|
English
and Scientific names: |
White-
|
|
Number
of individuals: |
1 apparent first-winter male |
|
Locality:
LOUISIANA: |
Cameron |
|
Specific
Locality: |
Off Broussard Beach, ca. 2 mi. SE of Cameron |
|
Date(s)
when observed: |
15 March 2009 |
|
Time(s)
of day when observed: |
About 1:30 PM CST |
|
Reporting
observer and address: |
Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR |
|
Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
Devin Bosler |
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
None |
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
Adequate light conditions under an overcast sky w/ no glare or
heat haze distortion. |
|
Optical
equipment: |
Zeiss Victory FL 8x42 binocular (good condition) and Kowa
Prominar TSN-4 scope w/ 20-60x zoom eyepiece (good condition) |
|
Distance
to bird(s): |
>100 meters |
|
Duration
of observation: |
Discontinuous over 10 minutes. |
|
Habitat:
|
Nearshore Gulf of Mexico |
|
Behavior
of bird: |
Resting w/ head tucked amid mixed-species raft of waterfowl
containing tens of thousands of Lesser Scaup. Surf and Black Scoter also
present in raft for comparison. |
|
Description: |
Large, long-bodied, entirely blackish-brown sea duck w/ narrow
white wing panels on folded wings and stiff, pointed tail. Bill concealed in
back feathers throughout observation. Aged as first-winter by dark brownish
flanks and overall blackish-brown upperparts and lack of noticeable eye
patch. |
|
Voice: |
No voice heard. |
|
Similar species: |
Black and Surf Scoter easily eliminated by white wing panels and
to a lesser extent by larger size and longer-bodied appearance. |
|
Photographs or tape recordings
obtained? |
Unfortunately, no photos or video attempted given the distance. |
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
Hundreds observed on Atlantic and Pacific Coasts in addition to
several between the Gulf of Mexico(4) and Lake Pontchartrain(1) in LA. |
|
Identification
aids: |
None |
|
This
description is written from: |
Notes made after the observation and from memory. |
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
Yes, 100% positive. |
|
Date
and time: |
20 July 2009 at 7:30 PM PDT |