LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

1. English and Scientific names: Bullock’s Oriole, Icterus bullockii

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

1. possibly a non-adult female

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) Cameron______________________

Specific Locality: Peveto Woods__________________________

4. Date(s) when observed: October 30, 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 5 pm observed for about 20 min.

6. Reporting observer and address: Rosemary Seidler, Shreveport, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Justin and Devin Bosler and their friend Cody?

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Don’t know who originally found the bird but Devin relocated it on Sunday afternoon.

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): First seen moving around near top of tree in heavy cover. Then it perched in the open – back lit - for about a minute. Used computer to lighten up the photo.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 10X Swarovski bins

11. Distance to bird(s): maybe 25 ft when it was in the open.

12. Duration of observation: off and on for about 15 min, in the open for about 5.

13. Habitat: oak chenier with heavy undergrowth and some cleared areas.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): Devin found the bird high in an oak tree. We watched it fly to another tree and then it perched in the open in the parking area.

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species): appeared to be smaller than a mocking bird and about the size of the towhee we’d just seen. Pale straight bill, dark eye with hint of a dark eye line,, yellow head, neck and cheek. Gray back, wings darker gray with heavy white wing bars. Whitish belly, pale yellow under tail, top of tail grayish yellow.

16. Voice: didn’t call

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): young Baltimore Oriole. BAOR face is not as bright yellow, area near eye is lighter with no hint of dark eye stripe.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): I attached my photos. Justin, Devin and Cody each took photos.

19. Previous experience with this species: Seen several times in the west.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation: Boslers

b. after observation: Sibley, National Geographic, Crossley.

21. This description is written from: __recorded___ notes made during the observation (___no__notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); _____memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: At the time of observation I would not have been able to distinguish between young Bullock’s and young Baltimore. I relied on the Bosler’s ID. After I had time to look carefully at my photos and study field guided I feel confident of the ID.

23. Signature of reporter: Rosemary Seidler__Date:__11/16/2011_Time:__2:45 pm_