Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2004-41
| Common name: |
Ruddy Turnstone |
| Scientific name: | Arenaria interpres |
| Date: | 8/29/04 |
| Time: | 1:00 p.m. |
| Length of time observed: | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Juvenile |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Antelope Island Causeway |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 40 to 50 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 8x42 and 10x42 binoculars, Bausch and Lomb Discoverer Zoom Scope |
| Weather: | |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| Detailed description of bird: |
Stocky shorebird with short orange legs. Tan face with a short black pointed bill. Sides of neck were tan with the tan color extending down toward the upper breast on both sides. These tan markings on the sides of the upper breast were both bordered by wide black horseshoe-shaped lines. Chin, throat, and central upper breast were white. The rest of the underparts of the bird were also white. Back and upper wings were scaled with brown and black feathers. Primary wing feathers were mainly brown and appeared darker than the brown in the wings and back. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | The bird was poking at the mud and turning over clots of mud apparently searching for food. The bird also spent a few minutes preening and fluffing up its feathers and wings. |
| Habitat: | Shoreline of the Great Salt Lake. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Overall shape and short orange legs eliminated most other shorebird species. Also, no other shorebird has the described distinctive neck and upper breast markings. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Seen numerous times in Utah, Texas, Florida, and California. |
| References consulted: | Sibley |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| Observer: | Joel and Kathy Beyer |
| Observer's address: | 1719 Hillcrest Avenue, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | twobirders@juno.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Pomera Fronce, Milt Moody, Kent Lewis, Dennis Shirley |
| Date prepared: | 11/20/04 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: | Photos of this bird (taken by other observers) are available on the Utah Birds website. |