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UBRC Report- 2024
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Utah Birds Records Committee – Report for 2024
Committee members Max Malmquist, Keeli Marvel, Bryant Olsen, Kristin Purdy,
Dennis Shirley, Mike Schijf, Mark Stackhouse, David Wheeler and Kevin Wheeler.
Non-voting members Milt Moody (outgoing Secretary/ Webmaster), Jack Skalicky
(Secretary), Eric Huish (Archivist), Colby Neuman (eBird Liaison), and Jeff
Cooper (new member for 2025). This 2024 report was compiled by Milt Moody and
proofread and revised by Milt Moody, Vernon White (Assistant Webmaster), and Jack Skalicky, who also added the
special write-ups on several species of particular interest. The report summarizes 95
records, representing 59 different species, submitted in 2024. The Committee
accepted 76 out of 95 (80.0%) of these records. Three new
species were added to the
Utah bird total this year: A
Sprague's Pipit (record
2024-15)
was in seen on April 19th in the
Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve in Salt Lake County., by
Quinn Diaz and was accepted without physical evidence by the Committee,
so will be put on the "Provisional List" until a second record is accepted..
On the 10th of August, a Black-headed Gull (record
2024-54)
was reported by
Toni McQuivey Taylor, at Sand Hollow Reservoir, in Washington County
and on the 28th of August a Crested Caracara was reported by
Tory Mathis at the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, in Uintah County.
The two new birds with physical evidence will be put on the Main Checklist along
with the
Field Sparrow which added physical evidence to the sighted
in 1999 (1999-01A),
taking that species off the Provisional List, and putting it on our
Official Checklist
which now has 465 species on it. With the seven "Provisional Species" on
the
Auxiliary
List, the total of species accepted by the Committee and listed on our
Taxonomic List is at 472. The Utah Bird Records Committee would like to thank those who submitted the documentation for their sightings of these rare birds.
SPECIES ACCOUNTS:
All species evaluated by
the Committee are listed by common and scientific name using the nomenclature
and taxonomic order of the American Ornithological Society Checklist of North
American Birds, 7th Edition, 65th supplement., followed (in parentheses) by the number of Utah
records accepted for this species in the last ten years and the total all-time number of official sightings for Utah.
Mexican Duck (Anas diazi) (14 / 14)
2024-10 -
29 Jan 2024 - Powell Lake, Lehi, Utah Co., by Jeff Cooper, (adult
male, Photos) 1st
round: 8 acc American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) ( 0 / 12)
2024-03 -
7 Jan 2024 - Provo River going into the delta, Utah Co., by Colton Ferman, (male,
Photo) 1st
round: 0 acc, 9 not (There was not enough in this record to
eliminate similar species). Scaled Quail (Gallinula galeata) (1 /3)
2024-24 -
2 May 2024 - East of Bluff, San Juan Co., by Kurt Hillman,
(two) 2nd round: 9
acc Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) (1 / 1)
2024-22 -
4 Apr 20234-San Juan County, by Terry Reid, James Loveless, Jeff Cooper, (5
male,female Photos) 1st
round: 9 acc Vaux's Swift (Chaetura vauxi) (11 / 29) 2024-18 - 27 Apr 2024 - Tonaquint Park, St. George, Washington Co., by Paul Hicks, (one or two, flying): 2nd round: 0 acc, 9 not (Though this bird is most likely a Vaux's Swift, there is no evidence to eliminate a Chimney Swift as a possibility. This could be accepted as a Chaetura swift species).
2024-21 -
7 May 2024 - Willard Bay State Park, Box Elder Co., by Bryant Olsen,
(one) 1st round: 9 acc Rivoli's Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) (1 / 8)
2024-44 -
28 Jun 2024 - Upper Weber River Valley, Summirt Co., by Bryant Olsen (Female,
Photos) 1st
round: 8 acc Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) (1 / 12)
2024-32 -
29 May 2024 - Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington Co., by Paul Hicks,
(adult) 1st round: 6 acc, 3 not 2nd 7 acc, 1
not
Ruff
(Calidris pugnax)
(9
/ 14)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) (4 / 20)
2024-27 -
11 May 2024 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis County, by Felicia Alvarez (adult,
Photos): 1st
round: 9 ac
White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) (5 / 12)
2024-30 -
18 May 2024 - Pelican Lake, Uintah Co., (adult,
Photos) 1st
round: 9 acc Red Phalarope
(Phalaropus fulicarius)
(19
/ 32) Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius
pomarinus)
(3
/6) Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) (8 / 21)
2024-63 -
4 Sep 2024 - Lee Creek, Salt Lake Co., by
Connor Johnson, (juvenile, Photos) 1st
round: 9 acc
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) (3 / 3 )
2024-34 -
4 Jun 2024 - Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington Co., by Paul Hicks (one,
Photos by Toni
Taylor) 1st round: 9 acc Western Gull
(Larus occidentalis) (3
/ 15) Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) (3 / 18)
2024-29 -
19 May 2024 - 4000 West, Lake Shore, Utah Co., by Suzi Holt (one,
Photos, ,
Video) 1st round: 9 acc Red-throated Loon
(Gavia
Stellata)
(12
/25)
Yellow-billed Loon
(Gavia
adamsii)
(5
/13 ) Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) (2 / 11)
2024-19 -
3 May 2024 - Sand Hollow Reservoir,, Washington Co., by Paul Hicks,
(one calling) 2nd 1 acc,
8 not (The reviewers wanted some position evidence for this sighting
rather than that it couldn't be anything else. It was a close call). Tri-colored Heron (Egretta tricolor) (3 / 6)
2024-38 -
3 Jun 2024 - Jackson Flat Res., Kane Co., by Ann Swanson (one,
Photos &
Video by Louisa Evers)
2nd round: 8 acc, 1
not White-tailed Kite (Elanus Leucurus) (3 / 10) 2024-17 - 23 Apr 2024 - Antelope Island, Davis Co.,, (one, Photos) 1st round: 9 acc
Gray Hawk
(Buteo plagiatus)
(2
/ 3) 2024-93 - 30 Jan 2024 - Hurricane, Washington Co., by Mike Schijf (juvenile, Photos) 1st round: 9 acc
2024-53 -
6 Aug 2024 - Sandy, Salt Lake Co., by Jennifer Hartman (female
& juveniles, Photos)
2nd round: 0 acc, 9
not (The consensus was that his is most likely a Cooper's Hawk).
Zone-tailed Hawk
(Buteo albonotatus)
(23
/ 36)
2024-46 - 2 Jul 2024 - Strawberry Ridge, Utah Co., by Karen and Von Welch, KC Childs, Jeff Cooper, (one) 2nd round 2 acc, 7 not (Even though these were reliable birders, familiar with this species, the content of the sight record didn't sufficiently eliminate similar species).
2024-49 -
11 Jul 2024 - (Soapstone Basin) Forest Road 414, Wasatch Co., by Jeff
Cooper, Terry Reid, The Boreal Owl occupies boreal and subalpine forests in a circumboreal distribution from Scandinavia eastward across northern Siberia to Alaska, and across Canada and extreme northern portions of the United States to the Atlantic. Scattered populations extend southward into the subalpine forests of the Rocky Mountains, Blue Mountains, and the Cascade ranges ( Palmer and Ryder 1984, Hayward et al. 1987b, Whelton 1989). Southernmost records in mountains of nw. New Mexico (Stahlecker and Rawinski 1990).The first accepted record of Boreal Owl in Utah was 1997 "This bird was photographed on the Uintah National Forest and constitutes the first accepted record for Utah. Boreal Owls were found in Colorado and Idaho in the 1980s, so were suspected of occurring in Utah. The first Boreal Owl in Utah was reported in March, 1993 on the Ashley National Forest and there have been a few other undocumented sightings between 1993 and 1997, but none of the previous sightings were adequately documented [for acceptance]." Since 1993 there have been at least 35 Boreal Owl records and reports documenting this species in Utah; about 17 have been documented in the past five years alone (2020-24). County records include Wasatch Co (14), Summit Co (8), Utah Co (1), Duchesne Co (7), and Cache Co (3). During February to April, male Boreal Owl sing a series of 8–20 low, whistled toots that get progressively louder, singing until they find a mate or until the female starts nesting, at which point song frequency decreases to the point of near silence. In contrast, both males and females give a short "kip" or "kew" call year-round. ~ JS
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) ( 3 / 12)
2024-50 -
7 Jul 2024 - Monticello, San Juan Co., by Kai Overturf (6, juveniles
& adults, Photos,
Audio) 1st round: 9 acc
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) (24 / 36)
2024-20
-
14 Dec 2023 - Castle Valley, Grand Co., by Steve Heinrich, (one
immature, Photos) 2nd round 0 acc, 9 not
(Subtle signs of hybridization and a somewhat unclear line of how much
hybridization is acceptable, swung the 2nd round decision to "not accept",
in this very difficult sight record).
2024-67 -
28 Aug 2024 - Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, Uintah
Co., by Tory Mathis, (adult, Photos)
1st round: 9 acc
Gyrfalcon (Falco
rusticolus)
(5
/ 11) 2024-01 - 17 Dec 2023 - Rockport Reservoir, Summit Co., by Kenny Frisch, (juvenile female?, Photos) 2nd round:8 acc, 1 not Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher
(Tyrannus forficatus)
(7
/ 16) Brown Thrasher
(Toxostoma rufum) (13
/ 33))
Brambling
(Fringilla coelebs)
(1
/ 3)
2024-11 - 4 Mar 2024 - Croydon, Morgan Co.,, (adult male, Photos): 1st round: 9 acc
2024-13 -
23 Mar 2024 - Alta Town Office Feeders, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen, (one,
Photo) 1st
round: 9 acc White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) (7 / 7)
2024-42 -
24 Jun 2024 - Silver Lake, Big Cottonwood Cn., Salt Lake Co., by Ian
Batterman, (Two, male & unknown) 2nd round: 9 acc
2024-56 -
16 Aug 2024 - Mirror Lake Campground, Duchesne Co., by KC Childs, (three,
Photos) 2nd round: 9 acc Lawrence's Goldfinch
(Spinus lawrencei)
(
2 / 7) Chestnut-collard
Longspur
(Calcarius ornatus) (5
/ 9)
Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) (15 / 29)
2024-06 -
16 Jan 2024 - Ogden Bay WMA, Weber Co., by Bryant Olsen, (5 - male, female,
juv., Photos)
1st round: 9 acc
2024-15 -
19 Apr 2024 - ,Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve, Salt Lake Co., by Quinn Diaz,
(one, flying) 2nd round 6
acc, 3 not Sprague’s Pipit is best known for its persistent flight displays of territorial males. This species is endemic to North American and is dependent on grasslands at their breeding grounds, wintering grounds, and migration routes, during both spring and fall migration. Breeding occurs on the northern shortgrass and mixed prairies of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba (shown dark red) and wintering on the shortgrass prairie within the larger Chihuahuan Desert grasslands of southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, Texas, and northeast Mexico (blue). Spring and fall migration routes follow grasslands and are strikingly similar to one another; The links below show Sprague’s Pipit seasonal migration route , and their range. ~ JS
Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) (5 / 9)
2024-37 - 12 Jan 2024 - Dixie
Springs, Wahsington Co., by Paul Hicks, (female type) 3rd
round: 8 acc, 1 not
2024-26 - 11 May 2024 - Provo
River Delta, Utah Co., by McKay Olsen ( one,
Photos)
2nd: 1 acc 8 not (The alternatives seemed to be Cassin's or
Sagebrush Sparrow, but the photos didn't clearly show either one
convincingly, so to be on the safe side, it was decided not to accept this
record for this very rare species). Bell's Sparrow (Artemisiopiza belli) (1 / 1)
2024-09 -
23 Jan 2024 - Lyltle Ranch Road, Washington Co., by James Loveless, (three,
Photos): 2nd round: 0 acc, 8 not (Differentiating Bell's from Sagebrush
Sparrow, especially in this overlapping part of the ranges, is extremely
difficult, even with excellent photos. None of the of the three individual
birds in this record could be confidently ID's as Bell's Sparrow). Orchard Oriole
(Icterus spurius)
(2
/ 4) Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) (11 / 30)
2024-68 -
15 Aug 2023 - King Henry Apartments, Provo, Utah
Co., by Daxton Bryce, (one,
Audio)
2nd round: 2
acc, 7 not (With only an audio recording to go on, the split opinion
started leaning towards the possibility of an unusual goldfinch or the
like -- too much doubt). Tennessee Warbler
(Leiothlypis peregrina)
(18
/ 22)
2023-79 -
16 Sep 2023 - Airport Road near Manila, Daggett Co., by David Wheeler, (one,
Photo) 1st
round: 9 acc Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) (6 / 11) 2024-40 - 16 Jun 2024 -Bowman Fork Trail, Salt Lake Co., by Fred Adler, (fmale, Audio1, Audio2) 2nd round 7 acc, 2 not
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) (7 / 18)
2024-82 -
31 Aug 2024 - Lamb's Canyon Trailhead, Slat Lake Co., by Kenny
Frisch, (juvenile) 1st round: 9 acc Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) (3 / 7)
2024-41 -
20 Jun 2024 - Bowman Fk. Tr., Millcreek Canyon, Salt Lake Co., by Max
Malmquist (Adult
male, Photos): 1st
round: 9 acc Chestnut-sided
Warbler
(Setophaga pensylvanica)
(14
/ 33) Black-throated Blue
Warbler
(Setophaga
caerulescens)
(6 / 26) Black-throated Green
Warbler (Setophaga
virens)
(
3 / 3) Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) (2 / 7)
2024-05 -
12 Dec 2023 - Ogden Valley, Weber Co., by Kristin Purdy, (adult?, male?,
Photos) 1st
round: 9 acc
Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) (1 / 1)
2024-52 -
11 May 2023 - Grafton, Washington Co., by Angie Branch (male,
Photos) 2nd round: 3 acc, 6
not (Concerns that lighting may have influenced the observable color
of this bird, plus the structure of the head and bill, in particular,
being possibly more like a Summer Tanager, resulted in a conservative
decision on this rare Utah record). Northern Cardinal
(Cardinalis
cardinalis)
(1 / 2) 2nd round: 0 acc, 7 not, 2 no nat (Such a distinctive species should be easy to ID, however questions, of provenance, location, and other issues that the description, written long after the sighting, didn't address, left reservations with the reviewers).
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) (0 - 2)
2024-45 -
2 Jul 2024 - Grafton, Washington Co., by Bruce Christensen, (juvenile) 2nd round: 0 acc, 9 not
(Without a photo, the description was not enough to eliminate other
species). Painted Bunting
(Passerina ciris)
(4
- 9)
* The heading photo is of a Crested Caracara by Tory Mathis (Record 2024-67 |
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