LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.

English and Scientific names: Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis,

Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): Winter Male

Parish: Rapides

Specific Locality: 60+ acre borrow pit on south side of LA 121 approximately 0.2 mile from I-49 over pass at LA 121 x LA 1 intersection.

Date(s) when observed: January 18, 2011

Time(s) of day when observed: Approximately 8:55 AM CST

Reporting observer and address: Jay Huner, Boyce, LA

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): None

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): None

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Good Visibility, calm, overcast. All birds in borrow pit plain and easy to see with binoculars.

Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10 x 40 BT binoculars

Distance to bird(s): Approximately 80 yards - just out of shotgun range.

Duration of observation: Approximately 2 minutes.

Habitat: Borrow pit adjacent to rural highway and near interstate highway surrounded by harvested cotton fields.

Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): The borrow pit had approximately 275 ducks in it. Most birds were Ring-necked Ducks on the western side of the pit. However, there was a flock of 9 Redheads on the NE side of the pit away from the Ring-necked Ducks. I saw one duck in the middle of the Redhead flock that had a lot of white with black splotches. Thought it was a Bufflehead. However, when I got close, it was obviously a Long-tailed Duck. All ducks in the pit were nervous. Everything flushed when I went back to my truck to get my camera!

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): The duck was approximately the same size as the Redheads it was accompanying. Overall color including back was white with prominent black splotch behind eye. Black highlights on side - wing - and tail clearly apparent.

Voice: Silent.

Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): I suppose a Smew would be similar but bill was not comparable. And, I believe that a Smew would be all white.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): None - Camera in truck - YEAH, same old story! Well, didn't realize that there would be something rare in the flock which, from the road, appeared to be 100% Ring-necked Ducks. Needless to say, everything flushed when I went back to the truck to get the camera.

Previous experience with this species: I shot one Old Squaw in the 1970s - in Museum of Natural Sciences - and recorded a Long-tailed Duck in a flock of Ring-necked Ducks in a large crawfish pond at the USL Farm near St. Martinville around 2003 or so. I have also seen numerous Long-tailed Ducks in Alaska in June 2007 and June 2009.

Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification): Sibley's Field Guide.

This description is written from: Notes made after the observation.

Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes. The bird stood out like a sore thumb from the Redheads it was accompanying.

Date/Time: Jan. 18, 2011, 12:00