Birders from afar flock to spot gull in town

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Hundreds of birdwatchers flocked to Mossel Bay this week, after the news broke that a laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) was spotted in town.

Wildlife enthusiast and bird expert, Trevor Hardaker, who identified the gull, first wrongly thought to be a Franklin's gull, says this is a first, not only for South Africa, but the entire continent south of the equator.

The laughing gull migrates around the Gulf of Mexico and frequents the north and central parts of South America. Being in Mossel Bay, it is clearly a long, long way from home.

Spotted

The gull was spotted on Santos Beach by local birdwatcher Don Reid, who went for a swim at the beach on Sunday, 6 February. He identified it as a Franklin’s gull, which, if seen around these parts, is rare too.

When the news reached Hardaker, he asked for proper photographs in order to identify the bird.

"Something about it just didn't feel right. The gull in question was too large and long in build to be a Franklin's gull," Hardaker told the Mossel Bay Advertiser on Wednesday.

The laughing gull. Photo: Benno Klinck

He explained that he had seen thousands of laughing gulls where they normally occur, which made it fairly easy to identify this bird by its upper wing pattern.

Following the gull being correctly identified on Monday, 7 February, birdwatchers from as far as Gauteng have been going around town from Quay 4 in the harbour area to the Point, where the gull has been spotted, to get a glimpse of the rare visitor.

Local birdwatcher Rudi Minnie explained this behaviour as an event fit for a "birdwatcher's bucket list".

"On Monday at 10:00, birdwatchers from Gauteng boarded a plane and at 13:00 they were in town to photograph the laughing gull. As birdwatchers, we have lists of birds seen and to be seen. Some pertain to the local area, other are regional, provincial or national. You can also have a month or a year list. This is something to be ticked off your life list. It is that rare."

Photo gallery: Rare bird for our country, spotted in Mossel Bay

Former freelance journalist for the Advertiser and keen birdwatcher, Tersia Marais, said it was a privilege to have so many birders brought together in town.

Spot the odd one out. The laughing gull among the "locals". Photo: Benno Klinck

Uncertain

It is assumed the laughing gull may have lost its way in a cyclone. Presumably finding itself lost somewhere in the Northern Atlantic, it may have hitched a ride on a passing ship or two to get to land. Exactly where, remains uncertain, but regardless, it found its way to sunny Mossel Bay.

Hardaker says it is unlikely the gull will find its way home again.

"Chances are it will keep is north-south migratory pattern, moving up to Europe." He said it may return south with a mate, but that laughing gulls were also known to hybridise with other gulls.

How long it will make Mossel Bay its home, also remains to be seen.

"As long as it is happy and has food, which seems to be offered aplenty at Sea Gypsy restaurant, it will most likely stay." Hardeker says that as for the excitement among the bird watching community, Mossel Bay can certainly expect even more visitors over the weekend.

The gull's gender is unknown and according to Hardeker not possible to establish from afar.

This rare visitor seems to be Mossel Bay's greatest tourism ambassador at the moment, proving that losing your way is sometimes not such a bad thing after all.