MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The appearance of a laughing gull (Leutacophaeus atricilla) in Mossel Bay earlier this week, has had birdwatchers from as far as Gauteng going around the harbour area to get a glimpse of this rare sight. Laughing gulls are found in North, Central and the northern parts of South America.
Expert Trevor Hardaker, who runs the Southern African Rare Birds News (SARBN) reports correctly identified the gull and confirmed that the sighting in Mossel Bay, is a first for Africa south of the equator.
Rudi Minnie, coordinator of the birdwatching group in Mossel Bay earlier this week told the Mossel Bay Advertiser that after the gull was first spotted earlier this week, the sight was so rare, that an Afrikaans name for the gull had not yet been established.
“Locally we had a lot of fun jesting about a possible name. Kekkelbekmeeu was a favourite,” Minnie chuckles. He said that Birdlife South Africa is the responsible organisation to determine the Afrikaans name.
Minnie last night, 10 February told the Advertiser that the laughing gull has since been named roetvlerkmeeu in Afrikaans.
According to Minnie birdwatchers are still following the gull’s movement closely.
The laughing gull has been named roetvlerkmeeu in Afrikaans.
Leutacophaeus atricilla
