Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2020-20
| Common name: |
White-rumped Sandpiper |
| Scientific name: | Calidris fuscicollis |
| Date: | 06/03/2020 |
| Time: | |
| Length of time observed: | 30 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Lincoln Beach |
| County: | Utah county |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 8-15 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Binoculars, Scope, Camera |
| Weather: | Sunny |
| Light Conditions: | Bright |
| Description: Size of bird: | Larger than snowy plovers present |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Small Sandpiper, similair to Bairds sandpiper, long wings |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | rufous patterned back. |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | small slightly downturned |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Immediately noticed small sandpiper with gray legs. The chest was streaked, not
buffy with some streaking down the flanks. It had white supercilium with
brownish or rufous tone on the cheek and head. The lower mandible had an
orangish color at the base. The wingtips extended past the tail and could see on
occasion a white rump that extended across the width of the tail. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | A high pitched squeek, heard a couple of times and compared to call. |
| Behavior: | This bird was near the Utah Lake shoreline in a muddy area. He was actively feeding and preening himself on occasion. He seemed to be hanging out with snowy plover. |
| Habitat: | Shoreline, wet and muddy |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Looked first at Pectoral Sandpiper. I ruled this out immediately due to the gray legs. I looked closely at Bairds(which I have observed before), but I remember Bairds to be more buffy on the chest with little to no side streaking. The field marks listed above and after consulting Billy Fenimore confirmed White-rumped sandpiper. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Previous experience has been with Bairds sandpiper |
| References consulted: | Consulted Sibley Field guide and called my good friend Billy Fenimore. |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | James Hoffman |
| Observer's address: | 5806 W Discovery dr |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Terry Reid and many others now have seen and verified bird. |
| Date prepared: | 06/03/2020 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |