Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-76
| Common name: |
Black Scoter |
| Scientific name: | Melanitta americana |
| Date: | 10-30-2013 |
| Time: | 9:00am |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | ? |
| Sex: | ?(non-adult male) |
| Location: | Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management area,unit #1 |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4200ft |
| Distance to bird: | 60 meters |
| Optical equipment: | 10X50 binoculars,Canon powershot SX20 IS digital camera, Alpen 20-60X Spotting Scope |
| Weather: | Overcast, cold 40F |
| Light Conditions: | Moderate |
| 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 in fresh water. At fist it was by itself, then it swam with some Pintail for a bit, then joined a group of Horned and Eared Grebes and started diving with them. |
| Habitat: | Large fresh water pond in a large wetland complex on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Only other similar duck is a male Ruddy Duck, which is much smaller and with a shorter stockier body than a Black Scoter. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen female/immature Black Scoters before in Novermber and December of 2011 on the Antelope Island Causeway |
| 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 Shyloh Robinson on 10-29-13, also seen by Dave Hanscom on that day. Myself and several others including Ned Bixler,Douglas Meade,Deedee O'Brian and Dixon Smith saw it on a Great salt Lake Audubon field trip. Several others have seen it as well |
| Date prepared: | 10-30-13 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |