English and Scientific names:	Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)
Number of individuals:	1 adult in definitive basic plumage
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Jackson
Specific Locality:	Caney Creek Reservoir, Womack, ca. 5.5 mi. SSW of Chatham (32.2257 N, -92.4904 W)
Date(s) when observed:	24 January 2009
Time(s) of day when observed:	9:05 AM – 4:30 PM CST
Reporting observer and address:	Justin Bosler Baton Rouge, LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Devin Bosler
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):	Charles Lyon and Terry Davis after 2 PM on 24 Jan. Paul Conover, Mac Myers, Marty Guidry, and m.ob. on subsequent dates.
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	Overcast w/ low ceiling and generally fair to poor light conditions.
Optical equipment:	Zeiss Victory FL 8x42 binocular (good condition) and Kowa Prominar TSN-4 77mm spotting scope w/ 20-60x zoom eyepiece (good condition)
Distance to bird(s):	from ca. 150 to 500+ meters
Duration of observation:	on and off over period of 7+ hrs.
Habitat:	Relatively deep, freshwater man made lake in upland mixed pine-hardwood forest. One of the deepest lakes in LA, reaching depths of 60 ft. in three locations.
Behavior of bird/birder:	Gull initially observed in flight at about 250-300 m while flying and hovering directly above the surface of the lake among a string of 10 or so Bonaparte’s Gulls (BOGU) and a few Ring-billed Gulls (RBGU). I was beginning to count the BOGU when I caught the mostly gray upperwing followed by the solid dusky underwing. It continued to actively forage with small group of BOGU that followed and dipped down on small aggregations of fishing Double-crested Cormorants and Common Loons. Apparently, these divers were forcing tiny baitfish to the surface or chasing flying insects off the surface. It would often wheel high above the water, even above treeline, and then drift back down closer to the lake surface. On a few occasions it soared and circled relatively high above the lake, either solitarily or with BOGU and RBGU. Also observed resting on the water in direct comparison with BOGU. Excellent scope views were had of the gull in flight, and it was a pleasure to study its behavior.
Description:	Small, hooded gull w/ buoyant and ternlike flight on blunt-tipped wings. Upperwing mostly pale gray w/ white trailing edge and broad white primary tips. Underwing blackish w/ noticeable white trailing edge and wingtips. Head primarily white w/ dusky cap and black ear-spot. Bill relatively slender and pointed. Tail pure white. Legs not seen well enough.
Voice:	Voice not recognized over BOGU, if heard.
Similar species:	Little is the smallest gull in the world, which eliminates most other species. Separated from commoner BOGU by smaller size, flight style, pale gray primaries w/ broad white tips, blackish underwing w/ white trailing edge, and black cap and ear-spot (in basic plumage).
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	Yes, digiscoped photos obtained by Devin (4) and Justin Bosler (2) w/ 6 attached.
Previous experience with this species:	Late summer observations of 6+ post-breeding/nonbreeding first-and second-summer Little Gulls on Plum Island in Newburyport, MA (Essex) and one prior first-winter individual observed at E. Jetty Beach, Cameron, LA (Cameron) on 31 Mar 2007.
Identification aids:	None
This description is written from:	notes made during the observation and memory.
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes, 100% positive.
Reporter:	Justin Bosler
Date and time:	28 January 2009 6:30 PM CST