English and Scientific names:	Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Number of individuals:	1 adult in nonbreeding plumage
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Cameron Parish
Specific Locality:	Holly Beach Approximately 2 miles west of where the last house is located on Holly Beach.
Date(s) when observed:	October 7th, 2004 (10/07/04)
Time(s) of day when observed:	1:30pm
Reporting observer and address:	Justin Bosler Baton Rouge, LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	No other observers were accompanying me when the gull was seen.
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	Fairly good lighting conditions, overcast skies with light drizzle, plenty of light to identify the gull.
Optical equipment:	Nikon Venturer LX, 8x, and in relatively new condition.
Distance to bird(s):	~100 yards maximum.
Duration of observation:	Observation lasted about 30 seconds.
Habitat:	Sandy beach along the gulf coast, some sand dunes and some beach grass.
Behavior of bird:	Gull was at rest on the beach when it took flight, Peregrine Falcon put all of the gulls and terns up. The gull was in with a mixed flock of gulls and terns, primarily Royal and Caspian Terns, with a few Laughing Gulls present as well.
Description:	Large and bulky gull compared to the Laughing Gulls that were present, and to the larger tern species present there as well. Extremely dark mantle with contrasting white nape, breast and belly. Pale pink legs were very noticeable, especially when they were dragging briefly as the gull took flight.
Voice:	No calling was heard from the species.
Similar species:	Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-footed Gull, and Kelp Gull was eliminated by leg coloration (Lesser, yellow-footed, and kelp gull=yellow legs).
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	No photographs or tape recordings were obtained.
Previous experience with this species:	Many years of experience: Lived in "downeast" Maine (northeastern coast of Maine) for one year where the Great Black-backed Gull was abundant year round, and lived in Pennsylvania where I had experience with wintering Lesser Black-backed Gulls and was close enough to the atlantic coasts of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, where I saw Great Black-backed Gulls often.
Identification aids:	At time of observation: No aids were needed at the time of the observation. After observation: No aids were needed after the observation.
This description is written from:	This description is written from distinct memory, along with a brief note written during the observation.
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes, I am positive of my identification.
Reporter:	Justin Bosler
Date and time:	October 10th, 2004 (10/10/04)