Louisiana Ornithological Society’s

Louisiana Bird Records Committee

Report Form

This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the

Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent) information is accounted for). Attach additional Pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach Xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.

1. English and Scientific names:

Black-throated Gray Warbler, Dendroica nigrescens

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

One – female

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

Jefferson – in live oaks above Turk’s Caps beds on east side of Sureway Woods on Grand Isle.

4. Date(s) when observed:

December 28, 2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

1:35 and 1:50 PM CST

6. Reporting observer and address:

Jay V. Huner

Boyce, LA 71409

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

None.

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

Donna Dittmann, Steve Cardiff, Phillip Wallace and others.

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

Overcast but reasonably light. Bird in view to my east with early afternoon light from behind me.

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

Mine – Zeiss 10 x 40 binoculars in good conditionDistance to bird(s):

About 50 yards.

11. Duration of Observation:

Saw a bird about 12:45 PM CST about 150 yards away that “might” have been the Black-throated Gray Warbler. Actually clearly saw the warbler for about 2minutes around 1:35 PM and again for 20-30 seconds about 1:50 PM

12. Habitat:

Surf around rock jetties in front of sand beach.

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

When first observed, the bird was foraging on the south side of the live oak above a storage building. I noticed the movement and then the bird appeared in an opening and I had a full view of its face, head and shoulders. It subsequently appeared in complete view – right side. It then flew to a live oak above me and I lost it. Later, a Yellow-rumped Warbler flew into a tree with a number of green leaves – hackberry? – immediately south and 10-15 yards from where I had previously seen the Black-throated Gray Warbler. It landed on a bare limb and the Black-throated Gray Warbler flew up to the same limb. It provided a good, but brief view before flying north back into the live oak where I saw it originally.

14. 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 staked out bird and had been present and seen by many people for over a month. Face – white supercillium, black cap and broad black face band above a broad white malar area. I assume the bird may have been an immature female as there was no obvious black throat band. There was a bright yellow spot in front of the eye. The back was, to me, bluish gray. I did not notice extensive banding above the white breast. Undertail was white. The bird was clearly smaller than the Yellow-rumped Warbler that brought it out of the tree referenced above.

15. Voice:

Bird was silent.

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

I suppose that one might confuse, in poor light, the Black-throated Gray Warbler with a Carolina Chickadee but it was clear that this bird was the target warbler.

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

I was unable to photograph the bird.

18. Previous experience with this species:

I have seen several Black-throated Gray Warblers in Arizona (2 trips) and California (2 trips). I have also seen a Black-throated Gray Warbler at Grand Isle in October 2007.

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

1. at time of observation: None
2. after observation: Sibley’s Field Guide and National Geographic Field Guide.

20. This description is written from: _x_notes made during the observation (notes attached?); _x_notes made after the observation (date: 12-28-12); __x__ memory.

Grand Isle, LA Sureway Woods. 12-28-12

12:45 PM – Small warbler resembling chickadee dropped from limbs of live oak one street over from Turk’s Caps. Focused long enough to see it before it dropped. Dark crown. Darker above. Lighter below.

1:34 PM – Female BTGW observed about 40’ up on S side of oak imm. Behind Turk’s Caps. Plainly saw white eye stripe white throat. Bluish black crown and back and yellow eye dot. Watched about 2 min. Then flew to oak over Blood, Sweat and Beers storage shed and lost it. Not able to photograph it. Overcast silhouetted against leaves no back light problem. Foraging in dense leaf cover. Posed for about 20 seconds in plain view. No more than 50’ from me. Very windy. Overcast 70 F. Over top of shed behind trailer and above utility pole on N side of shed.

1:54 PM – Saw again about 20 seconds. Yellow-rump Warbler – obviously larger – flew to green hackberry immediately south of shed about 50’ up and was greeted by BTGW. Clearly saw black face bar. Then flew north back above shed/utility pole and lost it again.

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

Yes.

22. Signature of reporter __Jay V. Huner__ date 1/8/13 time 10:45 AM.