Records Committee Utah Ornithological Society Web Site

Records Committee
Utah Ornithological Society

Status & Comments
Year 2009 (records 1 through 15)

2009-01 Rusty Blackbird

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	13 Jan 2009	Acc	I believe this bird is clearly a Rusty Blackbird, but I believe it is a male, not a female. There is entirely too much black to be a female. The photos have been very helpful, especially the lightened ones provided by the webmaster. The lightened version of the B photo even suggest the slight hook to the end of the beak that may be present on a Rusty Blackbird and is not present on a Brewer's Blackbird
Steve H.	20 Nov 2009	Acc
Eric H.	21 Jan 2009	Acc
Colby N.	17 Apr 2009	Acc	Good photos
Ron R.	3 Mar 2009	Acc	Excellent photos of an individual in a distinctive plumage.
Larry T.	18 Mar	Acc
David W.	12 Jan 2009	Acc	Photos show longer bill than Brewer's blackbird, distinctly pale eyebrow, rusty mantle, and rust-tipped tertials. I think this may well be a male rather than female bird, based on the dark color of the rump and the pattern of dark body with rusty feather tips.

2009-02 Cackling Goose

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	17 Feb 2009	Acc	I wish we could have seen more photos of the bird in different positions, such as standing. However I believe this is a Cackling Goose on the basis of the description and the photos, although I am not at all sure as to the subspecies.
Eric H.	29 Apr 2009	Acc
Colby N.	17 Apr 2009	Acc	Good photos and write up
Kristin P.	25 May 2009	Acc
Ron R.	3 Mar 2009	Acc	This is a very well documented record. The observer provides convincing evidence that is backed up by the photos. I agree that B. h. taverneri is the likely subspecies, but it could also be a dark B. h. hutchinsii. However, the description and photos are sufficient to rule out B. canadensis, including B. c. parvipes.
Larry T.	26 May 2009	Acc
David W.	3 Feb 2009	Acc	I agree that this bird may have been of the "Richardson's" race of the Cackling goose rather than B. h. teverneri. Either way, I also agree this is a Cackling goose.

2009-03 Cackling Goose

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	31 Mar 2009	Acc	I believe that this bird is a Cackling Goose, but I am not so sure of the ssp. The written description of the head shape certainly sounds like a Richardson's Goose, but I don't feel the photos confirm this very well..
Eric H.	10 Aug 2008	Acc
Colby N.	17 Apr 2009	Acc	Good enough photos and the write up complements the photos nicely
Kristin P.	25 May 2009	Acc
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	I feel this is a well documented record that effectively eliminates Canada goose. The overall size, bill and shape, and neck length are all consistent with this species. Also, having lesser Canada goose individuals nearby for comparison was good.
Larry T.	26 May 2009	Acc
David W.	8 Apr 2009	Acc

2009-04 Brown Thrasher

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	27 Mar 2009	Acc	Definitive report by description, photos, and multiple observers
Eric H.	10 Apr 2009	Acc
Colby N.	17 Apr 2009	Acc	Good photo
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Good description and helpful photo of a distinctive bird.
Larry T.	26 May 2009	Acc
Merrill W..	14 Nov 2009	Acc	Very clear photo.
David W.	7 Apr 2009	Acc

2009-05 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	31 Mar 2009	Acc	Excellent description, photos adequate for ID
Eric H.	10 Apr 2009	Acc
Colby N.	17 Apr 2009	Acc	Good photos and write up
Kristin P.	13 May 2009	Acc
Ron R.	5 Jul 2009	Acc	This is a well documented record. Similar species are effectively eliminated and the photos are convincing. The photos also eliminate kelp gull (legs of kelp gull are dull greenish yellow and the mantle color is nearly black) and yellow-legged gull (mantle color of YL gull is much lighter).
Larry T.	26 May 2009	Acc
David W.	7 Apr 2009	Acc	Although the legs look pink in some of the photos and the gull looks quite large realtive to the Ring-billed gulls next to it, the written description is compelling. Also, the wingtip pattern eiminates the Slaty-backed gull. Wish more care had been taken to eliminate Yellow-footed gull, which is similar in many ways.

2009-06 Black-throated Blue Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	31 Mar 2009	Acc	Excellent description and photos
Eric H.	10 Apr 2009	Acc
Colby N.	17 Apr 2009	Acc	Good photos
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Excellent photos and good description of a distinctive warbler.
Larry T.	26 May 2009	Acc
Merrill W..	14 Nov 2009	Acc	Photos diagnostic.
David W.	7 Apr 2009	Acc	great photos.

2009-07 Least Flycatcher

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	31 Mar 2009	No, ID	This bird may well be a Least Flycatcher, but something doesn't look right. The bill looks too long to me. The eye ring, although described well for a Least, doesn't look to have very even thickness to me. I agree that this bird is not a Hammond's, not likely a Dusky, but I don't feel "Western" is completely ruled out. They can have almost no yellow in the fall in worn molt. Would like to see other opinions before I vote yes on this one.
2nd round	2 Dec 2009	Acc	When considering all of the alternatives, I am swayed to think that this is a Least Flycatcher.
Steve H. 2nd round	22 Nov 2009	Acc	Bird in photos looks like other Least Flycatchers I have observed in the East. Bill is a little long but still within the range for this species.
Eric H.	26 Jul 2009	Acc
2nd round	15 Jan 2010	Acc
Colby N.	12 Jun 2009	Acc	Good photos...bill shape, size and coloration, eyering, overall plumage coloration and primary projection all look good for this species...and not one of our more common empids
2nd round	20 Dec 2009	Acc	I consulted with an east coast friend that agreed it seemed good for a LEFL...noting mandible coloration, eye ring size and shape, contrasting wing bars and edging to tertials, and overall coloration seemed good for this species. The bill does look a little bulky, but I think it's within the range of this species.
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Complete description and good photos detail a least flycatcher. Most important are the combination of: the large head, bold eyering, whitish throat, grayish underparts, short primary projection and yellow lower mandible. I feel the description safely eliminates other Empids. The photos also capture the "jizz" I associate with least flycatcher from my many observations of this species while living in Michigan.
Terry S.. 2nd round	6 Jan 2010	Acc	I agree that this looks like a Least Flycatcher. The overall coloration (including the white throat), Bill (shape, size and lower mandible coloration), overall shape with large head and compact tapered body, and bold eye ring and contrasting wing bars all convince me this is an acceptable record
Larry T.	23 Jun 2009	Acc
2nd round	28 Dec 2009	Acc	Photos can be misleading on Empids. But I don't see anything wrong with this being a Least.
Merrill W..	14 Nov 2009	Acc	Photos plus description of behavior seem to confirm this as the Least Flycatcher without question.
2nd round	16 Nov 2009	Acc	I still think the size and behavior identify this as a Least Flycatcher.
David W.	26 May 2009	No, ID	This record really gave me pause, and I struggled with it more than I thought I would. But in the end, the bird just doesn't jizz like a Least flycatcher to me. The bill is on the upper end of Least, the tail seems a bit long, the overall shape is fairly lanky, and the head doesn't strike me as proportionately large as other Leasts I've seen. I've a hard time ruling out a fall Dusky flycatcher. Even the throat, though pale, doesn't look "white" to me in the photos, but rather a pale gray, consistent with Dusky. In the plus column for a Least, the lower mandible is mostly yellow (though within the range of some Duskies I saw on the internet) and the pale edging on the tertials/secondaries is very crisp & distinct (ditto). These are field marks I will ponder further in the second round.
2nd round	16 Jan 2010	No, ID

2009-08 Red-throated Loon

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	30 Mar 2009	Acc	Excellent description and photos
Eric H.	10 Apr 2009	Acc
Colby N.	17 Apr 2009	Acc	Good photos
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Excellent photos and good description. Key marks (neck coloration, back pattern, head shape and bill angle) all clearly seen in photo.
Larry T.	26 May 2009	Acc
Merrill W..	14 Nov 2009	Acc	Photos are positive verification.
David W.	7 Apr 2009	Acc	Wonderful photos.

2009-09 Glossy Ibis

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	14 May 2009	Acc	Photos are excellent.
Eric H.	29 Apr 2009	Acc
Colby N.	12 Jun 2009	Acc	Good photos
Kristin P.	4 May 2009	Acc	I validated with Jack Binch that the two photos he submitted are of two different birds and therefore, did not include the red-eyed ibis depicted in Paul Higgins' images in considering Jack's ID.
Ron R.	5 Jul 2009	Acc	Great photos. Clearly eliminates white-faced ibis and is not consistent with intermediate characteristics of hybrid.
Larry T.	23 Jun 2009	Acc
David W.	28 Apr 2009	Acc	Great photos, marginal writeup. The crucial field marks are clearly visible in the photos, however: 1) white outline to face does not extend behind the eye 2) the iris color is dark brown rather than redish (by appearance and timing, this does not appear to be an immature bird, so the eye color is key) 3) legs are grayish except for the "knees" (intertarsal joint) 4) bill is dull brownish-gray

2009-10 Chestnut-sided Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	28 Jun 2009	Acc	I am voting in favor of this record because I don't know what alternative the bird could be. However I am troubled by the non-breeding plumage this late in the season, and also by no description of any wing bars.
Eric H.	26 Jul 2009	Acc
Colby N.	12 Jun 2009	Acc	Good description of a diagnostic bird; multiple observers
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Good description of non-breeding individual. Seems rather late in spring for such plumage. I feel we should consider removing this species from the review list as it seems to occur annually.
Larry T.	23 Jun 2009	Acc
Merrill W.	16 Nov 2009	Acc	I accept this description with reservations. Two reasons: one--every description I read in the field guides describes the tail which is usually cocked at somewhat of an upright angle. No mention of this in the description eventhough the observation lasted for five minutes. Two--no mention of wingbars in the description, and this warbler has distinct wingbars in each fieldguide picture. The chestnut on the sides can be variable, but at least seems to be the single most characteristic fieldmark which would satisfy my accepting this as a verified record.
David W.	28 May 2009	Acc	The timing of this bird as a "non-breeding male" is very odd. The moult to alternate ("breeding") plumage in this species should have been completed by March, not late May. Yet the description does sound like an individual retaining at least some of its 1st-winter plumage. Troubling. I am voting to accept because I cannot think of another species this could represent.

2009-11 Yellow-billed Loon

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	28 Jun 2009	Acc	excellent description and photos
Steve H..	25 Nov 2009	Acc	Excellent photos of an adult in breeding plumage.
Eric H.	20 Jul 2009	Acc
Colby N.	12 Jun 2009	Acc	Good photos; multiple observers
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Good photo documentation that clearly shows yellow-billed loon.
Larry T.	23 Jun 2009	Acc
David W.	1 Jun 2009	Acc	Fabulous photos.

2009-12 Red-necked Grebe

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	28 Jun 2009	Acc	excellent report and photos
Eric H.	20 Jul 2009	Acc
Colby N.	12 Jun 2009	Acc	Good photos
Kristin P.	22 Jun 2009	Acc
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Photos clearly indicate an alternate plumage adult. Very good written description and excellent field notes make for an excellent record.
Larry T.	23 Jun 2009	Acc
David W.	3 Jun 2009	Acc	Another record with great photos.

2009-13 Magnolia Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	28 Jun 2009	Acc	great find. excellent photos
Eric H.	20 Jul 2009	Acc
Colby N.	15 Jun 2009	Acc
Kristin P.	14 Jun 2009	Acc
Ron R.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Good photos and description of a distinctive plumage of this species.
Larry T.	23 Jun 2009	Acc
David W.	6 Jul 2009	Acc	Little doubt about this one. A nice record.

2009-14 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	27 Aug 2009	Acc	I believe this is a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the basis of the description. I wish we could see the legs in the photos. The one bothersome item from the photos is the degree of streaking on the head and neck, much less than that described in the guides, but I still believe this is the correct ID.
2nd round	12 Nov 2009	Acc	David's comment regarding size is a valid concern, but since I don't believe there is any other reasonable alternative, I have to think that this must be more an illusion than real. I will still vote to accept.
Steve H.	30 Sep 2009	Acc	All key field marks were observed.
2nd round	20 Nov 2009	Acc	The size of the birds in Photo B does seem odd. The gull to the left of the Ring-billed Gull also appears to be much larger. Fieldmarks still fit LBBG.
Eric H.	19 Aug 2009	Acc
2nd round	3 Jan 2010	Acc	The LBBG does look a lot bigger than that gull in the photo. I don't know why that is but I checked size during actual viewing and the gull didn't dwarf the other gulls.
Colby N.	28 Aug 2009	Acc
2nd round	20 Dec 2009	Acc
Ron R.	4 Oct 2009	Acc	Good description and adequate photos for a positive ID. The black smudge on the upper mandible suggest that this might be the same bird as seen in Cache Valley in Nov-Dec, 2008.
Larry T.	20 Oct 2009	Acc
2nd round	15 Dec 2009	Acc	I agree that the photo is making the size look odd. But it still looks good for a LBBG.
Terry S. 2nd round	5 Dec 2010	Acc	After reading the comments of other committee members and studying the photos I believe this bird is a LBBG. The size issue doesn't bother me because I know how misleading photos can be. The observer has mentioned that the gull did not seem that large when viewing the bird. All other Field marks seem to fit
David W.	24 Aug 2009	No, ID	I would like to send this to the second round. I am troubled by the relative size of this bird compared to the Ring-billed gull IN FRONT of it in Photo B. Maybe it is my imagination, but the gull in question seems huge compared to the Ring-billed. Considering the Lesser black-backed gull is supposed to be just a little larger than California gull, this doesn't seem right. Everything else, though, does indeed point to a Lesser black-backed, and I can't off-hand think of a more reasonable alternative.
2nd round	19 Dec 2009	Acc	I am reluctant, with the size issue looming so large, to vote to accept this bird. And it is difficult to eliminate the possibility of some sort of hybrid, what with gulls being so contemptuous of any species boundaries drawn by man. Yet all other field marks do point to a greater Lesser black-backed gull. Perhaps this one has just been dining on healthier garbage than the Ring-billeds around it...

2009-15 Neotropic Cormorant

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	27 Aug 2009	Acc
Steve H.	30 Sep 2009	Acc	Excellent photos verifying essential field marks.
Eric H.	28 Aug 2009	Acc
Colby N.	28 Aug 2009	Acc
Ron R.	4 Oct 2009	Acc	Excellent description and photos; clearly eliminates other cormorant species. Tame behaviour a bit curious, but unlikely an escapee as no leg bandand wing and tail feathers appear in good shape.
Larry T.	20 Oct 2009	Acc
Merrill W.	29 Aug 2009	Acc
David W.	1 Sep 2009	Acc	Well documented record.