Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2023-75
| Common name: |
Ruff |
| Scientific name: | Calidris pugnax |
| Date: | 30/09/2023 |
| Time: | 10am |
| Length of time observed: | 15mn |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | Farmington Bat WMA |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | 40.961651,-111.915806 |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 50m |
| Optical equipment: | Scope Swarowski AT Diam 80 with wide angle 25x50 zoom |
| Weather: | Windy, high clouds |
| Light Conditions: | Luminous, clear |
| Description: Size of bird: | A bit larger than lesser yellowlegs |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Wader |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | white morph |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | long |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Readily identified by white overall colour, breast spotting, scaly
upperparts, rather short bill and orange legs. Only surprised by the
wholly-black bill, normally bill base is orenge. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None |
| Behavior: | Hiding in high "grass", together with greater and lesser yellowlegs |
| Habitat: | Shallow waters |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Elimination: no similar wader in this plumage |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
seen many times in Europe in all plumages |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Guillaume Passavy |
| Observer's address: | France |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 06/11/2023 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | I have photos that I would be glad to share to support the bird ID |