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 Complex Pond, Quail Dr.

4. Date(s) when observed: 2/4/14; 2/6/14

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 1250; 1130 & 1745

6. Reporting observer and address: Dan O’Malley Baton Rouge

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Sam Holcomb; Tori O’Malley

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Sam Holcomb; Tori O’Malley

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Overcast at time of first and second sighting. Setting sun perpendicular to angle of view during third sighting.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Eagle Optics Ranger 8X42, Swarovski 80mm ATM scope

11. Distance to bird(s): ~150 meters

12. Duration of observation: 2, 2, 15 minutes

13. Habitat: Pond surrounded by lawns, buildings

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): Diving, exercising wings. Seems to be associating with a structure in the middle of the pond.

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): All black diving duck with white secondaries. Sideways white “comma” around and behind eye. White irides. Black knob at base of culmen. Anterior portion of bill red, fading to yellow, then black proximally.

16. Voice: NA

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): White secondaries and white marking behind eye eliminate all other scoter species.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Yes Dan O’Malley

Attached

19. Previous experience with this species: Seen frequently during winter in coastal Rhode Island.

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

a. at time of observation: None. (Stake-out bird originally discovered by Eric Liffmann).

b. after observation: Sibley’s

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

23. Date:__2/04/14________Time:____0840___