Submission No 265: Laughing Gull Larus atricilla, Cairns, North QLD 11th December 1987 to 19th November 1989.

Verdict: Accepted

This case concerns a published account (Aust. Birdwatcher 1989) of one of Australia’s most famous and well watched rarities, that of a Laughing gull Larus atricilla first located on the Cairn’s esplanade in North Queensland on the 11th December 1987, which then stayed until at least the 19th November 1989 (almost 2 years). During its stay this bird was joined by a second individual (Case 266) which arrived in April 1988 and stayed until at least October 1989. Throughout this period both birds were seen by many observers as they fed and roosted with the resident Silver Gulls.

Although the published description is brief for such a major rarity, the accompanying photographs in the Aust. Birdwatcher (and another in Aust. Birding 1995) readily confirm the identification. There remains only the question of ageing.

Comparing the published description and photos with those of Laughing Gull in Grant (1982), it is clear that the bird was in either second-winter or adult-winter plumage when initially sighted in December 1987. The combination of a black bill with orange tip, wholly white tail and under-body, and (from photo) a tiny white apical spot (on c.P6) visible just beyond the tertials on the folded wing, all suggests an adult in winter plumage as concluded by the finders; a second-winter bird would show an all-dark (blackish) bill and an obvious pale-grey wash to the flanks and sides of breast. Ageing as an adult was confirmed by David James, an experienced gull specialist, who critically examined the bird for ageing and moult during October 1989. From his study of the description and photos and his direct observations of the bird, James concluded that by this date, the bird had apparently adjusted its moult cycle from a boreal one into a sequence consistent with that of the austral seasons (HANZAB Vol 3: 564).

The committee has no hesitation in unanimously accepting this bird as an adult winter Laughing Gull Larus atricilla subsequently moulting into breeding plumage. Although apparently the first Laughing Gull to be sighted in Australia this is the 4th record of this species to be accepted by the committee.

References and Bibliography:

• Fisher, K. & L. Fisher. 1989. Laughing Gull Larus atricilla a New Record for Australia. Australian Bird Watcher Vol.13: 34-35.
• Fisher, K. & L. Fisher. 1995. Laughing Gulls photographed on the Cairns Esplanade. Australian Birding. Spring 1995 Edition. p 21.
• Garrett, K. L. 1987. Occurrence of Laughing Gull Larus atricilla in the Marshall Islands, J. Hawaii Audubon Society 47(7): 73-74.
• Grant, P.J. 1982. Gulls: A Guide to Identification. T & A D Poyser. Carlton, England.
• Higgins, P.J. & S.J.J.F. Davies. 1996. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol 3. Oxford Univ. Press, Melbourne.

Tony Palliser
Chairman Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)