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: Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)

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

One worn first-cycle

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) Cameron Parish

Specific Locality: public boat launch off Davis Rd. (PR-3143), Calcasieu Ship Channel, ca. 1.5 mi. S of Cameron

4. Date(s) when observed: 12 April 2011—17 May 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: ~3:50 – 4:00 PM CDT

6. Reporting observer and address: Devin Bosler

Lafayette, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): No

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Paul Conover, Dave Patton on 22 Apr, Robby Bacon, Melvin Weber on 28 Apr, m.ob. apparently present through 1 May.

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

Clear sky with optimal afternoon sunlight. Sun angle high and opposite bird. Backlighting or glare not a factor.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss Victory FL 8x42, Kowa TSN 881 Angled 88mm scope w/ 20-60x optical zoom , Canon Powershot SD1100 IS (all equipment in excellent condition)

11. Distance to bird(s): ca. 75-100 meters

12. Duration of observation: >10 min.

13. Habitat: Tidal river mouth on Gulf of Mexico. Adjacent salt marsh and industrial development.

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

Observed at rest and in flight. Resting and preening on exposed pipeline among several Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla). Laughing Gulls continually harassing the Little Gull throughout encounter. Within several minutes, the Little Gull was observed flying south and out Calcasieu Pass. Presumably relocating to E. Jetty Beach.

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 very small gull with pale gray mantle and largely clean white underparts. Very dark, broad ulnar bar contrasting markedly with pale gray upperparts. Smudgy, worn blackish-brown cap and dark ear-spot. Dark upperwing coverts, tertials and primaries. Black-and-white wingtips. In flight, upperwings pale gray with bold dark M-pattern and whitish trailing edge to secondaries and inner primaries. Worn and abraded wingtips. Underwings uniform pale grayish-white with blackish tips to outer primaries. Very small and slender black bill. Dark irides. Pinkish-flesh legs and feet.

16. Voice: Silent.

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

No strikingly similar gulls. First-cycle Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) considerably larger with longer, more pointed wings and bold white leading wedge to outer wing. Bonaparte’s lack dark cap in first-cycle and non-breeding plumages and dark ulnar bar much less extensive.

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

Digiscoped photographs by Devin Bosler. Yes, attached.

19. Previous experience with this species:

Previous experience from multiple encounters in the Northeast. Plus, two prior self-found individuals in LA. One first-cycle at E. Jetty Beach (Cameron Parish) on 31 Mar 2007. One basic adult at Caney Creek Reservoir, Womack (Jackson Parish) on 24 Jan 2009.

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

a. at time of observation: none

b. after observation: National Geographic Complete Birds of N.A. (Alderfer et al. 2005), Gulls of the Americas (Howell and Dunn 2007).

21. This description is written from: __Yes___ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);__Yes___notes made after the observation (date:_____); __Yes___memory.

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

23. Signature of reporter: Devin Bosler Date: 7 May 2011 Time: 2:00 AM CDT

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