Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

Number of accepted Sabine's Gull records for Louisiana = 13 as of 25th Report of the LBRC (2022)




Accepted Records

One immature (1976-2) on 11 Sep 1976, Jefferson: Grand Isle, Barataria Pass near the Coast Guard Station; Ronald J. Stein and Robert Hines; (published as record No. 81-29 in Schulenberg 1984). The lack of hard evidence precludes this record from representing the first state record; record No. 1979-15 becomes the official first state occurrence.

One (1979-15) in first alternate plumage on 2 Jun 1979, St. Bernard: Breton NWR, Chandeleur Islands, Curlew Island; Lawrence O’Meallie (ph). Shortly after the observation, the observer submitted the photograph to LSUMNS for identification. The bird was erroneously identified as a Bonaparte’s Gull and the slides were filed. The photographs were eventually reevaluated and submitted to the Committee (by Dittmann) as a Sabine’s Gull. This becomes the first state record supported by hard documentation.

One in first alternate plumage (1992-32) on 2 May 1992, Cameron: East Jetty at mouth of Calcasieu Pass; Curtis A. Marantz (ph), Curtis C. Sorrells, and Phillip A. Wallace (AB46 (3):436). This is the second accepted record for Louisiana.

One (95-97) in juvenal plumage on 4 Oct 1995, Orleans: New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain at Southshore Harbor, Peter H. Yaukey; NASFN 50(1): 68, LOS News 168: 5. The observation coincided with the passage of Hurricane Opal through the region.

One in juvenal plumage (1997-33) on 24 October 1997, Cameron: Rutherford Beach; Phillip A. Wallace, B. Mac Myers III, and Peter A. Yaukey.

Two (98-77) in juvenal plumage on 16-18 Sep 1998, Red River: Red River Lock and Dam #4; Paul M. Dickson (ph) and Karen Fay; NAB 53(1): 63-64.
 
Photos by Paul Dickson

One (01-28) in juvenal plumage on 9 Sep 2001, Caddo: Shreveport, Cross Lake; Charles E. Lyon (ph by Charles E. Lyon provided by M. Mark Swan); NAB 56(1): 62 (includes ph).

Photo by Charles E. Lyon

One female in 1st alternate plumage (2004-21) on 20 May 2004, Gulf of Mexico: 12 mi. SSE of mouth South Pass of Mississippi River, 28o49'47.2"N, 89o04'06.1"W; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 177142) and Donna L. Dittmann (*); NAB58(3):385. This is about the eighth accepted state record and the first specimen.

One adult (2004-078) on 29 August 2004, Caddo/Bossier: Red River within 1 mi. N of Lock and Dam No. 5; James L. Ingold. This is the ninth accepted state occurrence.

One adult in non-breeding plumage (2006-074) on 11 October 2006, LaSalle: Catahoula Lake; William (Bill) Vermillion. Description included a sketch of the wing pattern.

Sketch by Bill Vermillion

One in juvenal plumage (2007-64) on 21 October 2007, Caddo: Cross Lake; Charles Lyon.

Two in Juvenal plumage (2017-041) on 5 September 2017, Caddo: Shreveport, Cross Lake; John Dillon and Charles E. Lyon (ph).

Photo by Charles E. Lyon

One in Juvenal plumage (2019-053) on 7 September 2019, Cameron: Rutherford Beach, 2.75 mi. E of LeBleu Camp Rd.; Devin Bosler and Justin Bosler (ph).

Photo by Justin Bosler

Unaccepted Records

One adult in breeding plumage (1999-095) on 4 September 1999, Gulf of Mexico: ca 110 mi. SW Morgan City, South Marsh Island 147 oil platform. At the time of this observation, there were only seven accepted occurrences and no accepted records of adults. The observation was brief and relatively distant, and the description is relatively brief. Although this species/plumage might be considered “unmistakable,” given the circumstances and the lack of hard evidence for such an outstanding occurrence, following a Discussion vote all but one Member opted not to accept.

One (2021-078) on 31 July 2021, Rapides: SW arm of Cotile Lake, N31.307599 o W92.734708 o. All Members believed that the description was inadequate to support this occurrence especially considering the early date was far outside the established pattern of occurrence of this species.