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UBRC Report |
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Utah Birds Records Committee
– Report for 2015
Voting Members: Kathy Beyer, Rick Fridell, Kenny Frisch, Dennis Shirley, Jack Skalicky, Steve Sommerfeld, Mark Stackhouse, Larry Tripp, David Wheeler; Non-voting Members: Craig Fosdick (Secretary), Milt Moody (Webmaster), Eric Huish (Archivist), Cody Neuman (eBird Liaison)
This annual report of the Utah Bird Records Committee summarizes 54 records of 33 species submitted in 2016. The Committee accepted 44 of these records (81.5%) . The primary reason for records not being accepted by the Committee during the period covered by this report was insufficient evidence to eliminate similar species. Other reasons included the possibility of being an escapee, misidentification and the possibility of the bird being a hybrid.
Besides the Voting
Members listed above, the following committee members participated in the review
of the records for 2015: Kevin Wheeler. The
webmaster, Milt Moody, compiled this report, obtaining information from the
website and the "Summary Pages" of the records themselves. This year, one new species were added to the checklist of Utah birds. At Lee Kay Ponds, in Salt Lake County a Laughing Gull was reported by Matt Pendleton on January 14th 2015. For four day this bird was observed and photographed by numerous reliable birders and two sight records, plus numerous photos, were submitted to substantiate the sighting. This increased the number of Utah species to 457.
All species evaluated by
the Committee are listed by common and scientific name using the nomenclature
and taxonomic order of the 7th American Ornithological Society Check-list of
North American Birds, 54th supplement, followed by the number of
the records accepted for this species in the last
ten years followed by the total number of official sightings for Utah (in
parenthesis).
The following information is included with each record in the species section: record number, occurrence date, sighting location, observer(s)
who submitted written documentation of the record, and the number of birds
observed along with age and sex if known and a link to any photos submitted with
the record (all in parenthesis), and the final-round vote of the committee, with
the first number being the “accept” votes and the second number being the
“not-accept” votes. A summary/explanation of the sight record review will follow
the "final round" numbers for those records that were not unanimously accepted
in the first round and will be enclosed in parenthesis. Any comments about
the species, as a group, will be, in italics, in the final paragraph of each
species section. There are hyperlinks for each species to the list of vetted sightings in Utah, and
to the actual sight records along with any photos for
that record. The Utah Bird Records Committee would like to thank those individuals who submitted documentation for these rare sightings as well as those who sent in additional material and information about these birds. The submission of photographs and recordings of songs or calls, along with the written documentation is strongly encouraged by the Committee. They help greatly to establish the validity of these sightings.
SPECIES ACCOUNTS:
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana (12 / 22) 2015-38 7 Nov 2015 - East Canyon Reservoir, Morgan Co., by Bryant Olsen, (one, photos) 1st round: 9-0
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) (10/18) 2015-33 24 Oct 2015 - Rockpost Reservoir, Summit Co., by Michael Lester (juvenile, photos) 1st round: 9-0
Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) (10/18) 2015-52 26 Dec 2015 - East Canyon Reservoir, Morgan Co., by Weston Smith, Mike Hearell, (juv, photos) 2nd round: 8-0
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) (16 / 25) 2015-13 9 Apr 2015- East Canyon Reservoir, Morgan Co., by Weston Smith (one, photos) 1st round: 8-0 2015-41 23 Nov 2015 - Provo Airport dike, Utah Co., by Suzi Holt, (1st winter, photos) 1st round: 9-0
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) (3 / 8)
2015-05 5 Jan 2015 - Quail Creek State Park, Washington Co., by Rick Fridell (adult, photos) 1st round: 8-1 abs
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) (3 / 11) 2015-08 9 Sep 2014 - Santa Clara River Co., by Rick Fridell; Christian & Molly Edwards (one, photos)1st round: 8-1 abs
Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) (9 / 18) 2015-22 7 Jul 2015 - Park City, Summit Co., by Paul Budde (adult) 2nd round: 1-8 -- (The date of the observation and the observer not eliminating Swainson's Hawk in the record cast doubt on this ID).
Gyrfalcon (Falco
rusticolus)
(9
/ 18) 2015-26 10 Oct 2015 - Murray, Salt Lake Co., by David Williams (one, photo) 1st round: 0-9 -- (This bird was considered to be an accipiter rather than a falcon).
Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) (4 /16) 2015-27 1 Sep 2015 - Antelope Island Marina, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen (non-breeding adult, photos) 3rd round: 1-6 -- (The concern about eliminating a Red-necked Phalarope as a possibility grow steadily stronger into the third round). 2015-28 16 Sep 2015 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen (non-breeding adult, photos) 1st round: 9-0
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) (5 / 7)
Sight Record #2015-03 14 Jan 2015 - Lee Kay Ponds, Salt Lake Co., by
Matt Pendelton, Ryan O'Donnell (1st winter,
photos) 1st round: 9-0 Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) (2 / 7) 2015-19 9 May 2015 - Matheson Wetland Preserve, Moab, Grand Co., by Marcia Hafner (adult) 3rd round: 6-3 -- (The review of this very rare bird in Utah, was given a stringent review and was accepted in the third round).
Magnificent Hummingbird
(Eugenes fulgens) (6
/ 20)
Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus
varius) (15
/ 18) 2015-30 28 Sep 2015 - Garr Ranch, Antelope Island, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen (juv. male, photos) 2nd round: 0-8 -- (With discussion after the first round, the consensus was that the molt timing and other characteristic indicated a possible hybrid with a Red-naped Sapsucker). 2015-32 20 Oct 2015 - Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Bryant Olsen (juvenile, photos) 2nd round: 9-0
Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) (7 / 14)
2015-01 2 Jan 2015 - Rockville, Washington Co., by Mike Schijf (one, photos) 1st round: 9-0 2015-29 28 Sep 2015 - Salt Lake International Center, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen (adult, photos) 2nd round: 7-2 -- (Some concerns about signs of hybridization persisted in the second round but most thought that these field marks were within the normal range of variation for this species).
Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) (2 / 2) 2015-25 5 Aug 2014 - Moose Pond, south of Manila, Daggett Co., by Diana Mixa (female) 2nd round: 2-7 -- (The concern about not sufficiently eliminating Williamson's Sapsucker as a possibility for a first state record was a deciding factor).
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) (13 / 20) 2015-17 19 May 2015 - Newton Reservoir, Cache Co., by Ryan O'Donnell (male, photos, audio) 1st round: 8-0 2015-31 20 Sep 2015 - Salt Lake International Center, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen (one, photos) 2nd round: 9-0 -- (A non-singing, fall Empidonax is a challenging ID, but the photos of this bird confirmed all of the main field marks for this species, resulting in a unanimous second round vote).
Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) (1 / 1) 2015-18 24 May 2015 - Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Kenny Frisch (one, photos, audio) 3rd round: 2-6-1 abs -- (This thorough report on a very difficult ID for a first official state record was met with a very thorough review, which illustrated the difficulties of tell the Cordilleran and Pacific-slope Flycatchers apart. A heroic attempt, all the way around). 2015-24 23 Aug 2015 - Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Kenny Frisch (one, singing) 3rd round: 3-5-1 abs -- ( This was a very good attempt at a very difficult ID, but there was too much doubt about separating this bird from the other "Western Flycatcher," by this audio recording).
Brown Thrasher
(Toxostoma rufum)
(1
/ 5) 2015-07 21 Dec 2014 - Brooks Park, St. George, Washington Co., by Rick Fridell (one, photos) 1st round: 8 acc 1 abst 2015-54 29 Dec 2015 - Jordan River - West Jordan, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen, (one, photos) 1st round: 9-0
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) (1 / 4) 2015-36 4 Nov 2015 - Bountiful Pond, Davis Co., by Nate Brown, Michael Lester (one, photos) 1st round: 9-0 2015-42 28 May 2001 - Negro Bill Trail, Moab, Grand Co., by Richard Trinkner, (adult) 1st round: 9-0
Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) (1 / 4)
2015-20 2 Jun 2015 - Utah Test and Training Range, Box Elder Co., by Jace Taylor
(2nd year male, photos) 1st
round: 8-0
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) (7 / 14) 2015-37 2 Nov 2015 - Icon Trail / Logan River, Cache Co., by Cullen Clark, Michael Lester (1st year, photos) 1st round: 9-0
Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) (0 / 2) 2015-16 20 May 2015 - Skipper Bay Trail, Provo, Utah Co., by Alton Thygerson (adult male) 2nd round: 1-7 -- (With no photos for this potential first state record, the standard is pretty high. The description of this bird left some doubt about other similar species).
Magnolia Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) (0 / 2) 2015-39 26 Oct 2015 - Virgin River Trail, St. George, Washington Co., by Shawn Langston, (one, photos) 1st round: 9-0
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (16 / 26) 2015-35 27 Oct 2015 - Bountiful Pond, Davis Co., by Michael San Miguel, Bryant Olsen (hatch year, photos) 1st round: 9-0 2015-49 3 Jan 2015 - Virgin River, Washington Co., by Rick Fridell, (imm./female type, photos) 1st round: 8-1 abs
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) (10 / 22) 2015-23 23 May 2015 - Capitol Reef, Wayne Co., by Scott Freeman (adult male) 1st round: 8-0 2015-45 5 Dec 2014 - Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Rick Fridell, (HY, female type, photos) 1st round: 8-1 abs
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) (6 / 21)
2015-44 3 Oct 2014 - Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Rick Fridell,
(1 female, photos) 1st round: 8-1
abs
Palm Warbler (Setophaga
palmarum)
(8
/ 19) 2015-34 25 Oct 2015 - Powell Lake, Lehi, Utah Co., by Sherree Sheide (adult, photos) 1st round: 9-0
Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis) (1 / 2) 2015-46 14 Aug 2014 - Lava Point, Zion NP, Washington Co., by Rick Fridell, (8 - 15, photos) 1st round: 8-1 abs 2015-47 3 Sep 2014 - Lava Point, Zion NP, Washington Co., by Rick Fridell, (2 imm./ female type, photos) 1st round: 8-1 abs 2015-48 5 Sep 2014 - Oak Grove Campground, Washington Co., by Rick Fridell, (4+ imm./fem. type, photos) 1st round: 8-1 abs
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) (2 / 5) 2015-21 18 Jun 2015 - Garr Ranch, Antelope Island, Davis Co., by George Pandoff (male, photo) 1st round: 8-0
2015-50
25 Oct 2015 - Utah State Highway 128, Grand Co., by Stephen Heinrich,
(male, photos) 1st round:
9-0
Baltimore Oriole ( Icterus galbula) (7
/ 12)
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte
australis) (6
/ 6)
Purple Finch
(Carpodacus
purpureus) (3
/ 3)
Common Redpoll (Acanathis
flammea) (29
/ 41) 2015-40 (same as Record 2015-43) 14 Nov 2015 - Jeremy Ranch Road, Morgan Co., by Neil Paprocki, (five, photo) 1st round: 9-0 2015-43 (same as Record 2015-40) 29 Nov 2015 - Jeremy Ranch Road, Morgan Co., by Weston Smith, (13 adults, photos) 1st round: 9-0 2015-53 27 Dec 2015 - Croydon, Morgan Co., by Weston Smith, (adult, photos) 1st round: 9-0
* The heading photo is of a Brown Pelican by Rick Fridell (Record 2015-05) |
