LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.

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

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)

Cameron Parish

Specific Locality:

About 3 miles offshore from the Calcasieu River mouth.

4. Date(s) when observed:

November 20, 2010

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

3:00 PM

6. Reporting observer and address:

Dave Patton

122 Memory Lane

Lafayette, LA 70506

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

None

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

None

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

Bright sun with the sun behind me. Good lighting.

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

Binoculars switching to camera with 300mm lens.

11. Distance to bird(s):

200feet

12. Duration of observation:

2 minutes

13. Habitat:

Open seas.

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

Came in to investigate a group of gulls attracted to popcorn. Went to the water after a piece of popcorn next to a Ring-billed Gull allowing nice comparison.

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):

Dark underwing lacking barring as seen on adult jaegers. White belly with speckled chest band and white throat. White base to 5 or 6 outer primaries on the upper wing. Pale area on the forehead at the base of the bill. Contrasting shades on the upper wing with darker secondaries and paler upper wing. Several photo’s show a sharp pointed tip on the central rectrecies. Size was similar to that of a Ring-billed Gull. Bill and head appears smaller in size in the photo’s than a Pomarine Jaeger.

16. Voice:

None.

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

Long-tailed Jaeger eliminated by the number of primaries with white on the upper wing.

Pomarine Jaeger does not show this much contrast in shades on the upper wing, the pale fore head, or the pointed central rectrices.

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

Dave Patton, Canon SLR with 300mm lens.

19. Previous experience with this species:

A few in Louisiana.

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

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

LOS article by Donna Dittmann and Steve Cardiff.

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

Memory and viewing photographs.

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

Yes.

23. Signature of reporter:

Dave Patton

March 9, 2011.

First submission lost in processing.

24. May the LBRC have permission to display this report or
portions of this report on its webite?

Yes

If yes, may we include your name with the report?

Yes

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