Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Western Gull
Scientific name:	Larus occidentalis
Date:	01/11/2020
Time:	10:00 am
Length of time observed:	5 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	1st winter
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Lee Kay Ponds
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	60 ft
Optical equipment:	Vortex 10 x 50
Weather:	Cloudy, light wind
Light Conditions:	Fair, no sun, but overall decent and consistent lighing
Description: Size of bird:	Large gull
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Round head, pronounced neck, stocky body
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Grey-brown overall with pink legs, black bill, dark wingtips and tail, white rump.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Large and rounded at the tip, all black
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Standing near CAGU & ICGU for comparison, very large gull with pink legs, overall light grey-brown with some mottling; bill was large, black and had a rounded tip. In flight it had a noticeable white rump.
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	Mostly standing, then took flight.
Habitat:	Flooded field near landfill
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Larger than most other gull species. Darker overall with dark wingtips eliminated GLGU & GWGU. Large rounded, black bill and white rump key distinctions from HERG. It also appeared lighter than other juvenile Herring Gulls that were present.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Seen similar bird in same area 2-3 years ago. Also seen in California.
References consulted:	Various online and written books on gull ID.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Ian Batterman
Observer's address:	8538 S. Harvard Park Dr
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	1/12/2020
Additional material:
Additional comments: