LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides

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

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) ______Plaquemines______________________________________

Specific Locality: __town of Venice landfill on Coast Guard Rd. _______________________________________________________

4. Date(s) when observed: 3/12/13

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 3:15 pm

6. Reporting observer and address: Mary Mehaffey, Folsom, LA 70437

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): bird was seen and photographed on 3/9/13 near the Venice Marina by Glen Davis, Doug Gochfeld, Sam Galik, and Tom Johnson, and posted on LABIRD 3/9/13

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

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 8 x 42 binoculars and Brunton Scope 20 x 60, all optics in excellent condition

11. Distance to bird(s): about 100’ when soaring and 250’ at landfill

12. Duration of observation: 3 ½ minutes; 2 minutes soaring and 1 ½ minutes resting on top of landfill dump; Susan Epps first observed the gull through binoculars soaring over machinery in the parking lot across from the landfill, Mary Mehaffey also saw the gull soaring through binoculars; then the gull then landed on top of the landfill and was observed in the scope for 1 ½ minutes.

13. Habitat: near gulf marsh and landfill dump

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): observed flying and then resting on landfill dump

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): smaller than a Herring Gull, larger than a Ring-billed Gull; dark relatively small bill with pink base, dark eye, pink legs, all white plumage, no black on wings or tail. Smaller than a Glaucous Gull and the bill was smaller than the Glaucous Gull

16. Voice: did not hear call

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): This gull was smaller than the Glaucous Gull with a bill smaller than a Glaucous Gull, and was all white

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): none

19. Previous experience with this species: First time seen by Mary Mehaffey, seen before in Florida by Susan Epps

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification): The Sibley Guide to Birds, and National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

a. at time of observation: Sibley Guide to Birds

b. after observation: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

21. This description is written from: __x___ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);___x__notes made after the observation (date: 3/12/13_____); _____memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes

23. Signature of reporter: _Mary Mehaffey _____________________________Date:_3/14/13_________Time:_6:45 pm______