Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2005-43
| Common name: |
Red Phalarope |
| Scientific name: | Phalaropus fulicaria |
| Date: | October 10, 2005 |
| Time: | 2:30 P.M. |
| Length of time observed: | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Number: | 2 |
| Age: | adult - non breeding |
| Sex: | unknown |
| Location: | Antelope Island causeway on the Great Salt Lake near the pullout by the memorial |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4200 ft |
| Distance to bird: | 100 feet? |
| Optical equipment: | Panasonic FZ20 with Raynox 2.2 teleconversion lens, Bausch & Lomb 8x42 binos |
| Weather: | Partly cloudy, cold and windy |
| Light Conditions: | Sunny |
| Description: Size of bird: | 8.5 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Phalarope-like (?) |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Gray and white |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Dark and heavy |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Lots of white on the head, neck and flanks. Black or dark gray strip on nape connecting to gray back. Semi-circle of dark gray on top of the head. Black wingtips. Dark short stripe coming back from the eye. Flanks white. A little gray on sides. White fringe on lower scapulars and subscapulars. Black on primaries. Mantle gray. Short legs. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None |
| Behavior: | Bobbing in the waves next to shore then coming on shore. One looked like it was looking for place to sleep as it nestled in the sand occasionally. Both looked like they were eating. |
| Habitat: | Sandy beach on the Great Salt Lake. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Red-necked Phalarope. Bill was not needle-like, which I first noticed and made
me suspect it might be a Red and certainly not a Wilson's. Short legs. After
seeing and photographing so many Wilson's I knew this was something different. After I got home and looked at the photos I took I thought I'd ask the experts so I posted the photos for opinions. "Red" was the only answer I got from knowledgeable birders. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
None and I had seen the red-necked a few times and photographed it once. |
| References consulted: | Petersons Guide and Sibley's Guide. |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting |
| Observer: | Carol Davis |
| Observer's address: | 4463 Summerwood St., Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Observer's e-mail address: | cldavis@xmission.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None. Mark Stackhouse observed the photos and stated it was a Red Phalarope. |
| Date prepared: | 10-13-05 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |