Unusual capture by your friend. Someone had a photo in 2006 in Victoria Australia on Flickr that looks similar, she too was asking if anyone knew. Random perhaps a new species, definitely not painted as that would kill the bird.
Sounds extremely hot in your region, take care to avoid that heat and good luck in seeing this seagull personally.
!LUV
!PIZZA
I also thought that it could kill the bird, if it was painted. Interesting to know that in some other places such rarity occurs.
Oh, the heat is something we have to accept as new reality. Next week new air-conditioner will be installed at home, because my old one no longer is working. Without aircon we hardly will survive.
Heat is horrendous with humidity, only an aircon helps stay indoors as much as possible.