Accepted

This case relates to the sighting of a Sabine’s Gull on a freshwater wetland just south of Derby, WA on the 19^th August 2006.  A full description and photographic evidence has been provided to support the sighting.  The bird was present until at least the 29^th August 2006 allowing many observers to view this rarity.

The striking plumage characters prompted a straightforward identification: black outer primaries separated by a triangle of white secondaries and inner primaries and a forked tail.  The bird also featured a dark grey head, boardered by a black collar around the neck and a black bill with a yellow tip.  The sex could not be established as both sexes have similar plumage however the presence of a few pale feathers about the face suggested that this was an adult about to moult into non-breeding plumage. An excellent series of photographs were supplied and support the identification conclusively.

Members voted unanimously in favour of acceptance. The 6th record for Australia.

References

• Harrison, P. (1985), Seabirds: an identification guide (Revised Edition), Croom Helm, Beckenham, Kent.
• Higgins, P.J. & Davies, S.J.J.F. (Eds.) (1996), Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, vol. 3, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
• Morcombe, M. (2000), Field Guide to Australian Birds, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd, Archerfield, Queensland.
• Pizzey, G. & Knight, F. (1997), The Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.
• Pringle, J.D. (1987), The Shorebirds of Australia, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.

Tony Palliser

Chairman, Birds Australia Rarities Committee