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):One

Paler juvenile

3. Locality: Parish: St Tammany

Specific Locality: _Mandeville Lakeshore drive at Jackson st near the boat launch______________________________________________

4. Date(s) when observed:11/23/2013

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

6. Reporting observer and address: Janine Robin 13083 Blackwell Lane, Franklinton, LA 70438

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Tom Trenchard, Bill Wayman, Mary Mehaffey, Renee Sawyer, Malise Prieto, Holly Morales, Bill Lang

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Chris Brantley(found it) Van Remsen, Claire Thomas, Susan Epps

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Bird was on a jetty at first, maybe 100 ft out, then flew in with other gulls and was within 10 ft of us. Gray, overcast, windy and misting; no sunshine.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Canon REBEL EOS T3i with Sigma 70-300mm lens with OS. Set on AV(auto) and ISO 1600

11. Distance to bird(s): from 100ft to as close as 10 ft.

12. Duration of observation: 45 minutes

13. Habitat: on cement jetties and also in the water in the channel where boats come into the marina. Lake Pontchartrain is brackish water

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): Very relaxed and not skittish. Standing on jetty preening at first, then flew into the marina channel to follow a boat in with other gulls. It was a little shy at first when food was thrown, but then became more aggressive. Finally, it flew up on a close by jetty and got into a “sleeping “ position…legs tucked under it’s body. Seemed quite relaxed and comfortable.

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): By comparison with RBGUs that were present, it looked to be the same size or just a bit smaller. It’s bill was rather small and dark, but flesh colored near the base on upper and lower mandible. Eyes were dark. Plumage was white with very light beige spots…kind of mottled. It was much larger than the laughing gulls.

16. Voice: It’s voice was higher pitched than the laughing gulls that it was competing with for food.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Not RBGU because no ring on bill. Much larger that the Laughing gulls.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Yes, Janine Robin. Yes attached photos

19. Previous experience with this species: None

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

a. at time of observation: other birders and Sibley field guide

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:11/24/2013__________Time:__6:28 PM_____