Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2003-07
| Common name: |
Glaucous-winged Gull |
| Scientific name: | Larus glaucescens |
| Date: | 2/2/03 |
| Time: | 11:30 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | 2nd winter juvenile |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Utah Lake State Park/Provo Boat Harbor |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4200 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 20 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Bushnell spotting scope 15x |
| Weather: | Windy, snow blowing horizontally from the north |
| Light Conditions: | direct sunlight blocked, but ample light for observation |
| Detailed description of bird: | Large gull, pale overall, some mottling, pale primaries and tail feathers, mostly dark bill, dark eye, size of a Herring Gull [see photos] |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | |
| Habitat: | Swimming and flying in and out of the harbor south and a little east of the north jettie. |
| Similar
species and how were they eliminated: |
From the Herring Gull by absence of dark tail and primaries. From the Gloucous Gull by darker bill |
| Previous experience with this & similar species: | Observed the Gloucous-winged Gull at Olympic National Park, Washington in 1994 and again at Bellingham, Washington in 2000 and in 2002. |
| References consulted: | National Geographic Birds of North America 4th Edition; Peterson Field Guide Western Birds; All the Birds of North America American Bird Conservancy |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting and from memory |
| Observer: | Michael Monson |
| Observer's address: | 534 E 2320 No., Provo, Utah 84604 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | |
| Other
observers who independently identified this bird: |
Milton Moody (photographed bull on 2/4/03) and Dennis Shirley |
| Date prepared: | 2-4-03 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | Photos Original Document |
| Additional comments: |