|
English
and Scientific names: |
Red-necked
Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
|
|
Number
of individuals: |
2 birds (see photos for details) |
|
Locality:
LOUISIANA: |
Plaquemines |
|
Specific
Locality: |
About 34 mi off Southwest Pass at 220 degrees (this from
Dan Purrington's website) |
|
Date(s)
when observed: |
9/27/09 |
|
Time(s)
of day when observed: |
midday |
|
Reporting
observer and address: |
John Sevenair New Orleans LA |
|
Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
Devin Bosler, Dan Purrington, David Muth, about 20 birders
total on this pelagic trip. |
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
|
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
Birds were in full sunlight, unobstructed |
|
Optical
equipment: |
Canon camera w. 100-400mm telephoto lens |
|
Distance
to bird(s): |
75 ft (est.) |
|
Duration
of observation: |
20 min (est.) |
|
Habitat:
|
Deep water in the Gulf of Mexico above or near Mississippi
Canyon. |
|
Behavior
of bird: |
The birds were feeding (I think) in a line of sargassum
weed and trash between clear blue water and green water.The birds were
feeding. Sometimes they would move nervously away from the boat. |
|
Description: |
The birds were feeding. Sometimes they would move
nervously away from the boat.They were very roughly the size of Sanderling.
See the pictures for more information. |
|
Voice: |
Not heard |
|
Similar species: |
Bill was too long for Red, too short for Wilson's
Phalarope. The habitat was unusual for other species of shorebirds, though we
did see a Sanderling earlier. Once again, see the photos. |
|
Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
Photographs were obtained by several observers. Mine are
attached. |
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
I've seen one in Louisiana before and a number of others
(mostly in breeding plumage in places like Iceland) |
|
Identification
aids: |
The other birders called out the name of the species while
we were watching and taking pictures. |
|
This
description is written from: |
The location information came from Dan Purrington's
website. The rest came from memory and from the pictures. |
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
Yes. |
|
Date
and time: |
12/2/09, 1:20 PM |