A TV news report in Australia was interrupted by what appeared to be a giant seagull.

A magnified, up-close image of the bird caught by a camera shooting the skyline was seen walking behind presenter Peter Hitchener on yesterday's Nine Network broadcast.

Hitchener told Melbourne radio station 3AW: "I was reading away, and I suddenly thought, 'Oh gosh that seagull's back again', because we had a bit of a problem last night.

"About 50 seconds to 6pm, this seagull arrived and started pecking at the camera and it had the beadiest huge eyes you've ever seen in your life."

DS