Laughing gull in breeding plumage, Opotiki

RussCannings · Post by **RussCannings** » Fri Dec 15, 2017 7:54 pm

Still present at 750pm. Very tame. All 4 gull species present and managed a fun 'weka and laughing gull in same frame' shot. Offshore a Common Diving-Petrel flyby was a nice bonus. 67 species in the bag---now off to Te Urewera!
#Bigdaynzheadstart

Clinton9 · Post by **Clinton9** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:27 am

This is same bird as on 23/12/16...

http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6346

It may decided to call this NZ a new home, hence it is in breeding plumage in austral summer here now, while Laughing gulls in USA are in fresh nonbreeding plumage.

Post by **tim** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 2:23 pm

The laughing gull is at the wharf right now and i am getting low on bread!

erikforsyth · Post by **erikforsyth** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 8:56 pm

Hi all

just back from Hikuwai Beach, Opotiki. I arrived at 7:40pm during a bit of a downpour.The bird was feeding with Red-billed Gulls next to vehicles parked on the beach. At 7:44pm a Red-billed Gull flew north and the Laughing Gull followed.

cheers
Erik Forsyth
Rockjumper Birding Tours
www.rockjumperbirding.com

RussCannings · Post by **RussCannings** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 11:59 am

A couple photos I took of the bird on Friday evening (Dec 15th):

: (94.92 KiB) Viewed 3376 times

: (266.47 KiB) Viewed 3376 times

Sadly not countable for our big day effort as we received outside information on the day of. Still a beauty!

Russ & Lisa Cannings
Cambridge, NZ

Post by **tim** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 1:43 pm

Just some notes that the Laughing gull was sighted multiple times at the wharf it kept on going between the beach and the wharf.
I don't know where it goes in the mornings but when I first saw it the bird was flying from the east so maybe there is a roost further up the beach.
still very cool to find and a bird I really wanted to see in breeding plumage.

erikforsyth · Post by **erikforsyth** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 2:15 pm

Hi Tim

well done and great pics, which wharf?

thanks
Erik Forsyth
Rockjumper Birding Tours
www.rockjumperbirding.com

Post by **tim** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 2:24 pm

Hi Erik, it was Opotiki wharf. Also good to meet you yesterday too.

Grahame · Post by **Grahame** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 3:22 pm

Watching Laughing Gull now at Hukuwai Beach.
Grahame

erikforsyth · Post by **erikforsyth** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 7:11 pm

Hi

just back from Hikuwai Beach, where the gull was present at 5pm and was still present at 5:40pm, when I left. Managed a few pictures, as yesterday was rained out!

Best Wishes
Erik Forsyth
Rockjumper Birding Tours
www.rockjumperbirding.com

Laughing gull in breeding plumage, Opotiki

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