LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

PHOTOS BELOW

 

1. English and Scientific names: 

Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus

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

1 - 1st winter

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)

Cameron Parish

Specific Locality:

Recently created shell ridges and mud flats to the west of Calcasieu River jetties.

4. Date(s) when observed:

June 1, 2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

11:00AM

6. Reporting observer and address:

Dave Patton, Lafayette, LA

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

Robby Bacon

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

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

Excellent, bright sun to the south as we looked west.

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

binoculars

11. Distance to bird(s):

100 yards

12. Duration of observation:

3 minutes

13. Habitat:

Tidal flats and shell ridges that remain above high tide. Standing among several hundred gulls, pelicans, herons, terns, etc.

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

Standing and walking on the flats looking for food and resting. It did not flush when most of the other birds did. Possibly because of worn flight feathers.

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): Bright white body feathers including all white primaries with no black or brown. The body looked a little more smudged with wear than the birds seen earlier in the winter at the same location. Bill pink with black tip. Legs pink. Larger than the Laughing and Ring-billed Gull near by. About the size of the Herring Gulls.

I feel this is probably one of the birds seen at this location over the previous months that is starting to show more feather ware.

16. Voice:

No

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

Herring. All white primaries.

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

Dave Patton, 300 mm lens, photos attached

19. Previous experience with this species:

several of this same plumage in LA

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: _____ 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:__June 21, 2012________

Time:_______