FISHER & FISHER AUSTRALIAN 34 Laughing : A New Record WATCHER

In the main alternatives to Pinus radiata would seem to be casuarinas such as Belah Casuarina cristata as recorded by Cupper & Cupper (1981). The advantage of Casuarina spp. may be in providing a small raptor with light but bulky flexible nesting material of the kind that has become much more readily available in the introduced Pinus. The eucalypt twigs used by sparrowhawks were thin, more suitable for weaving than for bulk support. References Cupper, J. & Cupper, L. (1981), Hawks in Focus, Jaclin, Mildura. Metcalf, E.C. (1981), 'Collared Sparrowhawk: extracurricular activities?', Canberra Bird Notes 6, 84-85. --(1982), 'The nesting and post-fledging of a family of Collared Sparrowhawks', Canberra Bird Notes 7, 48-53. Metcalf, R. & Metcalf, E.C. (1986), 'Notes on a breeding pair of Collared Sparrowhawks: arrival to hatching', Canberra Bird Notes 11, 114-120. Newton, I. (1986), The Sparrowhawk, Poyser, Calton. Olsen, P. (1981) , 'Collared Sparrowhawk collecting twigs for nests', Canberra Bird Notes 6, 'irl. By E.C. METCALF\ T. ROSS 2 and R. METCALP 111 Peel Street, O'Connor, A.C.T. 2601 242 Willis Street, Evatt, A.C.T. 2617 318 Hemmant Street, O'Connor, A.C.T. 2601 • Received 14 August 1987

Laughing Gull atricilla: A New Record for Australia

On 11 December 1987 an unusual gull was observed by John Crowhurst on the Trinity Bay mudflats adjacent to the Cairns Esplanade, Queensland. On 13 December 1987 we were asked to help with the identification. Crowhurst and Bill Whayman had tentatively identified it as a Larus atricilla. This identification was confirmed by us with the aid of reference books (Harrison 1983, 1987, Natl Geog. Soc. 1983, Tuck & Heinzel 1980). The gull was observed, using a 20 x spotting scope and 10 x 40 binoculars, with a small flock of Silver Larus novaehollandiae. In comparison it was similar in size, but of more squat appearance. The bill had a slight droop, was thicker and black with an orange tip. The wings were dark grey with the black outer primaries extending well beyond the pure white tail and lacking pale primary mirrors. The nape and around the eye was a smudgy brown with a distinct white eye-ring. The remainder of the plumage was white. In flight the bird showed a white border to the trailing edge of the wings along the inner primaries and secondaries. The wings were long and more pointed than the Silver Gull's. From this description the bird was identified as a non-breeding adult Laughing Gull. Photographs were taken on print film and sent to John McKean who confirmed the identification. The Laughing Gull breeds along eastern North America from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean, dispersing south in the northern winter to Brazil and Ecuador. Vagrants have been seen in Britain to the east and westward to Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Johnston Atoll, Kiribati and Samoa (Garrett 1987, Pratt et al. 1987). The Laughing Gull has become a regular visitor to Hawaii and the subsequent sightings in the Pacific region would suggest that its range may be extending. The bird has subsequently been observed along the Cairns mudflats either alone or mingling with Silver Gulls. The Silver Gulls have shown intermittent aggression VOL. 13 (1) FISHER & FISHER MARCH 1989 Laughing Gull: A New Record 35

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla (a) in foreground (b) in flight. Plate 13 Photos: K. & L. Fisher towards it by pecking, but this behaviour is quite usual amongst Silver Gulls themselves. It has also been observed catching small fish and then being harassed by Silver Gulls contesting its meal. Since the original observation a second Laughing Gull has been sighted on the Cairns mudflats. This bird had a greyish-black bill lacking an orange tip. The upper­ wing was dark grey with brownish-black primaries. In flight the under-wing was white with brown tips and a thin white trailing edge, and the tail was white with a distinct blackish-brown terminal band with a white fringe. The nape and around the eye was a smudgy brownish grey with a distinct eye-ring. The breast was a mottled grey and the flanks were mottled greyish brown. From this description the bird was identified as an immature Laughing Gull. The two Gulls were often seen (June 1988) usually together on the Cairns mudflats. We express our thanks to John Crow hurst for drawing our attention to the Laughing Gull at Cairns and to David Eades for providing literature references. Also, special thanks to John McKean for checking the manuscript as well as for advice and encouragement. References Garrett, K.L. (1987), 'Occurrence of the Laughing Gull Larus atricilla in the Marshall Islands', J. Hawaii Audubon Soc. 47(7): 73-74. Harrison, P. (1983), Seabirds: An identification Guide, Croom Helm, London. -- (1987), Seabirds of the World: A Photographic Guide, Christopher Helm, London. National Geographic Society (1983), Field Guide to the ofNorth America, National Geographic Society, Washington. Pratt, H.D., Bruner, P.L. & Berrett, D.G. (1987), A Field Guide to the Birds ofHawaii and the Tropical Pacific, Princeton University press, Princeton. Tuck, G.S. & Heinzel, H. (1980), A Field Guide to the Seabirds of Australia and the World , Collins, Sydney. By KEITH FISHER and LINDSAY FISHER, P.O. Box 2209, Cairns, Queensland 4870 • Received 26 February 1988