Louisiana Ornithological Society’s

Louisiana Bird Records Committee

Report Form

 

 

  1. English and Scientific names:

 

Mountain Plover, Charadrius montanus

 

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

 

One – winter

 

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

 

Jefferson Davis – Cleaned rice field at NW corner of Lyons Road and LA 14.

 

  1. Date(s) when observed:

 

December 14, 2012

 

  1. Time(s) of day when observed:

 

9:15-9:45 AM CST.

 

  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):

 

M. J. Musumeche, Michael Seymour, Sam Holcomb, Beau Gregory, Donna Dittmann, Steve Cardiff, and Paul Conover.

 

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

 

None

 

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

 

Sun reasonably high with light from over shoulder.

 

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

 

Musmeche’s Swarovski Scope.

 

  1. Distance to bird(s):

 

About 350 yards.

 

  1. Duration of Observation:

 

Watched the bird on and off for about 30 minutes.

 

  1. Habitat:

 

Plowed rice field.

 

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

 

Bird was foraging with a mixed flock of Black-bellied Plovers and Killdeer.

 

  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):

 

Michael Seymour’s description is far superior to mine and is already on record. However, to me, the bird was a dull Killdeer without breast bands although there was some brown extending onto the breast area. The bird was dull brown above and white below. I noticed a white eyebrow and the bill was noticeably “small”.

 

  1. Voice:

 

Bird was silent.

 

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

 

Somewhat similar to distant Killdeer and Black-bellied Plovers but distinctly smaller and did not have breast bands – Killdeer – or mottled back – Black-bellied Plover.

 

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

 

Paul Conover took digi-scope pictures and I assume that they were submitted.

 

  1. Previous experience with this species:

 

I saw a pair of Mountain Plovers in western Colorado grasslands in March 2006.

 

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

 

    1. at time of observation: Sibley’s Field Guide and National Geographic Field Guide.
    2. after observation: Peterson’s Field Guide.

 

  1. This description is written from: ___notes made during the observation (notes attached?); __notes made after the observation (date: 3-26-12); __x__ memory.

 

I did write notes but simply cannot find them at this writing.

 

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

 

Yes.

 

  1. Signature of reporter __Jay V. Huner__ date 6/7/2013 6:45 AM