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):

1 adult in primary molt

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)

Cameron Parish

Specific Locality:

2 miles offshore south of the Cameron Rec Center

4. Date(s) when observed:

February 7, 2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

1:00PM

6. Reporting observer and address:

Dave Patton, Lafayette, LA

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

Mac Myers

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

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):Bright light behind us giving good light for observation and photos

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

binos

11. Distance to bird(s):

@100 feet at closest

12. Duration of observation:

10 minutes of chasing it from several landings on the water

13. Habitat:

Open water

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

First seen chasing a gull about ¼ mile away. It forced the gull to give up a fish and flew off to sit on the water. We approached slowly and observed and photographed it as we spooked it from the water several times.

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):Typical light form basic plumage. Dark cap, pale throat with dark brown mottled band across breast. White patch on base of forehead where it meets the bill. Belly dirty white with dark boarders. Back dark brown and molty. Rump molting with some baring visible. Under wing lacked barring. Primaries molting with outer 3 still old. Tail not seen well, but central primaries looked pointed. Photos support pointed shape to these primaries Looked about the same size of a Laughing Gull seen hasseling it on water. Rounded chest deeper than belly. Head and bill looked smaller than Pomarine, and bill solid dark, not bicolored. Photo revealed that is was missing the left foot.

16. Voice:No

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

Pomarine Jaeger, did not look as big. Head and bill smaller and solid color. Chest not barrel shaped. Tail looked pointed not paddle shaped. White patch on forehead.

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

Canon SLR with 300mm lens, Dave Patton

19. Previous experience with this species:

Seen a few in this area, and on pelagics.

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

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

Skuas and Jaegers, Olsen and Larsson

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

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

23. Date:__2/8/12