February 18, 2014
A small seagull which is knocking around with the pelicans on Bjelke-Petersen Dam has local bird watchers in a twitter.
The migratory gull, first spotted in early January, has been identified by numerous observers as a Franklin’s Gull.
And while it may look like just a close cousin to a regular seagull, it’s actually a very rare vagrant which is more than 9000km off-course.
The Franklin’s Gull should be found in South America at this time of the year.
According to Slater’s Field Guide To Australian Birds, the Franklin’s Gull breeds in swamps in North America and then migrates to South America.
It usually winters in Argentina, Chile or Peru.
It has been spotted before in Australia – at Busselton in Western Australia and at Redcliffe near Brisbane – but it is an extremely rare visitor and has probably been blown off course on its way to South America.
Shona Divljak, from Yallakool Park at Bjelke-Petersen Dam, said the bird was first spotted by a visitor in early January.
The excited man posted the sighting on the Eremaea Birdlines website and since then birdwatchers have been flocking to the dam to catch a glimpse of the rare bird.
The Eremaea Birdlines website now records numerous sightings of the gull at the dam plus photos taken by enthusiastic birdwatchers.
Shona said the Franklin’s Gull was usually found hanging around near the point at the dam wall or at the boat ramp.
“I have had people fly from Sydney to Brisbane, then drive to the dam to see the bird and then head back home all in one day,” she said.
“Another drove up from Lennox Head just to see the bird.”
Shona said she knew of at least two dozen people who had come to BP Dam just to see the Franklin’s Gull, but there could be even more.
The rare bird is described as a small gull with a red bill, the hind-edge of the wing narrowly edged white with two narrow white bars at wingtip separated by a broad black bar and square to rounded tail.
The Franklin’s Gull is believed to be the only species of gull that replaces its feathers twice every year.
The bird at BP Dam appears to be an adult bird displaying its winter or non-breeding plumage, ie with a dull bill but with its white eye ring clearly visible. In its breeding plumage, the bird has a bright red bill and its head and upper neck are dark black.
