1. English and Scientific names:

 

Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya

 

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

 

One adult bird

 

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

 

Cameron Parish. Parking area for marsh walkway at Pintail Drive, Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Immediately east of LA 27 and north of Gibbstown Bridge.

 

  1.  Date(s) when observed:

 

January 29, 2012

 

  1. Time(s) of day when observed:

 

Approximately 3:15 PM CST.

 

  1. Reporting observer and address:

 

Jay V. Huner

Boyce, LA 71409

 

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

 

None

 

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

 

A Say’s Phoebe had been reported from this location by numerous individuals in November or December 2011. Tom Finnie took some very good pictures of a Say’s Phoebe at the site.

 

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

 

Good light, cloudy with no significant shadows.

 

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

 

Zeiss 10 x 40 binoculars.

 

  1. Distance to bird(s):
  2.  

Approximately 50 to 300 feet.

 

  1. Duration of Observation:

 

On and off for 10 minutes.

 

  1. Habitat:

 

Riprarian area adjacent to drainage canal separating dry prairie to the north from the wet prairie unit to the south of Pintail Drive.

 

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

 

I parked at the site and started Say’s Phoebe playback and was distracted with a bird list. A few minutes later, I looked out my truck window as I turned off the playback and saw the bird fly into the top of a bare 20’ tree about 30-40’ from me. While I watched it over the next 10 minutes, it flew to the tops of trees along the canal levee moving from east to west and back. It was clearly attracted to the playback.

 

  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):

 

This was a medium-sized bird with gray back and burnt orange-orchre belly.

 

  1. Voice:

 

Bird was silent but was clearly flying toward the source of the BirdJam playback.

 

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

 

I guess the bird could resemble a Northern Mockingbird in size and gray back or an American Robin with both gray back and reddish orange breast. But, the bird simply did not resemble these two species.

 

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

 

Photographs were taken and will be transmitted in the near future.

 

  1. Previous experience with this species:

 

I have seen this species several times on trips to Arizona and California and twice before in Louisiana.

 

  1. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):
    1. at time of observation: Sibley’s Field Guide.
    2. after observation: National Geographic Field Guide.
    3.  
  2. This description is written from: _x_notes made during the observation (notes attached?); ___notes made after the observation (date: ______); __x_ memory.

 

“Say’s Phoebe – Cameron Prairie NWR. Parking area for wetland walkway. 3:15 PM. Gray back. Burnt orchre below. ‘Hopping’ around trees.”

 

 

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

 

Yes.

 

  1. date_02-10-2012 6:00 PM.