Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Arctic Loon
Scientific name:	Gavia arctica
Date:	11-17-2016
Time:	3:30pm
Length of time observed:	1 hour
Number:	1
Age:	?
Sex:	?
Location:	Hyrum Reservoir.
County:	Cache
Latilong:
Elevation:	4,700ft
Distance to bird:	At closest approach, less than 30m
Optical equipment:	Bushnell 20-48X spotting scope, Vortex 8.5 X 32 Binoculars
Weather:	Mostly sunny, calm, cool-45F
Light Conditions:	Good
Description: Size of bird:	Medium sized loon-26in
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Typical loon
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	mostyly grayish above, high contrast white throat, white flanks
(Description:) Bill Type:	Typical Loon
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I saw this loon well on both 11-17-16 and 11-19-16. The only other Loon I saw it in direct comparison with was a Red-throated, on 11-19-16, which is seemed notably larger than with a much larger bill. Common and Pacific Loons were present on the same reservoir at the time, but never close to this loon. Very similar to a Pacific, which some are saying it could be, gray on the back, high contrast white throat. This loon had a notable white line above the waterline on the flanks visible when loafing, that seemed to flare up into a wedge shape toward the rump. However this white was usually not visible when the bird was actively foraging. It also had a fairly large bill that was often held slightly upward, and a blocky head shape with a rather steep forehead, although its head shape varied depend on activity, seem most blocky when foraging. Also had a lot of white in the cheek, and lacked the dark necklace that Pacific often has. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:
Habitat:
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Red-throated Loon-smaller, different head and bill shape, usually lower in the water. Direct comparison. Yellow-billed Loon-much larger, larger paler bill Common Loon-larger, longer,thicker bill, which collar on neck creating jagged neck line Pacific-very similar, but reported to be smaller, smaller billed, more rounded head shape,usually have dark necklace, less white on cheek, and lack white on flanks. The 2 Pacific I saw on this reservoir on 11-19-16 had no white visible on the flanks and generally seemed smaller bodied and smaller billed
Previous experience with this & similar species:	None with Arctic, many with Pacific, Common and some with Red-throated, all of which were present for comparison
References consulted:	Macaulay Library, Birds of North America online, 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:	Initially found by Kendall Watkins on Nov. 1st, later reported by Zachary Loman on Nov. 14, many more after that
Date prepared:	11-22-16
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	There has been some debate on the identity of this bird. As I have no previous experience with Arctic, I though it best that someone submit a record to the UBRC so its ID could be settled. Seems no one else will submit the record, so I guess I will despite it not being "my bird".