Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red Phalarope
Scientific name:	Phalaropus fulicarius
Date:	8/12/2022
Time:	10:45am
Length of time observed:	30 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:	Female based on size? (it was nearly as big as a Wilson's and female Phalarope are larger)
Location:	Antelope Island Causeway 2nd bridge
County:	Davis
Latilong:	41.067440, -112.230961
Elevation:	4200ft
Distance to bird:	150 to 200m
Optical equipment:	Kowa 88mm Spotting Scope
Weather:	Mostly cloudy, 75F, calm
Light Conditions:	Good
Description: Size of bird:	medium sized shorebird
(Description:) Basic Shape:	plump
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Messy pink, gray and white
(Description:) Bill Type:	long and straight
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	While conducting our survey route on the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey of Great Salt Lake, I was counting Red-necked and Wilson's Phalarope from the bridge on the north side, when I spotted an odd Phalarope that looked different from the thousands of Phalarope I had seen that day. It had a smooth pale gray back and a unique pink color on the neck that stood out, The pink was mostly on the neck but also in messy patches on the breast, flanks and rump. I also noted the basal 1/8th of the bill was yellow on both the upper and lower mandible and the legs were yellowish. It was intermediate in size between a Red-necked and Wilson's Phalarope, notably bigger than the Red-necked and almost as big as a Wilson's. Compared to both it was chunkier and shorter necked. Best match was a molting adult Red. After I got home and searched the Macaulay Library, I found several examples of a Red in a similar stage of molt, such as https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/471857031 (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard
Behavior:	Wading and swimming while foraging in shallow salt water and stromatolite islands, also preening
Habitat:	Salt water of Great Salt Lake
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Direct comparison with both Red-necked and Wilson's Phalarope. Red-necked: Smaller and slimmer with longer neck and longer, thinner all black bills, more streaking on back and dark legs. Most were in basic or juvenile plumage, but a few were molting or in mostly alternate plumage, but none had the messy pink pattern seen on this bird Wilson's: Larger and slimmer with much longer neck in proportion and long thin black bill, longer legs and a weaker line behind the eye. Most were in basic or juvenile plumage, a few males still in partial alternate plumage, but none had the messy pink pattern seen on this bird
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Yes, many both in Utah and on the ocean. Many hundreds of thousands of Red-necked and Wilson's Phalarope
References consulted:	Memory, Macaulay Library
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:	Barb Eastman and Megan Halaburda were with me
Date prepared:	8/12/22
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S116804230