LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis

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

3. Locality: Parish: _St Tammany___________________________________________

Specific Locality: __Madisonville boat launch on Lake rd at Lake Pontchartrain_____________________________________________

4. Date(s) when observed: 2/18/2014

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 12:45

6. Reporting observer and address: Janine Robin 13083 Blackwell Lane, Franklinton, LA 70438

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Mary Mehaffey

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Chris Brantley on 2/17/2014 and others back in December including Chris Brantley

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Very overcast skies which made it fairly easy to see the duck even though it was about 150 yards from shore.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Steiner nocs 8x42 and Brunton 60x scope

11. Distance to bird(s): approx. 150 yards

12. Duration of observation: 5 minutes

13. Habitat: On Pontchartrain just out of the mouth of the Tchefunte River.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): Duck was feeding vigorously. Going under and back up frequently. It was alone and appeared to have no stress habits.

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): First noticed the white face with dark, ashey-colored smudge on her cheek. Saw dark wings and darkish on top of her head .

16. Voice: Silent or if she uttered a sound, we were too far away to hear. (150 yards)

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): There were several Common loons that we had to sift through before seeing the duck. Eliminated from loon by the shape of the white on her face and the smudge on her cheek. Also, her head was smaller than a loon and shaped differently. She also set in the water differently than the loons.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):no, just too far away and then the fog came in and we couldn’t see her at all.

19. Previous experience with this species: Seen this species twice before. Once in this same area on 2/23/07 and another sighting on Guste Island Rd, Madisonville, LA on 3/10/2010.

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

a. at time of observation: Memory of previous sightings and iBird Pro and fellow birder, Mary Mehaffey.

b. after observation: Kaufman and Natl Geo field guides

21. This description is written from: _x____ 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. Date:_2/18/2014_________Time:____9:12 pm___