Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red Knot
Scientific name:	Calidris canutus
Date:	17 May 2000
Time:	2:40 pm
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	10
Age:	Alternate Plumage
Sex:
Location:	Fish Springs NWR
County:	Juab
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	100 Yards, estimated
Optical equipment:	Kowa Scope and 8x42 Celestron binos
Weather:
Light Conditions:	Good
Detailed description of bird:	Smaller & not as chunky as a dowitcher. Typical "calidris" shape, with rusty red breast & head. The back appeared scaled, & undertail & belly white. Bill thin, medium in length, & black. Legs medium in length, & black. Primaries at rest appeared black. (Drawing)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard
Behavior:	The ten birds were on a small salt-flat island. Some were resting and others were running around picking food off the soil or nearby water.
Habitat:	Marsh, wetlands
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	There are no similar species that come to compare with alternate plumaged knots.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Have encountered this species numerous times on the Texas coast & at Cape May, N.J. Also have come in contact with this species in Oklahoma & Kansas.
References consulted:
Description from:	Notes after observation
Observer:	Tyler Hicks
Observer's address:	910 Eastview Mulrone, Kansas 67110
Observer's e-mail address:	hickstyler@hotmail.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Sam Orr P.O. Box 171 Villas, NJ 08251
Date prepared:
Additional material:	Drawing Original Document Note from Jay Banta: "Steve (Hedges): These have been sitting on my desk for a while so I'll finally get them off. I was not present when the Eurasian Colared Dove sighting was made but do believe that it is valid. Tyler Hicks is an exceptional birder. The Red-shouldered hawk sighting (actually turned out to be two juvenile birds here at one time as we saw them sitting side by side in a tree at one point) is iron clad. The red know sighting by Sam Orr is also absolute. Sam, a birder of over 40 years experience hails from New Jersey and has been looking at Red Knot nearly as long as I've been alive. I have known Sam for twenty years and can vouch for his capability. Pete Dunne is a close personal friend of Sam as is Bill Clark of raptor fame. Sam is primary operator of the Cape may Raptor Banding Station now that he is retired. Call me if you need any more details, Jay Banta"