LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)

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

One individual, sex and age unknown, typical plumage

3. Parish: Cameron Parish

Specific Locality: Sabine Ship Channel, approximately 29.698494 W/-93.840962 N

4. Date(s) when observed: 18 June 2014

5. Time(s) of day when observed: ~1100 hrs

6. Reporting observer and address:

Will Selman, Ph.D.

Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge

5476 Grand Chenier Hwy

Grand Chenier, LA 70643

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

Chance Baccigalopi (Rockefeller technician)

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):

High sky and sunny; we observed bird from all directions (drove around in boat)

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Canon 12 x 36 Image Stabilizer Binoculars; Nikon D90 camera

11. Distance to bird(s): ~5 – 75 meters

12. Duration of observation: 5 minutes

13. Habitat: open water of ship channel, closer to Louisiana than Texas side

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

Bird was swimming in open water of ship channel. We were able to get very close and take good quality photographs of the bird. The feathers seemed to be water matted/logged and the bird flushed when we got within 5 meters. Flight path was to the west for ~75 meters before it landed in channel.

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, or for species that are known to hybridize frequently, stress features that help eliminate possible hybrids):

Overall dark body seabird, with narrower at the midlength of the bill (nose tubes present). Used bird ID book for comparison with photographs.

16. Voice:

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):

Photographs by W. Selman (~10 photographs)

19. Previous experience with this species:

None, but I knew it was something different than I had ever seen when I got close to it.

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

Sibley Field Guide

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation: Yes

21. This description is written from:

	notes made during the observation.	Are notes attached?
	notes made after the observation.	At what date?
x	memory
x	study of images

22. Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:

Yes

23. Date: (6/20/2014)

Time: