LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

 

1. English and Scientific names: Iceland Gull  Larus glauciodes

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):  1 in first cycle plumage.  Sex not determinable.

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: Plaquemines Parish; Venice

Specific Locality:  across road from landfill on Coast Guard Road

 Latitude: 29° 15' 21" N  Longitude: 89° 21' 45" W  (29.2558, -89.3626)

4. Date(s) when observed:  04-07-2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed:  12:45

6. Reporting observer and address:   Nancy L Newfield; Casa Colibrí, 3016 45th Street, Metairie, LA 70001

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):  Tom Trenchard, Jana Whittle [from Texas].

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Initially reported on LABIRD by Tom Johnson et al., later by Mary Mehaffey.  Also observed on 03-17-2013 by this reporting observer.

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

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Swarovski 10x42 EL in excellent condition and  Swift Mark II Zoomscope, Model #841 (15x-60x.60mm)

11. Distance to bird(s): 60 yards.

12. Duration of observation: 15 minutes

13. Habitat: largely vacant, rock-paved parking lot near landfill.  A lot more of the rock material had been added in the 3 week interval between visits, somewhat hindering visibility.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):  Resting and moving around. The bird was part of a large, mixed-species flock loafing in the parking lot.  It was not immediately evident, but was eventually discovered to be in the same area as it had been on 03-17-2013.  However, it did not respond to 'chumming' with white bread.   As during my first encounter, the Iceland Gull was far to the back of the flock and often obscured by elements of the terrain of the parking lot or another gull.  The added rocks made the terrain more hilly, so visibility was more difficult.  A couple of times, it took wing but never came more than about 10 yards closer to us.  At some point, the bird took wing and moved to another area, but we were not able to locate it again.  

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):  Once the Iceland Gull became visible, it stood out because it appeared to be all white and no other gull in the area was all white.  In size, it was larger than a Ring-billed Gull but smaller than a Herring Gull, with a somewhat more 'delicate' aspect.  There was no visible black in the plumage, so the black bill with a pink base and the dark eyes stood out against the white head.  The legs were pink.

16. Voice:  not heard

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Size alone eliminates the essentially all white Ivory Gull.  A first cycle Glaucous Gull is also essentially all white, but that species is larger than a Herring Gull and its large, heavy bill is pinkish with well-defined black tip. 

 

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? Attached?): Tom Trenchard made some images.  He will submit them separately.

19. Previous experience with this species: only the previous sighting of this individual on 03-17-2013.

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

a. at time of observation: personal experience from the sighting of 03-17-2013 and National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America [5th edition]

b. after observation: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America [5th edition] and The Sibley Guide to Birds.

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. Signature of reporter:  Nancy L Newfield

 

                                                             Date:  06-22-2013                              Time: 08:38

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

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