Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Brown Thrasher
Scientific name:	Toxostoma rufum
Date:	10-17-03
Time:	1700 hrs
Length of time observed:	2-3 sec. in flight: >1 min obscured through bush
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	unknown
Location:	Beaver Dam Wash, Lytle Ranch
County:	Washington
Latilong:	19
Elevation:	~850
Distance to bird:	5-15 m
Optical equipment:	10 x 42 binoculars
Weather:	clear, calm and hot (~90)
Light Conditions:	good afternoon light
Detailed description of bird:	My views of the thrasher were very brief. While running back to the truck, it flushed from a thick patch of desert willows near the Lytle Ranch gate and it flew across the road and landed in a dense creosote bush. In flight (quick view of the back, wings, and tail): A relatively large bird (Crissal Thrasher size) with a uniform rusty, rufous brown on tail, back, and wings. Tail was very long and broad with small, pale patches on outer corners that appeared as worn edges. Perched (obscured view, through 5 ft. of dense creosote): Warm reddish brown back, long rufous tail, pale undersides with black streaks, yellow eye, and long slightly curved bill.
Song or call & method of delivery:	none heard
Behavior:	A very sneaky bird, flushed from under a Desert Willow, flew very low into a dense creosote, moved rapidly through the bush and perched on side opposite me about a foot off the ground. Kevin Wheeler later relocated the bird scratching in the leaf litter under a desert willow, but again it disappeared before we could get a prolonged view or take any photographs
Habitat:	Desert Scrub (Creosote, Mesquite, Acacia, Desert Willow) adjacent to Cottonwood/Willow/Ash riparian community and ranch house area.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Other thrashers eliminated by bright rufous upperparts. Rufous colored sparrows eliminated by size and shape. Wood Thrush has similar coloration, but lacks long tail and long bill.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen Brown Thrashers many times throughout the eastern US, and a few times in Nevada and Arizona.
References consulted:
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Rick Fridell and Kevin Wheeler
Observer's address:	3505 West 290 North, Hurricane, UT 84737
Observer's e-mail address:	rfridell@redrock.net
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Kevin Wheeler
Date prepared:	10-23-02 (General Public)
Additional material:
Additional comments:	My views of the thrasher were very brief. While running back to the truck, it flushed from a thick patch of desert willows near the Lytle Ranch gate and it flew across the road and landed in a dense creosote bush. Kevin and I searched for about 45 minutes but failed to relocate the bird. Later, Kevin saw it foraging briefly under the desert willow.