Sighting Record for Utah

Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 4-1994
[Note: this form was filled out from three sets of notes and therefore doesn't fit the layout as well as it might.]

Common name:	American Black Duck
Scientific name:	Anas rubripes
Date:	Monday August 8, 1994
Time:	3:30 - 4:00 P.M.
Length of time observed:	10-15 min.
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:
Location:	Minersville Reservoir (North end of reservoir)
County:	Beaver
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	100-125 yds.
Optical equipment:	Two spotting scopes (15 x 60 Swift & Bausch & Lomb 3 sets of 8 x binocs.
Weather:
Light Conditions:	Cloudy, overcast.
Detailed description of bird:	Size: Same size as mallards; larger than teal, smaller than geese. Head & Neck - Light gray, dark eyes, no eye ring Bill: Dull yellowish-brown -- not like nearby mallards Body: Dark wings back & breast. Couldn't see legs because it was squatting down on shore most of the time. The [cut of line at bottom of page] ...but not solid black like on a raven or crow. But it was uniformly colored Tail: Dark' no white seen on this duck compared to white outer tail feathers on nearby mallards Fieldmarks not seen: Purple speculum. Underwing lining. Did not fly in spite of efforts to encourage from our distance. (see drawing of "Sun, Bird & Observer orientation:) (see notes from John H. Ginaven and Rosemary Seidler)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard
Behavior:
Habitat:	[See the drawing and the notes from the other two observers]
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Other birds associated with this species: Mallards in eclipse plumage; hard to distinguish sexes, but all were lighter colored than this duck. (See above description, the write-up by John H. Ginaven and the write-up by Rosemary Seidler)
Previous experience with this & similar species:
References consulted:
Description from:
Observer:	Merrill Webb
Observer's address:	1063 E. 400 No. Orem,
Observer's e-mail address:
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	John Ginaven, 1268 Delmar Ave., West Chester, PA 19380 Rosemary Seidler, 740 Prospect St. Shreveport LA 71104
Date prepared:	Aug. 9, 1994
Additional material:	Write-up by John H. Ginaven and Write-up by Rosemary Seidler) Original Record