LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     

1. English and Scientific names:Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): 1 in first winter plumage

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) ________________St. Tammany____________________________

Specific Locality: __Mandeville small boat harbor/boat launch (mouth of Bayou Castine?)_______________________________________________________

4. Date(s) when observed:24 November 2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed: around 11:15am, photos from around 11:30

6. Reporting observer and address: B. Mac. Myers, 641 S. 5th St., Eunice, LA 70535

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): found and identified by Chris Brantley; seen by many others

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

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):10x42 Vortex, very good

11. Distance to bird(s): as close as 25 feet

12. Duration of observation:maybe 30 minutes

13. Habitat:water of L. Pontchartrain harbor adjacent to boat launch; dock, etc.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): The bird was small, scarcely larger than RBGU. It was very unaggressive and was dominated by LAGU and RBGU. When we threw popcorn to it, if it landed more than 3 or 4 inches away, the other gulls would grab it before the ICGU. It really didn’t try very hard.

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): Small, very pale gull. There must be dozens (at least!) of good photos.

16. Voice: seemed to make a weak squawk, but I couldn’t so anything with it with all the other gull noise

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): the Thayer’s/Kumlien’s/nominate Iceland controversy continues

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): I’m submitting 3; Dave Patton got some fine ones, and I’m sure there were many good ones taken by others

19. Previous experience with this species: several Thayer’s. 1 putative Kumlien’s with questionable dna

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

Gull books before and later

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

21. This description is written from: very brief_____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); _____memory.and photos

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: as sure as one can be given the controversial taxonomy of this group

23. Signature of reporter: B. Mac. Myers______________________________Date:_9 Feb. 2014_________Time:_3:58 pm______