Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Neotropic Cormorant
Scientific name:	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Date:	April 18, 2012
Time:	3:30 P.M.
Length of time observed:	30 minutes
Number:	4
Age:	Non breeding adults
Sex:	?
Location:	Mill Race Pond. 53rd South, Taylorsville, Ut. (just west of Jordan River)
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:
Elevation:	4300 ft
Distance to bird:	150 yds
Optical equipment:	Nikon D7000; lens-Nikon 300mm AFS f4, 1.4 teleconverter
Weather:	cloudy, intermittent rain
Light Conditions:	cloudy to the point that shadows were non existant, unless subject moved
Description: Size of bird:	1/3 smaller than DCCO
(Description:) Basic Shape:	cormorant shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	brown-black. 1st summer; adult
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Adult birds, yet to acquire full breeding plumage. Brown-black in color, not yet in full breeding plumage. Distinctive facial features: specifically a dull yellow gular pouch which came to a sharp V shape behind the bill. 3 of the birds sighted were photographed; the 4th flew before a photo was possible. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	Resting on man-made float near the middle of pond.
Habitat:	Urban fishery,stocked with catchable game fish.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Double crested cormorant. DCCO has a "U" shaped gular pouch where the bill joins the head,with extensive yellow SKIN extending into the lores. The DCCO features are in direct contrast to the NECOs dull yellow gular pouch which came to a sharp "V" shape behind the bill.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	4 years of photo-documentation of Committee verified NECOs in Northern Utah, beginning April 29, 2009
References consulted:	personal experience
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Richard B. Young
Observer's address:	Salt Lake City, Utah
Observer's e-mail address:	richbyoung@isp.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	none
Date prepared:	April 20, 2012
Additional material:	Photos
Additional_Comments:	This sighting represents (to my knowledge) the largest number of NECOs sighted at one time this year in Utah. 3 of the birds sighted were photographed; the 4th flew before a photo was possible.