LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     

1. English and Scientific names:  Common Merganser, Mergus merganser

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

Three

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) ____Union________________________________

Specific Locality: ____Bayou D’Arbonne Lake________________

4. Date(s) when observed:  12/23/2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed:  10:30 am

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

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

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):  Birds were in partial shade from clouds but the light was okay.

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

11. Distance to bird(s):  900 feet, measured on Google Earth

12. Duration of observation:  five minutes

13. Habitat:  lake

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):  Resting on water but flew within a few minutes

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):Rusty colored heads, somewhat shorter bills with broad base, sharp delineation on neck with white below, gray sides, one had quasi-vertical streaks on its side.

16. Voice:  none

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):  Red-breasted Merganser.  The birds were stockier built.  Also, RBME doesn’t have the sharp delineation on the neck in females or 1st winter males.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):  Photographs by Joan Brown and myself.

19. Previous experience with this species:  None

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

a. at time of observation:  photographs

b. after observation:  bird books

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:01-01-2014 ___Time:  4:40 pm__