Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Ruff
Scientific name:	Philomachus pugnax
Date:	9/3/2021
Time:	18:45
Length of time observed:	30 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult (I think)
Sex:	Female (I think)
Location:	West shore of Utah Lake, about half a mile south of the Saratoga Springs community marina.
County:	Utah
Latilong:	40.343819, -111.908206
Elevation:	4500ft
Distance to bird:	About 250 meters
Optical equipment:	Nikon Monarch 5 binoculars, old model Vortex scope
Weather:	Clear but hazy due to smoke. No significant wind.
Light Conditions:	Sun setting behind us as we looked east, providing clear illumination of the bird.
Description: Size of bird:	Slightly larger than surrounding killdeer, half the size of nearby Franklin's gulls
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Plump sandpiper, stockier and shorter legged than Tringa species.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Warm brown above, buffy below, with white U-shaped rump patch and yellow-orange legs.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Relatively short and slightly decurved
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	A bit larger than the surrounding killdeer, with a relatively short decurved bill. Yellow orange legs. Strong pale supercilium. Pale buffy breast with no visible pattern distinction from the belly. White rump visible between wingtips while foraging. Wings slightly longer than tail tip at rest. Briefly took flight, showing pale underwings and white U marking on the rump. Fine details of plumage such as tertial patterning not visible due to distance. Picking actively along the shoreline in shallow water. Not closely associating with other birds. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	Foraging along the shoreline in shallow water, picking actively as it walked. Briefly startled into flight by a Franklin's gull, then settled back into foraging slightly to the south of original location.
Habitat:	Mudflat along the west side of Utah lake, with reed stumps and mud along the water's edge.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Clearly apparent yellow orange legs eliminated many similar species. Appeared stubbier and chunkier than the expected Tringa species, with proportionally shorter legs, neck, and bill. Bill was slightly decurved rather than upturned or straight as seen on yellowlegs and solitary sandpiper. Much taller and larger than least sandpiper or spotted sandpiper in comparison to killdeer foraging alongside it. No clearly defined border between a darker breast and paler belly as on pectoral sandpiper. Pectoral sandpiper also eliminated by the white U-shaped rump patch observed while the individual took flight. Bill too long and heavy for buff-breasted sandpiper, and too short for stilt sandpiper (about the same length as the head).
Previous experience with this & similar species:	No previous experience with Ruff. Solid observation experience with all expected sandpiper sp. in the area, including pectoral, stilt, solitary, least, spotted, both yellowlegs.
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to Birds 2nd edition, Merlin
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Sam Phillips
Observer's address:	96 N 240 W American Fork, UT 84003
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Keeli Marvel
Date prepared:	9/16/2021
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Photos are poor due to the distance. Taken via digiscoping.