English and Scientific names:

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) European/African and Caribbean subspecies

Number of individuals: 

two, one mostly white, one mostly pink

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Cameron Parish

Specific Locality:

North end of St. John's Island, which is north of the Cameron Ferry and adjacent to the east unit of the Sabine NWR.  Island is bounded by the Calcasieu Ship Channel and the Old River loop of the Calcasieu River just north of the town of Cameron.  Accessible by boat only.

Date(s) when observed:

Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007

Time(s) of day when observed:  

3:00 PM

Reporting observer and address:

Cyndi Sellers

Cameron, LA

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

 

The initial observer was not qualified to identify.  Brian DeBarge and his son Brandon took me to the site on their hunting lease for ID.

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

None to date

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

Full sun, just behind the birds.  Clearly visible.

Optical equipment: 

visual and Canon rebel camera with 200mm lens

Distance to bird(s): 

20-30 ft.

Duration of observation:

Half an hour or so

Habitat: 

Shallow marshy pond within a levee, woods on one side.  Island located at south end of Calcasieu Lake, adjacent to east unit of Sabine NWR

Behavior of bird: 

Walking around in the pond.  Flew a short distance away when we got too close.  Seemed very calm as we approached.

Description:

Banded flamingo 492 is mostly white with red and black wing bands seen when flying away.
Banded flamingo HDNT is mostly dark pink with some white mixed in.  same wing plumage. Both about 4-5 ft. tall.  Flamingo bill unmistakable

Voice:

Not heard

Similar species:

There are no similar species.  Clearly not Roseate Spoonbill.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

Several photographs taken by me.  attached

Previous experience with this species: 

none

Identification aids:

Birds of North America (Golden Books) and on-line research based on band numbers provided by Judith O'Neale

This description is written from: 

Photographs and memory

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

Yes.

Reporter: 

Cyndi Sellers

Date and time: 

10-4-2007 10:30 am  First reported by phone to Marianna Primeaux and Judith O'Neale on Monday, Oct. 1.