Atlasville, 30 August 2008

Just back from Zambia to find that the birding talk is all about the Franklin’s Gull that has been seen at the lake at the Centurion Shopping Mall between Johannesburg and Pretoria. This is only southern Africa’s 2nd ever inland record for Franklin’s Gull – oddly the first was some 22 years ago near where I live in Boksburg, only 36 km away as the ‘gull’ flies from the present sighting.

I decided that I had to go and see if I could get myself a lifer with what has been dubbed the most easily seen rarity in South Africa for decades. I asked my non-birding wife if she would like to accompany me on my endeavour. I don’t know if she fully appreciated why we going to Centurion, but the magic words “Shopping Mall” had definitely registered.

We arrived at the lakefront at the mall and had found the Franklin’s Gull within 30 seconds, paddling around in front of the Wimpy franchise – my easiest rarity lifer ever. I took a few photos and we retired to a coffee shop for breakfast!