LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: White-winged Scoter, Melanitta fusca

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): one possible first winter female

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) _________Jackson___________________________

Specific Locality: __Chatham Lake, near Chatham, La._______________________

4. Date(s) when observed: 2-2-2014

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 9:50 am

6. Reporting observer and address: Steve Pagans, West Monroe, La

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): John Dillon & Gerry Click

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

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition Zeiss 10x binoculars in good condition

11. Distance to bird(s): 125 yards

12. Duration of observation: 1 hr 20 min

13. Habitat: lake

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

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): larger than scaup close by, body somewhat bulky, dark bill but the front was lighter in color, dirty white just behind bill, dark eye with slightly dirty looking white behind and below the eye, neck was dark down to the breast, back was dark down to the sides, breast and sides were mottled light brown, with a white spot towards the back of the wings.

16. Voice: none

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): female Surf Scoter which does not have white spot on back of wings and they are uniformly more brown with a different shaped bill.

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

19. Previous experience with this species: none

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

a. at time of observation: National Geographic Bird Book, Sibley's, and Kaufmann's bird book.

b. after observation:

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

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

23. Signature of reporter: Stephen L. Pagans_____________Date: 2-7-2014___Time:5:20 pm__