Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-75
| Common name: |
Black Scoter |
| Scientific name: | Melanitta americana |
| Date: | 10-30-2013 |
| Time: | 12:00pm |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | ? |
| Sex: | ?(non-adult male) |
| Location: | Antelope Island Causeway, at the "second" bridge by the marina |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4200ft |
| Distance to bird: | 50 meters at closest |
| Optical equipment: | 10 X 50 binoculars, Canon Sx20 is Digital Camera, Vortex Spotting Scope |
| Weather: | Partly cloudy, windy and cold 45F |
| Light Conditions: | good |
| Description: Size of bird: | Medium sized duck |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | duck like |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | dark brown body, white cheeks and blackish cap |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | duck like, dark olive brown |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Medium sized duck, dark brown body, whitish cheeks with a blackish cap with a dark
olive brown bill. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard |
| Behavior: | Swimming on the Great Salt Lake with a large raft of 18 Surf Scoters, mostly loafing. I don't recall it ever diving |
| Habitat: | When we first saw it the duck was south of the bridge on the brakish water of Farmington bay,later the whole raft of Scoters took flight and landed on the north side in the main salt water of The Great Salt Lake,some of the Surf Scoters lining up and starting to feed on the outflow of water under the bridge,but I never saw the Black Scoter feed. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Elimination: Only other similar duck is a male Ruddy Duck, which is much smaller and with a shortier stocky body than a Black Scoter |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen Black Scoters before in November and December of 2011, in the exact same location. I also saw another Black Scoter female/immature earlier the same day at Farmington Bay, different individual. |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds, D.A. Siblet 2000 |
| Description from: | From photos taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 688 East 700 South #105 Salt Lake City,UT 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Original found and reported by Paul Higgins on 10-28-13,myself and several other including Ned Bixler, Douglas Meade and Dixon Smith saw it on a Great salt Lake Audubon field trip. Many others have seen it as well |
| Date prepared: | 10-30-2013 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |