Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Little Gull
Scientific name:	Hydrocoloeus minutus
Date:	11/10/24
Time:	4:00pm
Length of time observed:	1.5 Hours
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:
Location:	Antelope Island Causeway
County:	davis
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	100-300 yards
Optical equipment:	leupold sx-4, nikon d500 with 500 mm lens, vortex diamondbacks.
Weather:	overcast, calm, 55 degrees?
Light Conditions:	perfect. no heat waves, sun at our backs.
Description: Size of bird:	roughly the same or smaller than a BOGU visually
(Description:) Basic Shape:	dark headed gull shape, closer to Franklins than Bonepartes.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	white body, dark underwings, dusky head
(Description:) Bill Type:	small slender
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	while scoping through BOGU looking for LIGU, I spotted the winning characteristic; dark underwings. before even being totally sure of my ID, I began yelling "camera camera camera camera camera!!!" at Esther (sorry Esther). Esther being the incredible bird photographer that she is, was able to find it right away in viewfinder despite my horrible nervous directions on where to look. with the relief of having photos of the bird, we were able to enjoy watching it for the rest of daylight. fantastic little bird. While certainly being little as the name suggests, at that distance it doesn't really appear any smaller than the BOGU's, especially because of the wider wing. I kept remarking while we watched it that it really appears like a BNST in flight style and because of the dark underwing. Whenever I would lose the bird, I would simply look for the 'BNST' with the BOGU's. it had a clean gray overwing, with a white trailing edge, and white wing tips. really sporadic wing flaps, and a bat like mannerism. Two days later I was able to watch it again for a long while, where I was able to appreciate more the size difference (it being on the ground next to BOGU's this time), and its messier head. it had an ear spot similar to a BOGU, but much more dark feathering on the back of its head and crown. shorter legs, a tiny little bill, and slightly more blunted, white wing tips were more visible while perched. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	not heard
Behavior:	sporadic flight while foraging over the water. typical gull behavior on the mudflats where it would dance in the mud to kick up bugs.
Habitat:	causeway shallows and mudflats
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	BOGU; Too small, dark underwings, dusky messy head color, smaller legs and bill, no white trailing edge, and white wingtips were all good features noted to rule out BOGU.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	no previous experience with LIGU. thousands of BOGU gleaned through this season alone.
References consulted:
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	McKay Olson
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Esther Sumner, Taylor Ghallegher.
Date prepared:	11/13/25
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	https://ebird.org/checklist/S283950060