1. English and Scientific names:

 

Little Gull, Laurus minutus

 

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

 

One – Light First Year Bird

 

  1. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) (specific locality)

 

Cameron Parish – Shallow pool approximately 50 yards west of Davis Road across from north end of Cameron, LA sewerage treatment lagoon.

 

  1.  Date(s) when observed:

 

May 31, 2011.

 

  1. Time(s) of day when observed:

 

Approximately 4:25 PM CDST

 

  1. Reporting observer and address:

 

Jay V. Huner

428 Hickory Hill Drive

Boyce, LA 71409

 

  1. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

 

None

 

  1. Other observers who Independently identified the bird(s):

 

Devin Bosler, Justin Bosler, Paul Conover, Mac Meyers, and others.

 

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

 

I was looking westward from Davis Road in mid-afternoon light. Bird was in the open on the far side of a shallow pool.

 

  1. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

 

10 x 40 Zeiss Binoculars – good condition.

 

  1. Distance to bird(s):

 

Estimated approximately 50 yards.

 

  1. Duration of Observation:

 

3-4 minutes.

 

  1. Habitat:

 

The bird was resting on the far side – from me – of a shallow pool on flat, clear industrial property. Warehouses were located between the pool and the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

 

  1. Behavior of bird/circumstances of observations (flying, feeding, resting; including and stress habits in identification: relate events surrounding observation):

 

I was looking for this bird between LA 82 and East Jetty Park along Davis Road. I had taken this route to the park around 11:00-11:30 AM and again in the 4:00-4:30 PM time frame. I did not find the bird in the morning nor did I see it when I made the trip about 4:00 PM. I did see a Snowy Egret on the far side of the pool at 4:00 PM. Upon my return, I saw a white bird in about the same place that the egret had been. I pulled over onto the parking area adjacent to the RV sewerage pump out station at the Cameron Sewerage Ponds. I checked the white bird and saw that it was a very small white gull as opposed to the egret previously seen. Once I confirmed that it was a gull, I made a circle around the pump out site so that I could take a picture of the bird. Well, by the time I got situated to take a picture, it got nervous and took off flying away to the south moving toward the ship channel.

 

  1. 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):

 

The bird was very small reminiscent of a small tern such as a Black Tern. There was a distinct black ear spot. I really did not see the back as the bird was facing me but it was clearly light below as it flew up and banked south away from me. I got the impression that the back and wings were dark. However, I could not tell if there was a distinct “M-pattern”. Images posted on LABIRD did not show such a distinct pattern.

 

  1. Voice:

 

None.

 

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

 

Frankly, I was looking for the staked out Little Gull. About the only alternative would have been a Bonaparte’s Gull. However, the bird seemed just too small to be a Bonaparte’s Gull.

 

  1. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? Attached”):

 

None.

 

  1. Previous experience with this species:

 

I have seen first year Little Gulls in Finland.

 

  1. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):
  2.  
    1. at time of observation: National Geographic Field Guide and Sibley’s Field Guide
    2. after observation: Peterson’s Field Guide.

 

  1. This description is written from: ___notes made during the observation (notes attached?); ___note made after the observation (date: ______); __x__ memory.

 

Notes very limited. No real excuse.

 

  1. Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain.

 

Yes

 

  1. Signature of reporter  __signed Jay V. Huner__ date _June 15, 2011_ time 5:45 PM