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):

1 adult male

3. Locality: Parish: East Baton Rouge

Specific Locality: Pennington Biomedical Research Center Perkins Road and Quail Drive

4. Date(s) when observed: 8 February 2014

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 1250 pm.

6. Reporting observer and address: Christopher G. Brantley, Mandeville, LA 70448; cell number 985-237-5399

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): First reported by Eric Liffmann on 4 February 2014 and seen by others on subsequent days.

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Good, mostly clear and sun overhead

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): B&L Elite 10x42 in good condition

11. Distance to bird(s): 100 - 150 feet

12. Duration of observation: less than 1 minute

13. Habitat: Open water in largely urban area

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 lake.

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): Bird was reported from area several days earlier. I noticed it swimming in open lake. Large scoter with sloping forehead and orange-tipped bill with black knob at base. Head and body mostly dark with white comma mark behind eye and white patch in wings.

16. Voice: None noted.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): No other scoter ducks with white comma mark behind eye and white patch in wings.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): No.

19. Previous experience with this species: None.

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

a. at time of observation: None

b. after observation: None

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);__X___notes made after the observation (date: 8 February 2014); _____memory.

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

23. Date: 17 February 2014 Time: 9:00 pm