Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2019-33
| Common name: |
Red Phalarope |
| Scientific name: | Phalaropus fulicarius |
| Date: | 10-05-2019 |
| Time: | 18:45 |
| Length of time observed: | 30 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Beach of Great Salt Lake southwest of Lee Creek delta |
| County: | Salt Lake City |
| Latilong: | 40.7742792,-112.1864715 |
| Elevation: | 4200ft |
| Distance to bird: | 1m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 |
| Weather: | Sunny, mild-55F |
| Light Conditions: | excellent |
| Description: Size of bird: | 8.5 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Plump small shorebird |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Gray above, white below |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Stout and straight |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
As I approached the shore of the lake, I noticed a small plump white bellied
shorebird wading in a pool on the lake shore. In the bino's I thought maybe a
Snowy Plover or Sanderling, so I took a zoomed in photo to ID and saw the black
mask of a Red-necked or Red Phalarope. As I got closer it became apparent that
it was an adult Red Phalarope as it had a stout shortish bill with a pinkish
base, mostly smooth gray back without streaking, and pinkish legs and feet. It
was extremely tame and let me get less than 3 feet from it and just kept
feeding, the left wing was held dropped so it may have been injured. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard |
| Behavior: | Wading in a small pool of about 1 inch deep on the shore of Great Salt Lake. Extremely tame and allowed close approach and continued feeding. Possible injured, left wing dropped |
| Habitat: | Salt water pools of Great Salt Lake |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Red-necked Phalarope are very similar but have a longer thinner bill that comes to a needle like point and is all black. They also have some black,gray and white streaking in the mantle, are smaller and have blackish legs and feet. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, several |
| References consulted: | Memory |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
| Date prepared: | 10+05+2019 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60381693 |