LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

Report Form

1. English and Scientific names:

California Gull, Larus, californicus

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

1 – near adult

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)

Cameron Parish

Specific Locality:

Shell deposits out from East Jetty Observation Tower

4. Date(s) when observed:

April 28, 2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

7:45 AM

6. Reporting observer and address:

Dave Patton, Lafayette, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

Paul Conover, Mac Myers, Phillip Wallace, Curt Sorrells

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

Many during LOS weekend

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Overcast and light rain, Good viewing through scope.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

30X scope

11. Distance to bird(s):

200 yards, flew in to about 200 feet once.

12. Duration of observation:

15 minutes

13. Habitat:

Shell reef just off shore.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

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): Looks just like the CAGU reported first on January 19, 2013 (long form), again on Feb 8, 2013(long form), and last seen by me on February 17, 2013. Yellow legs, rounded head, yellow bill with both red orange and black in gony. Small dark eye. Just smaller than a Herring Gull. Mantle darker than Herring.

16. Voice:

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):

300mm lens from 200 yards. Photos cropped but not adjusted.

19. Previous experience with this species:

Few

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

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

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

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain:Yes

23. Date:___March 30, 2013_______

Time:___9:30 PM____