Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2015-28
| Common name: |
Red Phalarope |
| Scientific name: | Phalaropus fulicarius |
| Date: | 09-16-2015 |
| Time: | 12:00pm |
| Length of time observed: | 5 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult,non-breeding plumage |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Antelope Island Causeway, Great Salt Lake |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4200ft |
| Distance to bird: | 15m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x50 Binoculars, Canon SX50 hs Digital Camer |
| Weather: | Overcast, raining, 60F |
| Light Conditions: | moderate |
| Description: Size of bird: | Small shorebird, 8in |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | typical Phalarope |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | grayish back, white under parts, black mask |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Short and thin |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
what caught me eye in the field was a Phalarope that appeared paler and slightly
bigger than the others it was mixed with. The photos are clear in showing this
Phalarope is larger, with a thicker neck and chubbier build, it has a shorter
stouter bill, rides higher on the water, and has a very clean and pale mantle
with very little streaking. If view at maximum extent, the photo also shows a
tiny yellow patch at the base of the lower mandible (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none heard |
| Behavior: | feeding in the out flow of farmington bay into the great salt lake with many Red-necked Phalarope, pecking at Invertebrates on the surface of the water |
| Habitat: | Out flow of brakish water of farminton bay into the salt water of the Great Salt Lake |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Wilson's Phalarope are larger and lack the black eye line, and also have a very
long thin bill Red-necked Phalarope in non-breeding plumage are very similar, but slightly smaller, have a longer,thinner bill with no yellow, and much black and white streaking on the back |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, saw one 2 weeks earlier a short distance away, and one in 2014 |
| References consulted: | 'shorebirds of North America' D. Paulson 2005. 'The Sibley Guide to Birds' D.A. Sibley 2014 |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 688 East 700 South #105, SLC, UT 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
| Date prepared: | 10-14-15 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | eBird checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25059795 |