Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2022-39
| Common name: |
Long-tailed Jaeger |
| Scientific name: | Stercorarius longicaudus |
| Date: | 8/28/2022 |
| Time: | 8:45am |
| Length of time observed: | 2 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | juvenile intermediate morph |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Lee Creek Delta into Great Salt Lake |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40.796055, -112.156992 |
| Elevation: | 4200ft |
| Distance to bird: | 80m at closest |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars |
| Weather: | Sunny, clear and calm, 70F |
| Light Conditions: | Excellent |
| Description: Size of bird: | largish( flying so no frame of referance) |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | gull like |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | dark brown |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | gull like |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
As we were sorting through shorebirds along the shoreline, Matt spotted
a Jaeger flying toward us and yelled "hey, here comes something
different". I looked up from my scope to see a largish dark brown gull
like bird coming directly at us about 50m up and 300m to the west, it
then passed directly south of us less than 100m, fully illuminated by
the morning sun, then continued heading SE out of sight. My general
impression was of a Long-tailed Jaeger due to the long narrow pointed
wings, long tail with longish tail plumes, small head and bill, and
buoyant flight. Color overall a cold gray brown with a paler belly,
darker collar and extensive white barring on undertail coverts and under
wings. I took as many photos as I could, but didn't get the camera on it
until it was past us. However, the 1 photo I have of the upper side of
the wing shows white shafts only on P8 and P9, which is consistent with
Long-tailed (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard |
| Behavior: | Flying off Great Salt Lake, then flew almost directly over us, then headed southeast out of sight |
| Habitat: | Shoreline of Great Salt Lake |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Pomarine Jaeger juvenile-Larger and bulkier
with pot belly, broad wings and short tail, "double flash" in underwings,
stout bill with large hooked tip. Typically shows at least 5 white
primary shafts on upper wing making a white crescent at the base of the
primaries that was lacking on this Jaeger Parasitic juvenile-usually much warmer rusty brown lacking white edging on undertail and underwing. Also have broader based wings with more rounded tips and a shorter tail. Generally bulkier and a more direct less buoyant flight. Typically show at least 4 white primary shafts on upper wing making a white crescent at the base of the primaries that was lacking on this Jaeger |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, 4th in Utah, all juveniles. Many in Alaska juvenile and adult. I've also seen many Pomarine and Parasitic juveniles and adult as well |
| References consulted: | Macaulay Library, memory |
| Description from: |
From memory 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: |
David Wheeler, Matthew Pendleton and Lauri Taylor were with me and also saw the
bird |
| Date prepared: | 8/31/22 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S117776154 |