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Case Summary for:
Submission No 244: Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan; Broome, WA, 29 December 1996. Submitted by: George Swan. Verdict: Accepted A case that details the sighting of a partially hooded gull on a muddy freshwater pool on the northern end of Dampier Creek saltmarsh, Broome, WA between the 29th December and the 4th January 1997 in association with Silver Gull Larus Novaehollandiae. The observer pointed out that the occurrence of this bird may have been a result of a series of offshore cyclones that were in the area during December 1996. A full and well researched document was presented to the committee along with a series of excellent photographs and field notes that serve to substantiate the claim. Immediately striking is the partially hooded appearance due to the dark crown and ear coverts and the darker grey back than adjacent Silver Gulls. Some of the more subtle features noted that assist with a positive identification include: the size (generally similar to that of a Silver Gull), medium-grey back & upperwing, relatively small bill, prominent white crescents both above and below the eye, rump and uppertail white with pale grey central tail feathers and the outer primaries black tipped white. The committee agreed entirely with the views of the observer in that the size, partial hooded appearance, colour of the upperparts, greater extent of white crescents around the eye, pale grey central tail feathers and the white tipped outer primaries all serve to confirm the identification conclusively as a Franklin’s Gull ruling out any possibility of the closely related Laughing Gull Larus atricilla. Members further commented (and again concurring with the observer) that this bird was possibly a second winter adult representing the eighth record to be accepted by the committee for Australia and the fourth record for Western Australia.
References and Bibliography
Tony Palliser |