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: