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I know you do get them in Kruger, but I have never seen them. Until 24 April 2006, and of all places Nsemani, which I have past thousands of times before. There were 3 gulls and a White-winged Tern. Got a bad photo of the gulls, but the Tern kept on dodging my camera Have anyone seen gulls in the Park recently?

Hi Bosnimf
Photographically I like your photo very much.
From my reference books the Kruger is included in their distribution but has the residence status of uncommon. I also note that the Transvaal breeding cycle is from March to September and of interest is that they often use old Coot nests. With the good rainfall in the Park it could mean that they have moved in for the breeding period and may then move off to better/other feeding area's.
Well spotted and i hope others will post their sightings and then we may be able to establish a pattern

I don't often get to the Park and have no record of seeing them there from my few visits

So neat and clean - not a feather out of place!

For those wanting to see these birds in Gauteng. Look no further than Austin Roberts in Midrand or the east rand of Gauteng. They are quite a common sighting nowadays.

Drop in at any roadhouse, order a milkshake (or whatever you fancy) and you're basically guaranteed a sighting. They are more common than a decent dagwood at most places, that's why we call them the roadhouse birds.

Greyheaded Gull
Larus cirrocephalus

Description
These gulls have a pale grey head, grey body and have a diagnostic upperwing pattern. The underwing is a dark grey colour with black wing tips. However, the grey hood of this gull is lost in winter, leaving just dark streaks. They breed in very large colonies, ranging from a hundred to a thousand. Breeding grounds include reedbeds and marshes. Two or three eggs can be found in a single nest and these birds are gregarious in winter. A breeding adult differs from the the more smaller Hartlaub's Gull by having a much more extensive grey hood, a more appealing and brighter red bill and legs and pale yellow eyes. Greyheaded Gulls in flights have broader wings which are held flatter than that of a Blackheaded Gull. Also they are larger and have different patterns to the Blackheaded and Franklin's Gulls. The Greyheaded has an extensively larger range that that of the Franklin's and Blackheaded as these birds have rarely been recorded in southern Africa.

Habitat
They are mostly uncommon birds, but locally abundant. They prefer open coast, coastal and wetland areas. Also, rarely seen at sea far from land. Their main range goes as far north as Gauteng in South Africa, with almost regular sightings being recorded even in KNP.

Females & Juveniles
Females and males are generally alike. The juveniles have greater and extensive smudges on the head, a bill which is coloured in pinkish orange with a dark tip, slightly more darker upperwings and darker tail than that of a juvenile Hartlaub's Gull. These gulls take two years to reach maturity. Juveniles have a black terminal tail band with more darker areas in the wings.

Calls
Very noisy when in colonies. Calls include a crow-like 'caw cow', 'karrh' and 'pok pok'.

A portrait study...

Large view

...and a juvenile in flight

Large size

You can see them at eastgate shopping mall and the east rand mall.

I know this is not strictly Kruger Park news or sighting, but is pretty close to KNP, had a sighting of 4 Grey headed gulls on Nyaka dam, right in the middle, Approx 20 km's from Hazyview, probably 12 km west of KNP whilst fishing today. First for me.