LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.

1. English and Scientific names: 

Great Black-backed Gull,  Larus marinus

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

1 – 1st winter

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)

Vermilion Parish

Specific Locality:

Mouth of Fresh Water Bayou Pass into the gulf, Fresh Water City

4. Date(s) when observed:

February 9, 2014

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

1:00PM

6. Reporting observer and address:

Dave Patton, davepatton122@gmail.com

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

Paul Conover, Judge Edwards

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

none

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

Excellent, bright overcast with light behind us looking north.

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

binoculars and 300 mm lens

11. Distance to bird(s):

100 feet

12. Duration of observation:

30 seconds

13. Habitat:

mouth of a coastal river. Boats coming in and out with a large group of gulls resting and feeding.

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

Threw out popcorn to get the gulls up from the beach. This bird came in to investigate the activity, making a wide pass around the boat. After only one pass it departed east along the coast as far as we could follow it with binoculars.

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):Looked easily as big as a Herring Gull, very large black bill with pale tip, black band on end of tail with a mostly white rump. Head dirty white with a dark eye. Back and upper wings heavily checkered black and white. The pattern is better seen in the photos than I can describe. Description largely from photo as I was taking photos.

16. Voice:No

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

Lesser Black-backed Gull – looked bigger, with a bigger bill. The primary and secondary patterns better match for GBBG.

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

Dave Patton, 300mm lens.

19. Previous experience with this species:

A few in LA., and a few in South Carolina.

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

a. at time of observation:

none

b. after observation:

Gulls of the Americas, Howell and Dunn, p.210

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

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

23. Signature of reporter: Dave Patton

Date:_2/28/2014_________

Time:___4:00PM____

24. May the LBRC have permission to display this report or
portions of this report on its webite? Yes

If yes, may we include your name with the report? Yes

Return to LBRC Page