Records Committee

The Records Committee of the Florida Ornithological Society met at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, on 27 January 2007. Attending: Fred Lohrer (2007), Mickey Wheeler (2008), Bill Pranty (2009), Sally Jue (2010), Andy Kratter (2011), Glen Woolfenden (2012), and Mark Berney (2013).

1. Meeting convened at 09:15, chaired by Andy Kratter, who is the new Committee Secretary.

2. New members Bill Pranty and Mark Berney were welcomed.

3. Minutes of the August 2006 meeting at Archbold Biological Station were distributed. They will be reviewed in the next few weeks and the approved by email votes.

4. Tabled Reports. (accepted records are bold-faced)

RC 06-594 ICELAND GULL, Larus glaucoides, a single second-winter bird, sex unknown, observed and photographed at the Volusia County Landfill, Volusia County, 11 February 2006. The original file contained a photograph of a second individual from the same locale and date and there was some question at the time of the August meeting as to which individual the documentation report applied. Parts of the description did not seem to aptly describe either individual, which were both well-photographed. The Committee tabled the report in August to clarify which FOSRC forms pertained to which birds. In January 2007, Bob Wallace submitted additional forms and photos that indicated that three Iceland-type Gulls were present in February-March 2006 at the Volusia Landfill. The nearly white, presumably second-winter, bird kept the original FOSRC number, while the two other gulls were given new numbers (RC 07-622 and RC 07-623). The small dove like head and delicate mostly dark bill, pale plumage, long wings, pale gray new feathers in the mantle, and dusky centers to primaries confirm the identification as L. g. kumlieni, the expected race in Florida. There are eight previous records for Florida (one specimen, seven photos).

VOTE: ACCEPTED 7-0.

RC 06-601 CACKLING GOOSE, Branta hutchinsii, a small-bodied, small billed, white-cheeked goose observed by several birders from 4 January to 1 March 2003 in Barefoot Bay, south of Palm Bay, in Brevard County. At the August meeting only a single photo was available, in which the small goose had its head slightly turned. The perspective on the small goose’s head made it difficult to confidently evaluate bill shape. The report was tabled pending a request for other photographs that provided a lateral view of the head. About 20 new photos were submitted by Stephen Chalmers and Andy Bankert which gave numerous views of head and bill proportions and comparisons with a much larger Canada Goose (B. canadendsis). The photos show not only a direct size comparison, but also that the much smaller goose has a comparatively much smaller bill, a nearly vertical forehead (compared to the larger goose’s slating forehead), shorter neck, and pale edges to wing coverts. These field marks are diagnostic for Richardson’s Cackling Goose (B. h. hucthinsii), the expected rare in the southeastern United States. There is only one previously accepted record (a specimen) of this recently recognized species (AOU 2004) for Florida

VOTE: ACCEPTED 7-0.

RC 06-604 “EUROPEAN” HERRING GULL, Larus argentatus subsp., a single bird observed by multiple birders and photographed by two people at the Volusia County Landfill, Daytona Beach, Volusia County, 11 February to 6 March 2006. Documentation included a single written synopsis of the European taxa, L. argentatus ssp. (two subspecies, L. a. argentatus [northcentral Europe, Finland to Germany] and L. a. argenteus [western Europe, from southern Scandinavia, British Isles, south to the Iberian Peninsula]), L. [cachinnans] michahellis (Yellow-legged Gull, southwestern Europe, and Mediterranean and Black seas basins), and the American L. a. smithsonianus (northern North America). In addition, 14 superb photographs of the bird on the ground and in flight, showing all potential field characters, and submitted comments from several European and American gull aficionados completed the body of information available. Not included in the written description and evaluation by the lead observer, but mentioned by one commentator, was L. c. cachinnans (Caspian Gull). The outside commentators disagreed among themselves on the ID of the Florida bird, although the leading gull authority, Klaus M. Olsen, senior author of the new book on gulls, supported the “European” Herring Gull ID. Olsen and Larsson (2004) have split the herring gulls on the two sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The British Ornithologists’ Union is considering the taxonomic status of the complex. Because the Committee in August had little direct experience with the European gull taxa, the vagrancy record of the “European” Herring Gull taxa in the Americas was not known, and considering the potential complexity of the issues relating to gull identification involving species in Europe and North America, the Committee expressed a desire to go slow, and thus tabled the matter. At the January meeting, we had two additional references (Lonergan and Mullarney 2004, Golley and Martin 1993) and Berney provided recent photographs of winter “European” Herring Gulls from Ireland, including several second winter birds. European Herring Gulls are apparently now occurring annually in Newfoundland, B. MacTavish pers. comm.), so a record in Florida is not out of the question. Nonetheless, most record committees have not dealt with this issue, presumably because American and European Herring Gulls are still considered conspecific by the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU 1998). Although some characters strongly indicated that this bird was a European Herring Gull (particularly the amount of white in the tail), we think that our knowledge of variability in second-winter smithsonianus is still rudimentary and feel that this bird cannot, with certain, be identified as either American or European. We therefore chose not to vote on the report, given that the taxon does not yet considered a species.

NO VOTE

RC 06-608 RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD, Phaethon aethereus, a subadult individual of unknown sex, observed and photographed 3 July 2006 about 8 mi southeast of Key Biscayne, and about 2 mi southeast of Fowey Rocks Light, Miami-Dade County. The documentation record contained four photographs, a written description and analysis, a provocative evaluation of discriminating field-marks that separate young Red-billed and White-tailed (P. lepturus) tropicbirds, and remarks from online commentators. As the Committee felt it needed to examine specimens to better understand the field characters that may be used to discriminate the two tropicbirds in question, we tabled the vote in August. At the January meeting, we used the reference collection at the FLMNH to examine the characters purported to diagnose this individual as a Red-billed Tropicbird from the photographs provided, particularly the degree to which the black primary upperwing coverts can be seen from ventral views, the size of the bill, and the pattern of black and white on the outer primaries. We felt that the overcast skies when the photographs were taken did not provide ample back-lighting to distinguish whether the primary coverts were dark or white. With the ventral angle of the photographs, we could not adequately gauge the depth of the bill. With a series of Red-billed (n=4) and White-tailed (n=15), including spread wings from each, we found that that both species have white tips to primaries 8-9 when fresh (juvenile White-tailed more), but that on many individuals of both species, the white tends to wear off, leaving black tips to primaries 8-9. Therefore, none of these characters unambiguously identifies this individual as Red-billed Tropicbird. There were seven previously accepted records (three specimens, three photos, one sight report) for this species in Florida

VOTE: NOT ACCEPT (0-7)

5. New Reports

RC 06-610. Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Campephilus principalis. 21 May 2005- 26 April 2006. Choctawhatchee River, Washington/Bay/Walton cos. A population of unknown size has been reported by a team from Auburn University from the lower Choctawhatchee River. There have been a few sightings but no photographs, some interesting recordings of “kent” calls and of double rap drums, and photographs taken of cavities and bark scaling. These observations were made on the heels of the much-publicized “rediscovery” of the species in Arkansas (Fitzpatrick et al 2005). The species had not been documented to occur since 1944. The video documentation of the bird(s) from Arkansas, however, has been debated by many, although the record was accepted by the Arkansas Bird Records Committee. Our Committee felt that given the controversy of the Arkansas evidence, the species is best considered still extinct. Therefore only evidence that undoubtedly showed a living bird would be considered sufficient to accept a report.

The last specimen taken in Florida was in 1925; there have been numerous sight reports of varying credibility since, and one record of a feather found in a nest cavity in 1968 that was identified as an Ivory-billed Woodpecker inner secondary by Alexander Wetmore.

VOTE: NOT ACCEPT (0-7)

RC 06-611. Alder Flycatcher. Empidonax alnorum. 21 September 2006. Matheson Hammock, Miami-Dade Co. The FOSRC has solicited reports of this species and Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax trailii) because their status in the State is insufficiently known given their extreme similarity. Unfortunately, websites for the Official State List of the birds of Florida and the Official Species Review List of the Birds of Florida differ in their wording as to what sort of evidence is required for documentation. The official State list states: “For the two species in Empidonax indicated by **, observers should report only sightings to the FOSRC that document vocalizations on tape or video,” whereas, the List of Review Species states: “provide vocal documentation.” This report consisted of an FOSRC form, which detailed the vocalizations of the individual consistent with Alder Flycatcher, but no video/tape documentation. The Committee members agreed that we meant to say that we would review only reports with video or tape documentation. We therefore decided that this report provided insufficient documentation.

VOTE: NOT ACCEPT (0-7)

RC 06-612. MacGillivray’s Warbler, Oporornis tolmiei. 4 October 2006. A.D. Barnes Park, Miami-Dade Co. This was a written description from a brief sighting (15-20 seconds) of a female bird. The age was noted as adult, but Pranty noted that the observer had submitted it earlier as a Hatch-Year. Female MacGillivray’s Warbler are difficult to differentiate from Mourning Warbler (O. philadelphia), which is rare but a bit more regular in Florida. Some field-marks noted strongly suggested MacGillivray’s, particularly the “easily visible and quite obvious” eye crescents. Mourning, can show eye crescents as well (Dunn and Garrett 1997), but they are usually not as prominent. The observer was not as firm about the color of the throat (generally pale yellow in Mourning and pale grayish white in Macgillivray’s), noting “no yellow on the throat that I could see.” Another key field-mark for differentiating from Mourning, the length of the undertail coverts (Dunn and Garrett 1997), was not noted. Because, the observer had not had previous experience with Macgillivray’s, the Committee felt it was difficult to assess the prominence of the eye crescents. There were four previously accepted records for Florida (one photo, three sight reports).

VOTE: NOT ACCEPT (0-7)

RC 06-613. Thick-billed Vireo, Vireo crassirostris. 12 October 2006. Fort Desoto County Park, Pinellas Co. This unknown sex/unknown age bird was seen over the course of several hours by a handful of birders. This is the first report of Thick-billed from outside southeastern Florida. The Committee received three written reports (FOSRC forms), but no photographs were taken. Photographs taken the following day attributed to this individual on birding list-serves were shown to be hatch-year White-eyed Vireos (Vireo griseus), which have dark eyes. White-eyed Vireo is a common bird virtually throughout Florida The Committee felt that the details provided on some of the forms ruled out White-eyed Vireo, noting the facial pattern (yellow lores, broken white eyering), the buffy yellow breast, the thick and deep bill, and the dark eyes). Details on one other form were contradictory at times, and that observer may have been describing an immature White-eyed Vireo. Descriptions of vocalizations, included in only one of the forms, were not detailed enough to differentiate the prolonged scold notes of Thick-billed, from the much shorter scolds of White-eyed. There are eight previously accepted records in Florida (two audio, three photo, three sight reports).

VOTE: ACCEPT (6-1)

RC 06-614. Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe. 13-23 September, Research Road, Everglades National Park, Miami-Dade Co. This bird, a hatch-year of unknown sex, was found by Sonny Bass, a U.S. Park Service employee, and seen by 100s of observers, with many photographs posted to birding list-serves. The Committee, however, received only a single written FOSRC form with photos, that from a committee member. Another committee member had video footage, which is added to the submitted material. The photograph and video showed diagnostic field-marks of Northern Wheatear, including its long-legs and wings, upright posture, brownish color, long white supercilium, buffy breast, buff edged secondaries and tertials, and white tail coverts and tail base. These marks collectively rule out other migratory members of Oenanthe (Desert and Isabelline), none of which have ever strayed to the New World. There were five previously accepted records for Florida (one specimen, two photos, two sight reports).

VOTE: ACCEPT 7-0.

RC 06-615. Hammond’s Flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii, October 2006. Fort Desoto County Park, Pinellas Co. This unknown sex/unknown age bird was found in the afternoon of 30 October, but not identified or documented until the next day, when several birders saw it, and several photographs were taken by two observers. This is the first state record for the species. The Committee received an FOSRC form and photographs from one observer, and received verbal affirmation at our meeting to use the photos from a second observer. The excellent series of photos show a small, very short-billed Empidonax, with greenish back, whitish throat, broken white eye-ring expanding slightly behind the eye, relatively long primary projection with long “step between 2^nd and 3^rd visible primaries, and mostly dark mandible. Calls were described as a high-pitched “peep” or “peek.” This combination of characters rule out similar Empidonax: Least Flycatcher has a longer and wider bill, with mostly pale lower mandible, and gives a flat “whitt” call; Dusky Flycatcher is most similar, but has a longer tail a slightly longer bill, less primary projection with more evenly spaced tips, and gives a Least Flycatcher like “whitt” note. Other Empidonax have longer bills with pale bases.

VOTE: ACCEPT (7-0). New addition to Florida list.

RC 06-616. Kirtland’s Warbler, Dendroica kirtlandii. 29 October 2006. Lake Kissimmee State Park, Polk Co. This was a single observer sight report. The observer submitted an FOSRC form. The bird, identified as an adult male, was seen at quite a distance (50 yards) with bright mid-day skies. Plumage details and tail-wagging behavior appeared to rule out other species, but details about the observation, particularly the height it was foraging and the type of vegetation, were lacking. We are requesting these details from the observer. There are four previously accepted records for Florida (one specimen, one photo, two sight reports).

VOTE: TABLED.

RC 06-617. Masked Duck, Nomonyx dominicus. 6 November -27 December 2006. Viera Wetlands, Brevard Co. Two birds, most likely females. The first bird was found and extensively seen and photographed over the next few weeks. On 12 December, an observer posted to a list-serve that the register a few days back had indicated that two birds were seen. Photographs of both birds together were eventually taken. The Committee decided to treat these sightings as a single sighting, because the extremely secretive behavior of the species may have limited the opportunities to see both together. The photographs show a small large-billed, large-headed, short-necked duck, with two dark lines through the face, with two narrow pale lines above these, a dark crown, and a brown and buff mottled back. These marks are diagnostic for female Masked Duck. There are ca. 14 previously accepted records for Florida (4 specimens, 9 photos, 1 sight report)

VOTE: ACCEPT (7-0)

RC 06-618. Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe. 25 September 2006. Honeymoon Island, Pinellas Co. Female, probably first year. The bird was seen by two birders; the Committee received an FOSRC form and photographs from one observer. It was not seen the following day, though many birders searched for it. This bird was found just two days after the species (FOSRC #06-614) was last seen in the Everglades, and is roughly the same plumage. However, the Committee felt that given the record number of wheatears reported this Fall in northeast North America and that Honeymoon Island is in the wrong direction from the Everglades for a Fall (=south-bound) migrant, these were likely different birds. The photographs showed diagnostic field-marks of Northern Wheatear, including its long-legs and wings, upright posture, brownish color, long white supercilium, buffy breast, buff edged secondaries and tertials, and white tail coverts. There were six previously accepted records for Florida , including RC #06-614 above (one specimen, three photos, two sight reports).

VOTE ACCEPT (7-0)

RC 06-619. Common Merganser, Mergus merganser. 18 December 2006. Merritt Island NWR, Brevard Co. This report was of a fly-by male in non-eclipse plumage. An FOSRC form was submitted, but there were no photos taken. The bird was seen by three people, but only one submitted a form. The observation was brief. The Committee was skeptical because the field-marks provided (e.g., color of underwing coverts, deepness of the bill) seemed more detailed than possible in the conditions stated. A few characters, such the green head of a male, were not noted. In addition, even though the area is well covered by birders, the bird was never found again. As there has not been a verifiable record of this species in Florida since 1980 (Stevenson and Anderson 1994), the Committee felt that a sight report would have to be extremely persuasive to be accepted.

VOTE: NOT accept (0-7)

RC 07-620. Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus. 19 March 2006. Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Co. This specimen (UF45217; skin, spread wing, partial skeleton), a subadult male was found beached and brought to Folke Peterson Wildlife Center in West Palm Beach, where it died the same day. The bird did not have enlarged testes, so was probably not yet of breeding age. The specimen clearly show black greater primary coverts; a heavily barred back and lesser wing coverts, fairly long central tails streamers, a deep, reddish-orange bill, and the black mask wrapping around the nape. There were seven previously accepted records (three specimens, three photos, one sight report) for this species in Florida.

VOTE: ACCEPT (7-0)

RC 07-621. Iceland Gull (Kumlien’s), Larus glaucoides kumlieni. 12 Febraury 2006. Volusia County Landfill, Daytona Beach, Volusia Co. A photograph of this bird was originally submitted as part of RC 06-594, but this proved to be a first cycle bird (probably male given the relatively large bill), whereas the bird in RC-06-594 is a much paler second-cycle bird. Additional photographs were submitted for this round. The long-primary extension, pale brown wing tips, small head and bill, pale tail, and checkered pale brown and white wing coverts are diagnostic for Kumlien’s Iceland Gull. Thayer’s Gull would have darker primary tips. There are nine previous accepted records for Florida, including 06-594 above (one specimen, eight photos).

VOTE: ACCEPT (7-0)

RC-07-622. Iceland Gull (Kumlien’s) Larus glaucoides kumlieni. 4 March 2006. Volusia County Landfill, Daytona Beach, Volusia Co. This bird, probably second winter of unknown sex, was seen during the same period as the above records (06-594 and 07-621), but not submitted with those records. The photographs show a darker bird than is typical for Kumlien’s Iceland Gull, particularly for a second winter bird. The head seems blocky and the bill a bit large as well. The long-winged, and pale wing tips is correct for the Iceland/Thayer’s complex. The Committee felt that the bird may be closer to Thayer’s Gull, or a hybrid between Thayer’s and Iceland. There are ten previous accepted records for Florida, including 06-594 and 07-621 above (one specimen, nine photos).

VOTE” NOT ACCEPT (0-7)

RD-07-623. Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides. 13 January 2007. Perdido Landfill, Cantonment, Escambia Co. Photographs submitted of this bird show a first (perhaps second) winter bird of unknown sex. A very similar bird was seen a one day earlier in southeastern Alabama (L. Duncan, in litt.). Primary projection, small head and bill, and pale plumage are good for Iceland Gull. The wholly dark bill suggests a first-cycle bird, which would make this most likely the nominate subspecies, although the photos are not detailed enough to state this for certain. There are ten previous accepted records for Florida, including 06-594 and 07-621 above (one specimen, nine photos).

VOTE: ACCEPT (7-0)

RC-07-624. Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus. 12 July 2005. Cocoa Beach, Brevard Co. This bird, apparently a female (oviduct found during preparation, but sexed as male by vet) was found beached and taken to the Florida Wildlife Hospital in Melbourne, where it died the same day. The specimen is at the FLMNH (UF45637). The almost wholly white undertail coverts, larger size, and longer bill separate it from the similar Audubon’s Shearwater (P. lherminieri). There are 13 previously accepted records for Florida (8 specimens, 2 photos, three sight reports).

VOTE: ACCEPT (7-0)

RC-07-625. Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta. 19-4 February 2007. Pelt Road, west of SR 97, Escambia Co. This bird was first found singing and then photographed the following day. Three FOSRC forms along with one series of photographs were submitted. Descriptions of the vocalizations include the richer more complex vocalizations typical of Western Meadowlark (but Eastern Meadowlark can apparently learn the wrong song Sibley xxxx). The photographs show the paler back, whiter flanks, washed out facial pattern, and yellow malar diagnostic for Western. The species was previously known from Florida from four specimens, all taken before 1980.

VOTE: ACCEPT (7-0)

RC-07-626. White-winged Crossbill. Specimen (EVER 45219, UF45638; spread wing, skeleton, photos of whole carcass). 10 January 2007. Long Pine Key, ENP, Monroe Co. This desiccated specimen was found in a parking lot in a picnic area by a tour leader. It was saved and eventually sent to the FLMNH. Attempts to rehydrate it and make a study skin were unsuccessful, but a wing and the skeleton were salvaged. A series of photos of the carcass were taken, including with comparable species (the Hispanolian endemic Loxia megaplaga and the northern L. leucoptera). Loxia megapalaga was recently split from L. leucoptera (Banks et al. 2003). Measurements (from P. W. Smith, 19xx, and in litt.; author of the paper that helped split megaplaga ) ruled out megaplaga. Loxia megaplaga has a much longer (ex culmen 16.9-17.2 mm vs. 12.96-14.1 mm; ENP bird = 14.8 mm) and wider bill (6.1-7.3 mm vs 4.8-6.0 mm; ENP = 4.9 mm) than leucoptera, more like some subspecies of Red Crossbill (L. curvirostris). In addition, the white tips to the greater secondary coverts, which forms the lower wingbar, is much less extensive on megaplaga (ave. 3.4 mm vs. 9.8 mm). The ENP bird is about 8 mm. The committee was unanimous in the identification as a White-winged Crossbill (L. leucoptera), but were also unanimous believing that the bird was killed outside of Florida, and transported by vehicle to southern Florida. The bird had been dead for quite some time (days at least) and probably super-dried on the grill of a car/RV. The bird had moderate stores of subcutaneous fat, indicating that it had been feeding in an area supplied with its preferred food just before it died. And it was found in a parking lot of a tourist destination. All of this points to it being killed somewhere far to the north and transported by vehicle to ENP. There are no previous records for this species from Florida.

VOTE: NOT ACCEPT 0-7.

18. NEW BUSINESS: At some point during the meeting it was pointed out that FOSRC # 06-593 Cassin’s Kingbird, a record that was accepted at the August 2006 meeting, was the same individual as FOSRC #05-581 Cassin’s Kingbird, photographed two months later at the same location. As 05-581 had been accepted, 06-593 was considered an erroneous entry in the database. As a result of accepting 06-593 in August, Cassin’s Kingbird was removed from the FOSRC review list because there had been ten substantiated records in the State. With removal of 06-593, there were now only nine accepted records, and the Committee voted to add the Cassin’s Kingbird back onto the review list.

Mickey Wheeler mentioned the current situation concerning the large number of Yellow-faced Grassquits that are kept by aviculturalists in southern Florida, and wondered if we should review the two previously accepted records of this species (FOSRC # 94-305 and 01-440). As Paul Sykes is reportedly working on a paper documenting captive grassquits in southern Florida, the Committee felt it was better to wait until the paper was published before taking any action.

20. Meeting adjourned at 17.09

Literature Cited

Banks, R. C., C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J. D. Rising, and D. F. Stotz. 2003.. Forty-fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 121(3): 923-931.

Banks, R. C., C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J. D. Rising, and D. F. Stotz. 2004. Forty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 122(3): 985-995.

Dunn, J. L., and K. Garrett. 1997. A field guide to the warblers of North America. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.

Fitzpatrick J. W., M. Lammertink, M. D. Luneau Jr., T. W. Gallagher, B. R. Harrison, G. M. Sparling, K. V. Rosenberg, R. W. Rohrbaugh, E. C. H. Swarthout, and P. H. Wrege. 2005a. Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) persists in continental North America. Science. 308:1460–1462.

Golley, M. and M. Elliott. 2004. Identification of American Herring Gull in a western European context. Dutch Birding 26: 1-35

Lonergan, P, and Killian Mullarney. 1993. Identification of argentatus Herring Gull. Birding World 6.

Olsen, K.M., and H. Larsson. 2004. Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. Christopher Helm.

Sibley, D. 2000. The Sibley guide to birds. National Audubon Society.

Smith, P. W. 1997. The history and taxonomic status of the Hispanolian Crossbill Loxia megaplaga. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 117: 264-27.

Stevenson, H. M., and B. H. Anderson. 1994. The birdlife of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Respectfully submitted,

Andy

Andy Kratter

Secretary, FOSRC

7 March 2007