HOW MANY:1 light morph subadult

REPORTER: Dan Audet, 3901 Moccasin Road, Coeur d'Alene ID 83815

208-765-2126

REPORTER EMAIL: dansuzcda@aol.com

OTHER OBSERVERS: Suzanne Audet

DATE REPORT PREPARED: August 18, 2006

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: July 4, 2006

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Lake Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County at several locations between Mica Bay and Carlin Bay.

HABITAT: Lacustrine, open water, lake

CONDITIONS: Clear skies, no wind, temperature - 75, nikon 10X25 binoculars, bird seen at various distances including 40 yards, 30 yards, 20 yards, 10 yards and directly overhead at 15 feet. Best looks were at 30 and 20 yards with sun behind us.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, during the observation

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

National Geographic Field Guide (3rd edition)1999 while observing.

Seabirds (Peter Harrison)1988

later the same day

DESCRIPTION:

Jaeger - in flight saw long pointed and angled wings with white underwing patches(only one white underwing patch). Tail streamers barely visible.

Distinctive barring on belly, underwing, and portions of the tail of a light morph jaeger was observed. Based on National Geographic - closely resembled light morph subadult parasitic. Based on Seabirds - closely resembled Juvenile light morph Parasitic (aka Arctic skua). Overall color was rusty. Slight chin strap visible at close range while sitting on the water.

BEHAVIOR: Flight was unique, more tern like than other gulls in area. Bird moved very quickly and covered an extensive area faster than gulls. Bird was alone and not socializing with terns and gulls in the area. Size of bird was smaller than nearby California gull and larger than flock of ring-billed gulls. At rest on the water the wings were in a more upward position than gulls in the area. No interaction of any kind with other birds, however, gulls in area did seem to keep their distance from the bird.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

Observing the bird on the water and then flying off at 20-30 yards from the boat (with sun behind us) allowed for great looks of the white underwing patch, chin strap, minimal tail streamer barely visible during flight, rusty color, slimmer body shape than Pomarine, small bill, rufous color evident in primaries, belly had extensive barring throughout but was very light in colors of rust and white.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

The bird was initially identified as a jeager at 40 yards from a moving boat. When the bird flew over the boat it was quickly narrowed down to parasitic or pomarine. Observing the bird on the water and in flight at 20-30 yards allowed for a better view of the small bill, single white wing patch, chin strap, and rufous color in primary. The slender bird had a quick wingbeat more typical of a parasitic vs. pomarine.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

Have seen jaegers numerous times since the 1980s from land and offshore in Maryland, New Jersey, California, and Alaska.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

30 years experience birding. I am a wildlife biologist and have studied and surveyed birds for over 25 years.

Level of expertise - moderate

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

None