Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2003-35


Common name:

Heermann's Gull

Scientific name: Larus heermanni
Date: 2 Oct 2003
Time: 1:00, 2:00, 3:30
Length of time observed: total about 40 minutes
Number: 1
Age: 2nd (fall)
Sex: ?
Location: Southgate Golf Course pond
County: Washinton
Latilong:  
Elevation:  
Distance to bird:  
Optical equipment: Pentax 10X42 DCF WP
Weather: Mostly Clear, warm
Light Conditions: Good
Detailed description of bird: Large-looking chunky gull. Mostly uniform sooty gray/brown, with black feet. Bill orange at base then red toward tip, which was black. Slight crescents above and below eye. White on secondaries, and Dark primaries. Lighter (but not white) rump band. Looked much like the 2nd Winter illustration in the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America.  (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:  
Behavior: Mostly standing alert on bank, flew a couple times around the pond, dipped a couple times to feed, and bathed once.
Habitat: Golf Course pond with open water
 
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
Other gulls are not so dark. Jaegers have stubbier bills and different tails.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
Have seen Heerman's Gulls in California and Baja California (in large numbers)
References consulted: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America The Sibley Field Guide to teh Birds of Western North America
Description from: From memory
Observer: Observer: Marilyn Davis, Matthew Curtis, Kevin Wheeler
Observer's address: (Kevin) 455 S. 1100 E. St. George, UT 84790
Observer's e-mail address: turtleherder@hotmail.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird: Observers: Rick Fridell
Date prepared: 2 Oct 2003  (General Public)
Additional material: Photos
Additional comments: