LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage: 1 adult

3. Locality: Parish: ____Jefferson Parish__________________________

Specific Locality:Niblett Road, ca. 1.75mi W of Niblett Rd. X LA 99_

4. Date(s) when observed: 16 December 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 8:30am

6. Reporting observer and address: Bill Fontenot, LA 70520

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Bill Vermillion, Molly Richard, Patti Holland

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): overcast/foggy

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Leica 10x50 bins

11. Distance to bird(s): ca. 100yds.

12. Duration of observation: 1-2 minutes

13. Habitat: farmyard fence

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): Perching phoebe-style on 5' fence; occasionally sallying into air in flycatching behavior.

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): This is a bird that was found in this location some weeks prior to the 16 December 2011 Lacassine-Thornwell CBC (when we saw it). Through fog, my “look” was not optimal; still, I could note a phoebe, slightly larger than an Eastern Phoebe (there were a couple of these within a couple of hundred yards of the Say's Phoebe), with near-concolor dove-gray body/head/breast and straight, dark bill. When it sallied into the air for flying insects, paler gray primaries, a jet-black tail, and salmon-colored belly/flanks could be seen. Legs and facial features not visible (by me, anyway) through fog and from the distance viewed.

16. Voice: n/a

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): No other phoebe (to my knowledge!) exhibits gray body, salmon belly/flanks, and jet-black tail.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? Attached?): n/a

19. Previous experience with this species: Several in SW U.S.; three in LA.

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

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation: Sibley Guide to Birds

21. This description is written from: _____ 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, 100%

23. Date:_24 December 2011_________Time:___4:27pm____