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 adult female.

3. Locality: Parish:   _______Rapides_________________________________

   Specific Locality: ________Kincaid Lake, Kincaid Lake Recreation Area___

4. Date(s) when observed:

2/13/2014

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

1400 hrs.

6. Reporting observer and address:

Steve Shively, Woodworth, LA 71485

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):

Full sun coming from right quarter behind observer.

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

Bushnell Spacemaster 15-30X spotting scope, good condition.

11. Distance to bird(s):

100-200 yards.

12. Duration of observation:

Ca. 30 minutes.

13. Habitat:

Mouth of arm of the lake.

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

Bird periodically dove and remained underwater for close to a minute, on surface swam slowly around. Bird swam around point out of sight and I relocated to where I could see it again; this caused the bird to flush and fly off, enabling me to see the white wing patches.

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):

Duck somewhat larger than Lesser Scaup; chocolate brown color; large bill sloping straight from forehead to tip; large, rectangular, bright white patches on secondaries seen when flying.

16. Voice:

not heard

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

Other ducks; scoter was larger and darker than female scaup or Pied-billed Grebe which were in vicinity. Bill was very prominent and sloped straight rather than “ski-slope” of other ducks.

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

no

19. Previous experience with this species:

Have seen species in flight at Holly Beach.

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

a. at time of observation:

none

b. after observation:

 Sibley’s field guide.

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. Date:__2/14/2014________Time:_____0856 hrs__