LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)

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

1 individual, 1st cycle, sex unknown

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish): Cameron Parish

Specific Locality: East Jetty, Davis Rd, opposite side from Oxidation Pond/fenced area

4. Date(s) when observed:

5/20/11

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

1:15PM

6. Reporting observer and address:

Tom Trenchard, 104 Penn Mill Lakes Blvd, Covington, LA 70435-0573

Email: trench19@hotmail.com

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

Mary Mehaffey, Glenn Ousset

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

Numerous other reports on other dates/times – previous to this sighting and afterwards.

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

light):

Good lighting (mid-day); partly cloudy.

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

10x42 Bushnell (Tom); 8x40 Alpen (Mary); 10x42 Zeiss (Glenn); 15x-60x Swift scope

(Tom); 20x-60x Brunton scope (Mary)

11. Distance to bird(s):

50’ to 60’ away.

12. Duration of observation:

At least 15 minutes.

13. Habitat:

Wet area with puddles and some grass and mud/dirt; not far from beach area.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and

stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

At rest on ground; facing into the wind (windy).

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):

Very small gull, smaller than BOGU and FOTE-- near LAGUs, BOGU and FOTEs for

comparison (size/plumage). Dark cap; dark, very small, straight bill; dark strip along

folded wings; gray above, white below; yellow or flesh-colored legs.

16. Voice:

Silent/none heard.

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

Bonaparte’s Gull; some terns. See notes in #15.

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

Photos taken; attached.

19. Previous experience with this species:

None.

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

Sibley (East); Sibley (E+W), NatGeo. iBird Pro (for iPod/iPhone); various online

pictures.

a. at time of observation:

Yes.

b. after observation:

Yes.

21. This description is written from: ___X__ notes made during the observation

(_____notes attached?);__X___notes made after the observation (date:__var___);

__X___memory.

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

Yes, absolutely positive (100% certainty). Species reported before and after this sighting

by numerous other birds, confirming identification.

23. Date: 6/7/11 Time: 5:15PM