Rare black‑headed gull spotted in Geraldton after storm
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- Black-headed gull was spotted on Geraldton’s foreshore after a severe southwest storm front, far outside its usual Europe‑Asia migratory route.
- Local Facebook group first reported the sighting last Tuesday, prompting birdwatchers from across Australia, including an east‑coast visitor, to travel to Geraldton.
- Birdlife Australia notes the last Australian record of the species was in 1991 at Broome, about 1,500 km north‑east of Geraldton, making this sighting extremely rare.
- Tegan Douglas of Birdlife Australia describes how local birdwatchers coordinate via WhatsApp, offering rides and real‑time updates to locate the gull.
- Steve Pidgeon, a Geraldton resident, photographed the gull and observed it mingling with silver gulls, foraging for chips on the beach.
- Storm front from the southwest pushed the gull far south, a pattern uncommon for vagrant birds, according to experts who note the closest regular populations are in India, Japan and the Philippines.
Why it matters: Birdwatchers gain a rare sighting that fuels travel and community coordination, while local businesses may benefit from visiting enthusiasts. The event also illustrates how severe storms can displace species far beyond their normal range, highlighting climate‑driven shifts in avian distribution.
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