|
English
and Scientific names: |
Great
Black-backed Gull, "Laurus marinus"
|
|
Number
of individuals: |
One Bird, Sex Indeterminate, Adult Bird - 3+ Years, Winter (?) Plumage |
|
Locality:
LOUISIANA: |
Lafourche Parish |
|
Specific
Locality: |
Flying Southward between Fourchon Beach Road Bridge and Port Fourchon. |
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Date(s)
when observed: |
October 29, 2006 |
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Time(s)
of day when observed: |
Approximately 10 AM CST. |
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Reporting
observer and address: |
Jay V. Huner Boyce, Louisiana |
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Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
None. I was alone when I saw the bird. |
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
Bosler Twins reported a Great Black-backed Gull in the immediate area approximately one hour later. |
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
Bird seen in mid-morning with light coming from the east as the bird flew southward. Sky had light clouds. Bird was fully illuminated. |
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Optical
equipment: |
Zeiss 10x40 B T Binoculars. |
|
Distance
to bird(s): |
Approximately 200 meters |
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Duration
of observation: |
Approximately 30 seconds |
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Habitat:
|
Bird flying over black mangrove wetland toward Gulf of Mexico beach at mouth of Bayou Lafourche. |
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Behavior
of bird: |
The bird was flying steadily from right to left (north to south). It was in "no hurry". I noticed it as a solitary gull that looked "different". So, I kept watching it to note various characters that could be useful in identification. |
|
Description: |
The bird I saw had a black mantle that was contrasted by
white body and head. The yellow bill was clearly visible but I did not look
specifically for any color "spots" on the bill. The bird was
clearly very large relative to Laughing and Ring-billed Gulls that I had seen
earlier on the beach. It was certainly in the "size" range of the
one immature Herring Gull I had previously seen there. However, there were no
other birds in the air anywhere near the bird for comparisons. Those familiar with LABIRD reports about the bird will note that I had decided to call it a Lesser Black-backed Gull because I misread the Bosslers' report and that species had been reported from the beach the previous day. |
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Voice: |
Bird was silent. |
|
Similar species: |
Herring Gull - mantle not black. Lesser Black-backed Gull - mantle blue-black, not black, size smaller than Great Black-backed Gull, and face "smuggy". Western Gull - mantle not black. Yellow-footed Gull - has very distinct white margin to wings. |
|
Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
None. |
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
I had seen several dozen Great Black-backed Gulls in Massachusetts and later in Nova Scotia. |
|
Identification
aids: |
at time of observation: Kaufman's "Birds of North America" and National
Geographic Bird Identification Field Guide. |
|
This
description is written from: |
This description is based on notes written from memory on the evening of 30 October 2006. |
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Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
Great Black-backed Gull is a "review" species. This means that it is very unusual for anyone to see one regardless of skill level in terms of making identifications. In retrospect, I have no reservations in making my identification. I saw many large, dark mantled gulls in Oregon less than a month before this observation but none had a "black" mantle such as would be associated with a Great Black-backed Gull. |
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Reporter:
|
Jay V. Huner
|
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Date
and time: |
31 October 2006, 10:55 AM |