Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Hudsonian Godwit
Scientific name:	Limosa haemastica
Date:	19 May 1999, 21 May 1999
Time:	19th - 10:20 am - 11:00 am; 21st - morning
Length of time observed:	19th - 0.5 hrs; 21st - 1+ hr
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:	female?
Location:	Amalga Barrens, Cache County, UT
County:	Cache
Latilong:
Elevation:	~4400'
Distance to bird:	closest 50'
Optical equipment:
Weather:	Mostly sunny
Light Conditions:	both front and backlighting, sun high overhead
Detailed description of bird:	All key field marks are visible on the enclosed photos. These marks include: - relatively large size - bigger than long-bld. dowitchers in photos. - similar in size to avocet in photos - bicolored, upturned bill - flesh-colored near base, dark distally - white wing stripe on upper wing surface - white rump - black undersing linings - dark rust coloration on breast and flanks - this color pattern suggests that the bird was a female.
Song or call & method of delivery:	none
Behavior:	Spent most of its time feeding, but did fly some to other spots to feed.
Habitat:	flooded salt playa
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Marbled Godwit, Bar-tailed godwit - both of these species lack the white wing stripe and white rump of the Hudsonian Godwit Black-tailed Godwit - this species lacks the black undersing linings of the Hudsonian Godwit
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Have seen this species numerous times in Michigan
References consulted:	Birds of North America, Nat. Geo. Shorebirds - Hayman, Marchant, Prater
Description from:	Notes taken at time of sighting
Observer:	Ron Ryel
Observer's address:	1649 N 1000 E, North Logan, UT 84341
Observer's e-mail address:
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Larry Ryel - (photos from him)19, 21 May Bob Atwood - 19, 21 May Mark Stackhouse - 21 May (many others)
Date prepared:	25 May 1999
Additional material:	7 Photos, Original Documents