Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2020-48
| Common name: |
Red Phalarope |
| Scientific name: | Phalaropus fulicarius |
| Date: | 9-22-2020 |
| Time: | 8:15am |
| Length of time observed: | 45 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | ? |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | South shoreline of Great Salt Lake near Saltair |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40.775398, -112.184462 |
| Elevation: | 4200ft |
| Distance to bird: | Less than 10m at closest |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars |
| Weather: | Partly cloudy, 70F |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| 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 was walking the shore of the lake, I heard a buzzy call and noticed a flock
of peeps flying around, they circled than landed on the shoreline 30m away next
to a Black-bellied Plover. They were mostly Baird's, but one was much paler and
clearly a Phalarope. I zoomed in with my camera all the way and snapped some
photos of it, and it had a pinkish base to the lower mandible, a shortish stout
bill, pink legs and feet and a mostly gray back, making it a Red Phalarope. I
watched it for several minutes, then all the peeps got up and flew around, but
re-landed nearby and after some searching and scanning I was able to relocate
the Red Phalarope and get even closer for great looks and photos (Photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard |
| Behavior: | Feeding and preening by walking/wading on mudflats and shoreline |
| Habitat: | Shoreline 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 gray 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: | Kendall Watkins and Lauri Taylor reported it later that day |
| Date prepared: | 9-22-2020 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S73928634 |