Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Blackpoll Warbler
Scientific name:	Setophaga striata
Date:	9/30/2018
Time:	~14:30
Length of time observed:	~30 seconds
Number:	1
Age:	Adult/non-breeding plumage
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Bountiful Pond
County:	Davis
Latilong:	40.905451, -111.928216
Elevation:	~4,200
Distance to bird:	20-30 ft.
Optical equipment:	Vortex Diamondback 10x42
Weather:	78 Degrees F, strong south wind initially, cloudy. Wind switched to west near end of walk and dropped from about a steady 15 mph to about 5 mph.
Light Conditions:	Good for sighting, although photos difficult with bright gray background.
Description: Size of bird:	~5+ inches
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Warbler
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Drab yellow-olive, gray, buffy
(Description:) Bill Type:	Typical warbler
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	My dad and I actually went to Bountiful Pond to find the GCFL, as he wanted to add the species to his Utah list. We were aware of the reported BPWA sighting earlier in the day by Cory and Jessica Stokes, although that was not the focus of our visit and we had recently had a BPWA sighting a few weeks earlier. The first half of the visit was very windy, making it difficult to look at anything except for a few WIWA, RCKI and a couple of Empids/sparrows that were staying low in thick brush along the canal on the west side of Bountiful Pond. We ran into Vivian Schneggenburger just about when the wind started to die down and change direction. With the change in wind, the warbler activity increased substantially, and the three of us had a nice mixed flock of mostly YRWA with a few OCWA, WIWA, RCKI, and two TOWA that were actively feeding in the line of Russian Olives, Willow and other trees along the canal and pond. We spent a good 35-45 minutes pretty much stationary, listening to and watching the different species in the flock, noticing the variability in the coloration in the OCWA individuals that were present, and trying to get a photo of a particularly bright TOWA. While we were looking at the TOWA, I noticed a bird at the same height and distance about 10 ft. left of the TOWA at the top of a 15 ft. tall Russian Olive. I could see the bird well without binos, and immediately noticed that it had a shorter-tailed, bulkier appearance than many of the species we were spending our time with. It also was not flitting around very much at all(it stayed in the same 1 ft. area of branches the entire time we watched it), and along with the overall drab coloration I knew it was something different. Once I got the bird in the binos I saw the overall drab yellowish color of the head, breast, and down into the belly, white undertail coverts and wing bars, noticeable eye-line with faint broken eye-ring, and dull/faint streaking on the flanks. At that point I knew we had stumbled across the BPWA, and pointed it out to my dad and Vivian to get looks and pictures while it was out in the open. Once they aware of the bird and its location I got back on the bird and watched it for another 15 seconds or so before it flew to the north along with the TOWA and a few YRWA. Other notes: I got a good look at its feet which were noticeably orange (although the legs appeared mostly dark, see photos). I also noted some dark/black patches on the neck and breast, which initially I thought were missing feathers due to molt. After looking at photos of the bird, these could possibly be dark feathers that could help sex the individual, although I do not want to speculate because females tend to have dark feathers in the same areas in some examples of individuals with that are heavily marked. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Non-vocal during our encounter.
Behavior:	Foraging, but with much slower/methodical movements than nearby YRWA, OCWA and WIWA, occupying similar part of canopy as nearby TOWA.
Habitat:	Riparian/mixed vegetation, seen at the top of 15 ft. Russian Olive.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	BBWA - I am well aware of the "Baypoll" complex from living in the upper midwest, and took this into account during my ID in the field. BBWA have less streaking and are brighter yellow overall, usually have yellow around the vent into the undertail coverts, often show faint chestnut in flanks. They also have black legs and feet. PIWA - Very little to no streaking, usually shows a much brighter/different shade of yellow or just a dull gray. Black legs and feet.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have seen only one other BLPW, a few weeks ago this fall at Garr Ranch during a class field trip with Bryant Olsen and Tracy Aviary. After seeing that individual we talked about the ID quite a bit, so the process was still very fresh in my mind. As for other similar species, I have extensive experience with Eastern/Boreal warbler species during spring/fall migration and breeding. I recently moved back to Utah after four years in Wisconsin, where I have seen numerous BBWA and PIWA. I saw Pine warblers on almost a daily basis as we had breeding pairs where I lived. Although I had not seen BPWA before this year, every fall I went through this process dozens of times with Bay-breasted often hoping to get a Blackpoll during fall migration.
References consulted:	Memory, Photos, The Warbler Guide, Bryant Olsen
Description from:	From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Max Malmquist
Observer's address:	1957 East Longview Drive
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Jessica and Cory Stokes (Initial Discovery-thanks guys!), Mike Malmquist and Vivian Schneggenburger (with me during sighting), several other individuals over the next few days.
Date prepared:	10/5/18
Additional material:	Photos, eBird list: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48850836
Additional comments:	See Ebird list for photos.