Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2025-39
| Common name: |
Ruddy Turnstone |
| Scientific name: | Arenaria interpres |
| Date: | 5/14/2025 |
| Time: | 7:40 am |
| Length of time observed: | 15 min |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | utah lake state park north levee |
| County: | utah |
| Latilong: | 40.2408818, -111.7453025 |
| Elevation: | 4488 |
| Distance to bird: | 10 meters |
| Optical equipment: | vortex 22x scope and swarvaski 8x24 binos |
| Weather: | clear |
| Light Conditions: | daylight |
| Description: Size of bird: | larger than sanderling and smaller than gull |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | compact short neck |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | black and brown upper and white lower bright orange legs . black bib |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | straight 60% as long as head black |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Striking compact bird flying from rock to rock. Back and upper wings
with variegated brown and black texture. The brown having orange hues in
direct sunlight. Black bilobed bib. The face is white with black lines
on cheeks Breast below bib and underparts snowy white. Bright orange
legs (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | moving from rock to rock |
| Habitat: | rock lake dike |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Black turnstone does have the brown coloration tattler has longer bill and different face pattern kill deer has double breast band no bilobed bib |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
27 sighting included 35 at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hawaii. But seldom this striking |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Von and Karen Welch |
| Observer's address: | 11045 north 5550 west |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | quite a few with lists on ebird |
| Date prepared: | 7/19/25 |
| Additional material: | Photos eBird checklist |
| Additional comments: |