LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)

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

3. Locality: Parish: Plaquemines

Specific Locality: Mississippi River, downriver from old tower at Delta NWR (Erik has

exact location.)

4. Date(s) when observed: 31 August 2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 7:35-7:40 a.m.

6. Reporting observer and address: Phillip Wallace

New Orleans, LA 70125

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): David Muth, Dan O’Malley, Curt Sorrells, Erik Johnson, Nancy Newfield, et al

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

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

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Eagle 10x42 binoculars; spent most of the time snapping photos

11. Distance to bird(s): 75-200 m

12. Duration of observation: 5 minutes

13. Habitat: Over Mississippi River

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

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): Distinctive booby shape, pointed at both ends, with bill held downward at a slight angle. Wingspan appears longer than body from bill to tail-tip. Large conical bill pale yellow in color. Upper parts dark brown; under parts from mid-breast to undertail coverts pure white; dark brown from mid-breast to base of bill with sharp line of demarcation between white and brown at mid-breast; brown extends toward the rear past the anterior edge of the wing. Wing-linings white with dark smudge toward the leading edge.

16. Voice: None

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Adult Brown Booby is pretty distinctive. Juvenile Masked Booby eliminated by extent of brown toward posterior of the bird.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Photos by Wallace accompany this report; several others on the trip got photos.

19. Previous experience with this species: I’ve seen in Costa Rica

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

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation: Sibley

21. This description is written from: x memory and photos.

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

23. Date: 15 September 2013 Time: 10:30 a.m.