Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2004-02
| Common name: |
Upland Sandpiper |
| Scientific name: | Bartramia longicauda |
| Date: | 4 June 2003 |
| Time: | 4:00 pm |
| Length of time observed: | 5 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | On conveyor belt road from AI, south of Goggin Drain ~.5 mile |
| County: | SLC |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | ~4215 |
| Distance to bird: | 3 meters |
| Optical equipment: | 10X40 Stiener |
| Weather: | clear |
| Light Conditions: | good |
| Detailed description of bird: | Bird was in salt grass near a Tamerisk bush. Small head, long neck and legs - bill was much shorter than a willet, but same general size. Bill yellow. Eye seemed very large in relation to it's head. Very streaky sides - almost spotted. Breast was whitesh and clear. Light legs - yellowish. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none |
| Behavior: | Acting secretive and breifly did the broken wing decoy dance. |
| Habitat: | Shrub steppe - salt grass/greasewood mix. Fairly dry, but 100 meters from wet meadow. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Willet - sandpiper smaller with light legs and bill. Bill much smaller and over
all more brown than gray of willet. Yellowlegs - bill color and length |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Seven years managing shorebird reserve. Seen willets nest, yellowlegs migrate through. Never seen Upland Sandpiper before |
| References consulted: | National Geographic, sent photos to Ella Sorenson and Dr. John Cavitt |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Ann Neville |
| Observer's address: | 780 North Main, Bountiful UT 84010 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | kanevill@kennecott.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none, was not seen again. |
| Date prepared: | 3 Feb 2004 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |