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: |