LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)

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

One dark-phase bird

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) Plaquemines

Specific Locality: Deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico near the edge of the Misssissippi Canyon. Other observers had GPS devices and will have a more accurate location.

4. Date(s) when observed:

September 26, 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

About 9:30 AM

6. Reporting observer and address:

John Sevenair, 325 Stafford Place, New Orleans LA 70124: jsevenair@aol.com

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

Justin Bosler, Devin Bosler, David Muth, Dan Purrington, Joelle Finley; about 20 birders all told.

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

Nobody that I know of

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

The bird was in bright open sunlight.

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

Canon EOS 50D with 100-400mm zoom lens, used at 400mm

11. Distance to bird(s):

Minimum was about 100'

12. Duration of observation:

About 15 minutes

13. Habitat:

Deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico

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

The bird was sitting on the water as we approached. It got up and flew away, circled around chasing a couple of Bridled Terns, and landed again.

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):

During the sighting I was concentrating on getting good pictures of the bird.

16. Voice:

Not heard

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

The beak is relatively long and slender, too long for Long-tailed Jaeger and too slender for Pomarine Jaeger or any skua.

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

I took plenty of pictures and shall attach many of them. They have been trimmed to remove water surface but not otherwise digitally modified.

19. Previous experience with this species:

I've seen several in Louisiana and many around Iceland during a trip several years ago.

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

a. at time of observation:

Other birders were suggesting ID's at the time.

b. after observation:

I looked at The Sibley Guide to Birds afterwards.

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

I made a note of the time but otherwise it's memory and the photos.

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

I'm not a jaeger expert, but it looks good to me. The photos should be good enough to enable a decision.

23. Date: September 26, 2011 Time: 3:00 PM