Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Ruff
Scientific name:	Calidris pugnax
Date:	9/28/2006
Time:	2:45pm~
Length of time observed:	15 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Female
Location:	Farmington Bay WMA
County:	Davis
Latilong:	40.959118,-111.915702
Elevation:	4200ft~
Distance to bird:	50m
Optical equipment:	Kowa 20-60X 88mm Spotting Scope
Weather:	Overcast, calm, little showers, 58F
Light Conditions:	Good-flat light
Description: Size of bird:	Medium sized shorebird
(Description:) Basic Shape:	erect with long legs
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	gray above, whitish below
(Description:) Bill Type:	Shorebird
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I was scanning the shorebirds in the Farmington Bay entrance ponds looking for the Stilt Sandpipers among the Yellowlegs that have been there for a few weeks now, when I spotted a female Ruff (Revee). First noticed bright orange legs, which were barely visible since it was feeding in deep water, then saw the short, stout black bill and scaly gray back with floppy tertials, and the white at the bill base on the face. It was feeding by deep probing with a Lesser Yellowlegs, which it was slightly smaller than, and a Wilson's Phalarope, which was slightly smaller than the Ruff. We set up scopes and watched it, then it walked over to some Avocets and started preening, next to Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitchers, Pectoral and 2 Stilt Sandpipers, giving great size/structural comparisons to all, a menagerie of gray yellow legged shorebirds. On the way out, saw Max was scoping it, looked again briefly, orange legs popped immediately even in binos. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Silent
Behavior:	Feeding with yellowlegs and a Wilson's Phalarope in shallow water, then went to mud spit and preened.
Habitat:	Shallow freshwater pond with shallow muddy banks and spits in a freshwater to brackish marsh complex
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Yellowlegs-Longer thinner bills, solid gray back with tiny spots, yellow not orange legs. Direct comparison Stilt Sandpiper- longer decurved bill, dull yellow legs, more hunched over posture, direct comparison Nothing else similar
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Yes, my 8th, 7th in Utah
References consulted:	Merlin app, for photos to show others
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting 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:	I was leading an Audubon field trip with 2 other participants (Jamie Meyer and Stephen Carlile). Later Max Malmquist was looking at it in his scope on our way out. Seen by others earlier and later according to eBird.
Date prepared:	9/28/26
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S397323965