LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)

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

3. Locality: Parish: East Baton Rouge ____________________________________________

Specific Locality: Pennington Biomedical Research Lab Pond in Baton Rouge _______________________________________________

4. Date(s) when observed: 2/7/2014

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 12:05 pm

6. Reporting observer and address: Mary Mehaffey, Folsom, LA, 70437,m11mehaffey@att.net

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Janine Robin, Claire Thomas, Tom Trenchard

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): previously reported on LABIRD

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Partly cloudy, scoter out in open on pond

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 8 x 40 binoculars, 20 x 60 Brunton scope, excellent condition

11. Distance to bird(s): 70 yds

12. Duration of observation: 30 minutes

13. Habitat: pond behind building with woods bordering other side

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

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): large black scoter with large white rectangular wing patch, white comma behind eye, pink and orange bill with dark knob at base

16. Voice: did not call

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): adult male Surf Scoter has white on bill and on back of head and no white wing bars

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

19. Previous experience with this species: adult male seen in flight in Lake Pontchartrain 12/31/2013, and juvenile seen swimming in the gulf south of Biloxi, MS

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

a. at time of observation: Sibley’s Guide to Birds North America

b. after observation:

21. This description is written from: __x___ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); _____memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes

23. Date:_2/18/2014_________Time: 4:15 am_______