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: Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus

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

1 1st winter

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: Cameron

Specific Locality: Cameron; Calcasieu Ship Channel near mouth

4. Date(s) when observed:  11/30/2103

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

5. Time(s) of day when observed: Morning and again early afternoon

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover, Lafayette

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

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

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

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

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

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

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):  Zeiss 10s, Nikon D50 w/300mm lens

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

11. Distance to bird(s):  20-30 yards at minimum

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

12. Duration of observation:   perhaps half an hour total

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

13. Habitat:  ship channel and channel mouth

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):  Bird was perched on rocks, chasing ships, and fighting over and feeding on fish carcasses beyond the channel mouth..  

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

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):  A large and hefty pale gull with thick pale pink legs, dark eye, and pink bill with black tip.  Mantle, lesser and median upperwing coverts, rump and uppertail coverts with whitish ground color, lightly marked with pale brown barring and mottling.  Greater coverts of upperwing largely or entirely unmarked, with most markings on inner greater secondary coverts.  Flight feathers pale, unmarked except for possibly darker shaft tips on primaries.  Tail lightly barred with speckling, including a somewhat distinct pale and wavy subterminal band.  Head pale with pale dirty brown streaking.  Underparts fairly evenly pale brown, this color about the same as the brown markings on the upperparts.  Undertail pale with coarse light brown barring.  Bill and legs pale pink, bill with dark tip.  Dark tip well-defined but with a little vagueness on its border.  Bill fairly stout, with a slight curve or hump on culmen.  Eye dark.      

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

16. Voice:

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):  This bird didn’t appear to be a leucistic individual of Herring Gull or other large gulls.  Hybrid Glaucous-Herring a possibility, but no single characteristic argues strongly enough for that to discount the specific ID.    

 

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

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

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

19. Previous experience with this species:  some, especially in recent years. 

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

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

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

a. at time of observation:

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

b. after observation:

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif

21. This description is written from: memory.

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

23.       12/6/2013

http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif