Possible Franklin's gull - Manukau Harbour

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Hey Phil, how did you go on Tuesday?

N.

[philbattley]

No luck on Tuesday. Everything was very wet and there were almost no birds around - just a few SBBGs on lamp posts. Ran out of time to try again in the afternoon.

Phil

[Peter Frost]

That was ridiculous. Thanks to whoever told this bird to sit in the parking lot and wait for me to arrive at 15:25 today, Saturday. It must have thought that the parking lot was like the Atacama Desert, and about as deserted too. In any event, a great bird but does it really count if one ticks it within 10 seconds of driving in?

On a more serious note, I was struck by its rather languid flight. It reminded me of a Caspian Tern when flying. Perhaps the white trailing edge to the wing made its wings appear narrower than they really are. It did not do much during the hour that I was there. Much of the time it stood or sat on the tarmac, interspersed with flights out over the ponds and an adjacent cricket match. Eventually a blo-kart blew by and it left. So did I. I had a plane to catch. $69 on car hire was a cheap price for the experience. Thanks.

Peter Frost

(185.86 KiB) Viewed 6133 times

(179.33 KiB) Viewed 6133 times

[iain johnson]

Well done Peter - why didn't it behave like that a fortnight ago when Steve Wood was here!

Steve - a return visit on the cards yet??

[molesunlimited]

For over and hour from 8.30 am, the gull was centered on the parking area next to the netball courts by itself. From time to time it would do the odd circuit and fly-by of the area but on each occassion returned to the parking area while ignoring all noisy Sunday morning walkers passing by.

Let me and my camera get 6 parking spaces from it while I remained standing. When I sat down on the tramac, the bird settled down too. It then let me gently work my way forward to be just three parking spaces away. Got a few humdred reasonable pics.

[philbattley]

On another matter, I see this thread has blasted past 1000 views! Eclipses everything else. Shows that deep down either lots of us are closet twitchers, or those who are spend far too much time on their computers!

Phil

[ledzep]

Is the gull still around? I'll be passing through tomorrow (Friday) and hope its sitting in the park waiting for me!

[iain johnson]

Hi Duncan,

Not sure to be honest, Steve Wood asked me the same question earlier this week actually! Was going to have a look on Sunday as i'm headed down that way.

let me know how you get on, sorry I can't be any further help. Cheers Iain

[ledzep]

Went through Bruce Pulman Park at 4 pm today (Fri). No sign of the gull. Didn't have a lot of time to explore. A few ducks on the ponds being fed, and one Southern Black Backed Gull in the carpark with a sad looking wing. Few other birds about. Will have another look on Monday on my way back down.

[iain johnson]

No sign of the Franklins Gull in Bruce Pulman Park at 12.30 12.45pm today I'm afraid.