Records Committee Utah Ornithological Society Web Site

Records Committee
Utah Ornithological Society

Status & Comments
Year 2010 (records 16 through 30)

2010-16 Neotropic Cormorant

Evaluator
Bob B.	7 May 2010	Acc	Again, diagnostic photos
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	Acc
Steve H.	20 Jun 2010	Acc
Eric H.	11 May 2010	Acc
Colby N.	27 Apr 2010	Acc
Ron R.	23 Jun 2010	Acc	Nice photos show distinguishing field marks.
Terry S.	29 Apr 2010	Acc
Merrill W.	21 May 2010	Acc	Good photos and good description
David W.	28 Apr 2010	Acc	Very clear & helpful Similar Species section.

2010-17 Glossy Ibis

Evaluator
Bob B.	7 May 2010	Acc	Excellent description and photos
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	Acc	This bird appears to be a pure Glossy Ibis with no characteristics suggesting a hybrid
Steve H.	20 Jun 2010	Acc
Eric H.	11 May 2010	Acc
Colby N.	20 May 2010	Acc	Since I have a hard time seeing red/rust colors, I think the description and thoroughness of the observers...along with the photos are sufficient to rule out a hybrid.
Ron R.	23 Jun 2010	Acc	Excellent photos. No evidence of hybridization with white-faced ibis. Seemingly unusual extensive light blue facial skin, but not consistent with white-faced ibis coloration.
Terry S.	29 Apr 2010	Acc
David W.	28 Apr 2010	Acc	Excellent photos & write-up.

2010-18 Hooded Warbler

Evaluator
Bob B.	13 May 2010	Acc	The photo says it all.
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	Acc	limited description, but nice photo
Steve H.	20 Jun 2010	Acc
Eric H.	11 May 2010	Acc
Colby N.	20 May 2010	Acc	good photo and expected location and time of year
Ron R.	25 Jun 2010	Acc	Convincing photo.
Terry S.	13 May 2010	Acc	Good Photo
Merrill W.	21 May 2010	Acc	Nice photo
David W.	11 May 2010	Acc	Very nice.

2010-19 Eastern Phoebe

Evaluator
Bob B.	13 May 2010	Acc
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	Acc
Steve H.	20 Jun 2010	Acc
Eric H.	11 May 2010	Acc
Colby N.	20 May 2010	Acc	good photos
Ron R.	25 Jun 2010	Acc	Sufficient description and photos to eliminate other possibilities.
Terry S.	13 May 2010	Acc	Good photos for documentation
David W.	11 May 2010	Acc	This record should be expanded to include a reference to the many sightings of this bird over many days by a variety of reliable birders.

2010-20 Neotropic Cormorant

Evaluator
Bob B.	14 May 2010	Acc
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	Acc
Steve H.	20 Jun 2010	Acc
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	Acc
Colby N.	20 May 2010	Acc
Ron R.	25 Jun 2010	Acc	Nice photos and description are convincing evidence.
Terry S.	21 May 2010	Abst	Likely the same cormorants as reported on 2010-21 and 2010-23
Merrill W.	21 May 2010	Acc	Good photos
David W.	17 May 2010	Acc	Based on these photos, perhaps we should consider taking the Neotropical cormorant off the review list and substitute if with the apparently much rarer Double-crested!

2010-21 Neotropic Cormorant

Evaluator
Bob B.	15 May 2010	Acc	Diagnostic photos. I have to wonder if these guys haven't been right under our noses for some time and have just gone unrecognized.
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	Acc
Steve H.	20 Jun 2010	Acc	Curious to know how many of these birds were included in other reported sightings.
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	Acc
Colby N.	20 May 2010	Acc
Ron R.	25 Jun 2010	Acc	Excellent photos show distinctive characteristics.
Terry S.	21 May 2010	Acc
Merrill W.	21 May 2010	Acc	Diagnostic photos
David W.	17 May 2010	Acc	As well as the field marks noted by the observer, I would add pointed mantle feathers.

2010-22 Blackpoll Warbler

Evaluator
Bob B.	15 May 2010	No, ID	This description is inadequate for Blackpoll Warbler. Although the identification is possibly correct, I would be most suspicious that the observer saw the much more common and expected Black-throated Gray Warbler.
2nd round:	20 Jul 2010	No, ID
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	No, ID	I'm not sure the observer adequately ruled out a Black-and-white Warbler (?)
2nd round:	28 Jul 2010	No, ID	I agree, there is not enough in the description to rule out Black-throated Gray and Black-and-white Warblers
Steve H.	2 Jul 2010	No, ID	Black-throated Gray Warbler was not considered as a similar (and more likely) species.
2nd round:	26 Aug 2010	No, ID	Still not convinced that the subject bird wasn't a Black-throated Gray Warbler.
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	No, ID	I don't think the description adequately ruled out female Black-throated Gray Warbler. Black-throated Gray Warbler and a few other warblers I feel would be much more similar looking than Chickadees or Lesser Goldfinch. It also concerns me that the observer waited a day to look up the bird's identity.
2nd round:	19 Aug 2010	No, ID	Description did not rule out similar species.
Colby N.	20 May 2010	No, ID	insufficient elimination of similar species like black-throated gray warbler
2nd round:	18 Aug 2010	No, ID	concerns remain the same
Ron R.	25 Jun 2010	No, ID	While this bird may have been a blackpoll warbler, the description is not sufficient to eliminate black and white warbler (white line in center of crown is not always obvious from the side, although feeding pattern is usually more nuthatch-like) and black-throated gray warbler (although this species is not as black and white striped as suggested, but then neither is blackpoll warbler).
2nd round:	30 Aug 2010	No, ID	comments as before.
Terry S.	3 Jun 2010	Acc	Even though the description is marginal I think this species is distinctive enough to accept this record.
2nd round:	20 Jul 2010	No, ID	I am certainly convinced from other comments that the other warblers such as Black-throated Gray Warbler were not ruled out as a likely possibilities.
Merrill W. 2nd rnd:	6 Aug 2010	No, ID
David W.	24 May 2010	No, ID	I don't think the observer adequately described the bird to eliminate the Black-throated gray warbler, which has even a better "necklace", has similar coloration on the upperparts, and has a black cap. No mention was made of whether there was or wasn't an eye stripe in the cap. The fact that the bird wasn't keyed out until the next day deepens my reservation to vote to accept. Since the Black-throated gray warbler is so common in Utah during mid-May migration, I feel obliged to vote NO because that species wasn't adequately eliminated.
2nd round:	21 Jul 2010	No, ID

2010-23 Neotropic Cormorant

Evaluator
Bob B.	19 May 2010	Acc	unmistakable photos
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	Acc
Steve H.	20 Jun 2010	Acc
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	Acc
Colby N.	20 May 2010	Acc
Ron R.	25 Jun 2010	Acc	Excellent photos show distinctive characteristics. How many of these among recent records are same individuals?
Terry S.	21 May 2010	Acc
Merrill W.	21 May 2010	Acc	Excellent photos
David W.	24 May 2010	Acc

2010-24 Painted Redstart

Evaluator
Bob B.	7 Jun 2010	Acc	Description and photos are definitive. I wonder how many other out of the way places in sw Utah might contain this species as there is an abundance of suitable habitat.
Rick F.	7 Jun 2010	Acc	Definitely a Painted Redstart, there seems to be a few breeding pairs along the East Fork of the Virgin River in Pahrunaweap Canyon.
Steve H.	2 Jul 2010	Acc	Probably first record for Kane Co.
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	Acc
Colby N.	22 Jun 2010	Acc	Sufficient documentation
Ron R.	25 Jun 2010	Acc	Sufficient photos and description of a distinctive species.
Terry S.	8 Jun 2010	Acc
Merrill W.	17 Jul 2010	Acc
David W.	7 Jun 2010	Acc	What an interesting record, expanding the known range of this species beyond the oft-reported population in Zion Canyon. I don't know of any reports of this species in Utah outside Zion Canyon in Zion National Park except for one in 1965 in Beaver Dam Wash. It would have been even more interesting had there been a mate present, as the ones in Zion Canyon are, in my experience, almost always paired.

2010-25 Canyon Towhee

Evaluator
Bob B.	27 Jun 2010	Acc	The description is very good and I suspect this bird occurs more regularly than we realize in appropriate habitat that is under birded.
2nd round:	5 Sep 2010	Acc
Rick F.	28 Jul 2010	Acc	The record is marginal but I believe adequate for a Canyon Towhee
2nd round:	30 Aug 2010	Acc
Steve H.	2 Jul 2010	Acc	I spent considerable time pondering this record before finally accepting it. Habitat at the sighting location is fairly typical for this species. Interestingly, the last Utah record of this species was not too far east of this location.
2nd round:	26 Aug 2010	Acc
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	Acc
2nd round:	21 Oct 2010	Acc	If all the field marks described in the description and similar species sections were seen, I feel this would have to be a Canyon Towhee. Notes were taken at the time of the sighting so I'm not too concerned with the time between the sighting and the submission.
Colby N.	18 Aug 2010	No, ID	This may very well be accepted, and probably rightfully so. I certainly think Canyon Towhee is more likely to show up in southern Utah than a California Towhee, I'm just not sure California Towhee was adequately eliminated via a description that was 2 years after the fact. The throat coloration of both species is 'paler' than the rest of the bird. Admittedly, he said it wasn't 'reddish' as a California shows, but then didn't mention of the coloration of the throat of the bird. I know I'm being picky. Regardless, I appreciate Ryan taking the time to submit a description so that this record is more than just a report on utahbirds.
2nd round:	5 Oct 2010	No, ID	Keeping my no vote, but will not be disappointed if it's passed.
Ron R.	25 Jun 2010	Acc	This is a nice description of this species, outlining all of the distinctive characteristics. The comparison with other species is also done well. While the observation is two years old, reference to notes for this submission is noted.
2nd round:	30 Aug 2010	Acc	I feel the description is sufficient to rule out California towhee. My previous comments still apply.
Terry S.	6 Jul 2010	Acc	While this record is without photos I believe enough detail is given to eliminate other similar species. I'm glad the observer decided to submit this record.
2nd round:	2 Sep 2010	Acc	.
Merrill W. 2nd rnd:	25 Oct 2010	Acc	Physical characteristics and habitat would indicate Canyon Towhee.
David W.	24 Jun 2010	Acc	Although uneasy, I really don't know what else the combination of field marks could possibly represent. A Rufous-crowned sparrow doesn't have a rufous vent, nor does the color described for the undersides match that sparrow. Even though the timing of the sighting in mid-May opens up the possibility of passing migrants, I can't think of one that would match what the observer describes. I've often wondered why the Canyon towhee isn't more often found in this fair state, as the habitat where I've seen it in New Mexico close to our borders appears to my human eyes little different than much of southern Utah.
2nd round:	26 Aug 2010	Acc	I still haven't been able to think of another possible species to fit the description other than Canyon towhee.

2010-26 Red-throated Loon

Evaluator
Bob B.	29 Jun 2010	Acc	Pictures and description both less than ideal, but in reviewing the photos I don't believe this could be any other loon.
2nd round:	5 Sep 2010	No, ID	I will have to change my vote also. The bill in photo B appears much heavier than I had originally appreciated, and the bill in photo A is distorted in appearance because of the angle of the head. I believe this is a Common Loon
Rick F.	28 Jul 2010	No, ID	Based on color, back pattern, and length of bill and shape of culmen....I believe this is a first summer Common Loon.
2nd round:	22 Aug 2010	No, ID	I'm convinced this is an immature Common Loon and not a Red-throated Loon. In my opinion, there are no features visible in the photos consistent with a Red-throated Loon. At first inspection, the color pattern of the white neck and face and dark back may suggest a Red-throated Loon, however, the overall color pattern is more characteristic of a Common Loon (dark back, dark cap extending to eye, etc.). An immature Red-throated Loon should be paler overall with a lighter back and head. The white breast, throat, and lower cheek are all consistent with an immature Common Loon as well. In addition, the eye on a Red-throated Loon would be much more prominent in the photos (in my experience the eye on a Red-throated Loon really stands out even in a long distance scope view). Also, the scalloped pattern on the scapulars is consistent with a Common Loon and is not extensive enough for a Red-throated Loon. Also, there is no white visible on the flanks. Even more important than color pattern, I believe the photos show a large, heavy proportioned loon. The size and proportion relative to the American White Pelican show a large heavy loon as well, rather than the delicate proportions of a Red-throated Loon. In addition, the head shape is consistent with a Common Loon (elongated and peaked in front of eye) rather than the round head of a RT Loon. The bill is large and heavy, with a slightly curved culmen, rather than the small thin stiletto bill of a RT Loon. The color of the bill is gray with a dark culmen typical of a non-breeding Common Loon, rather than the uniform gray of a RT Loon. The large bill is held horizontal in all of the photos, rather than tilted upward at a slight angle. With all that said, the number one reason I don t believe this is a Red-throated Loon is the large chest bulge visible in all of the photos; Red-throated Loons do not show a chest bulge. Check out some photos of Red-throated Loons, the neck always goes straight down into the water. In my experience, the two best features for quickly id ing a RT Loon are the prominent eye on a pale face (distinct at even very long distances) and the lack of a chest bulge.
Steve H.	2 Jul 2010	Acc	Interesting sighting for late June.
2nd round:	26 Aug 2010	No, ID	I re-examined the photos after reading Rick's comments and I'm changing my vote. Photo A appears to be a first-summer RT Loon (thinnish bill and extensive white on neck and breast), but a closer look at the photo shows that the bird has its head turned slightly to the right, giving the bill the appearance of thin and upturned. The bird in Photo B looks much different, with a long heavier body and straight thick bill typical of Common Loon.
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	Acc
2nd round:	18 Oct 2010	No, ID	Head shape and bill in Photo B do look more common-like. The photos are confusing. If I ignore the photos and rely on the description all I get is "Bill seemed too small for Common". Because of the poor photos I need a more detailed description.
Colby N.	18 Aug 2010	Acc
2nd round:	19 Oct 2010	No, ID	Changed my vote given the uncertainty brought to light by Rick.
Ron R.	28 Jun 2010	Acc	Sufficient photos that show distinctive white face and extensive white on neck.
2nd round:	28 Sep 2010	No, ID	I am changing my vote, agreeing with much of Rick's analysis. Most prominent is the overall shape, particularly the chest bulge that is typical of common loon, not red-throated. The pattern on the head and neck are consistent with red-throated although the cap does dip just below the eye, more like a common loon. The photos are not clear enough to fully discern the bill thickness. Photo A is certainly misleading--although the chest bulge is clearly evident.
Terry S.	19 Jul 2010	Acc	The narrative of this record is weak but the photos show a head and neck pattern consistent with a Red-throated loon. I don't see any of the dark neck pattern coming back toward the throat. The small upturned bill also seems right
2nd round:	9 Sep 2010	No, ID	I have to hand it to Rick in voting no in the first round and giving us a chance to study the photos a little closer. The color pattern of the white neck and face do appear like an immature Red-throated loon and I think the back is fairly pale. The bill in the first photo does look like the thin upturned bill of a Red-throated loon until I realized the bird's head is turned and the photo is catching the bill on an angle. The obvious chest bulge in the photos and relative large, heavy size when seen with the pelican doesn't look right for a Red-throated Loon and does look more like a Common Loon.
Merrill W.	11 Aug 2010	Acc
David W.	29 Jun 2010	Acc	Despite the large appearance of the bill in photos B to D, which I attribute to blurring edge-effects of the distant photos, I am voting to accept. The plumage pattern on the head and back, along with the written description of the bill shape, are convincing. Besides, the bill looks appropriately thin in photo A, even if foreshortened due to angle.
2nd round:	5 Oct 2010	No, ID	OK, I'll go with the majority on this one despite the neck/head pattern. The overall massiveness of the bird do point to something more Common. Again, my hat off to Rick.

2010-27 Neotropic Cormorant

Evaluator
Bob B.	29 Jun 2010	Acc	excellent photos
Rick F.	28 Jul 2010	Acc	Nice photos....should this record be combined with the other recent Salt Lake area records?
Steve H.	2 Jul 2010	Acc
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	Acc
Colby N.	18 Aug 2010	Acc	great documentation
Ron R.	28 Jun 2010	Acc	Excellent photos show diagnostic field marks.
Terry S.	6 Jul 2010	Acc	Good photos
Merrill W.	17 Jul 2010	Acc
David W.	29 Jun 2010	Acc	Great photos.

2010-28 Northern Cardinal

Evaluator
Bob B.	30 Jun 2010	No, Nat	This is a difficult decision to make, because any record of Northern Cardinal is likely to be questioned on the basis of provenance. How will we know when a truly naturally occurring bird actually arrives in our state, and perhaps this could be that bird. After all, it is occurring as close to the southern Arizona population as it could in our state. But I need to see what others have to say before I could possibly vote to accept this report. I would also like to know a bit more about the report if possible.
2nd round:	21 Aug 2010	Acc	I am torn. The identification is obviously correct. It was seen in a location that is most logical for the bird to occur if it should occur in Utah. We have photo documentation. I have reviewed the Nevada bird list and the bird has been accepted by the Nevada bird records committee for birds seen in the Las Vegas area. So why am I torn?. Neither the description or the photos give any indication of plumage characteristics that would help us determine whether or not the bird could have been caged. In addition no one else was able to subsequently see this bird. In spite of my hesitations I am going to change my vote and vote for this bird. This is an instance where it is impossible to determine with certainty the provenance of the bird and after reviewing all of the information and comments my gut tells me that this very likely is a naturally occurring bird.
Rick F.	28 Jul 2010	Acc	Nice job getting a diagnostic photo under difficult conditions.
2nd round:	22 Aug 2010	Acc	There have been recent Northern Cardinal observations in Las Vegas accepted by the Nevada BRC as natural occurring vagrants.
Steve H.	2 Jul 2010	Acc	No question on the ID. Most previous cardinal records were thought to be escaped or introduced birds, but this bird is likely a wild bird.
2nd round:	26 Aug 2010	Acc	Introduced birds have a tendency to stay around awhile and this bird apparently did not, as it has not been reported a second time. So I still think it is a wild bird.
Eric H.	7 Jul 2010	No, Int	Is it possible that this may be part of a very small lingering population, or a long lived individual bird from the attempted introduction into Provo about 15 years ago? Shortly after the excitement about that illegal introduction I had an immature cardinal show up at my feeders in Pleasant Grove, it stayed for a couple weeks. So I know these few introduced birds reproduced and didn't always stay in the Provo area. Here are the records committee comments on a Utah County Cardinal Record from 10 years ago - http://www.utahbirds.org/ReviewBirds/StatusComment1999.htm#11-1999 Here is the description from the Utahbirds.org rare birds pages - * 1995-2004 - The Provo population was found in 1996 to have been introduced by a BYU student who brought three pairs from Ohio. (Others sightings have continued in the Carterville Road/Provo River area through the summer of 2004)
2nd round:	19 Aug 2010	Acc	On my first vote I was mistakenly under the impression that the bird was seen in Payson. I guess I read the observers address last as I read through the record and assumed that was were the bird was sighted because it made sense to see one in Utah County. My fault. I don't think this is a bird from the Provo population. I am still concerned it could possibly be an escapee but if a Natural bird were to show up in the state Washington County would be a likely spot. How commonly are cardinals kept as cage birds?
Colby N.	18 Aug 2010	No, Nat	I am wavering on this record due to the natural occurrence being questionable... There are three reasons why I like this record...1) It's a Northern Cardinal 2.) It's the general region of the state where one would theoretically be most likely to show up and 3.) the bird is obviously quite red, which bodes well for the bird being of wild origin since the coloration of captive northern cardinals can be dulled due to a lack of caretenoids in a captive birds' diet. Nonetheless, I would like this record to still have either 1) the observer note the wear on this bird or 2) have better photos showing the state of wear of this bird...in order to adequately say that everything points towards this bird being of wild origin...or at the very least, I can say with confidence that it was likely not captive.
2nd round:	5 Oct 2010	No, Nat	I will keep a note vote for the reasons previously mentioned, but again, I would not surprise me at all if this bird was indeed wild.
Ron R.	29 Jun 2010	Acc	Undoubtedly a northern cardinal from photos. The only issue is whether the bird was an escapee from captivity. Wing and tail feather wear is difficult to determine from the photo, but the crest seems to be intact. Given the location in SW Utah, the possibility for an out of range bird is good.
2nd round:	19 Aug 2010	Acc	Undoubtedly a cardinal, the question is whether the bird is an escapee. I feel the bright coloration (see Colby's comment), lack of apparent feather damage and location of record (close to current range of species--200 miles) is sufficient to conclude this bird is of wild origin.
Terry S.	6 Jul 2010	Acc	The photos certainly document a No. Cardinal. I remember the cardinals in Utah County which turned out to be birds that were brought from the Eastern part of the country and released. I tend to believe this may be a valid record. No. Cardinals have been expanding their range and Southern Utah is a likely spot for a sighting
2nd round:	2 Sep 2010	Acc	I again vote that we accept the sighting as valid record. I think we all agree that we need to be cautious in reviewing and accepting sightings of likely caged species that may have escaped or been released. It looks like we will never know for sure whether this an escaped bird or not but I think we all agree this is a species that has been expanding its range and So. Utah is a likely place for a sighting. This review has piqued interest in the only existing record for a Northern Cardinal in Utah, a specimen collected in Ogden in March of 1983. I wonder if this specimen may have been an escaped or released caged bird. I wonder if the specimen is available for study or observation in University of Utah's Natural History Museum where many historical specimens are kept.
Merrill W.	17 Jul 2010	Acc
David W.	15 Jul 2010	No, Nat	There is no doubt this bird is a male Northern cardinal. The question before us is whether it is an escaped bird or one that has wandered north of its own volition. I tend to think that the bird is likely to be of natural origin, seeing as the range maps show the cardinal occurring as a permanent resident in central-west Arizona, less than 200 miles away, as the crow flies, to the south of St. George. If anywhere in Utah, the St. George area is the place one would expect to see one. Rick mentioned in a personal e-mail that some have been seen (and acepted) in Las Vegas in recent years. Cornell's website notes that the species has been spreading northward with the introduction of feeders and mankind's alteration of habitat. Specifically in the West, "First sighted in 1870s in s.-central Arizona; has since expanded north and is now common in Colorado River valley." So a cardinal in St. George is almost to be expected now and again. However, the cardinal is also a common cage bird in places like Mexico, so the possibility of an escapee needs to be adressed. The observer didn't describe whether the bird had worn tail feathers or not, thus leaving that possibility open. I am surprised no one else has reported seeing the bird since the initial observation, especially since the species is so fond of suburban environments and its color is so vibrant. I held off on voting on this record as long a I felt was decent in hopes more data would come in. Now, alas, with no new data, I am voting NO. I hope someone else votes YES to keep this record in play long enough for some other birder to refind this bird and provide us with more evidence on its origin.
2nd round:	26 Aug 2010	No, Nat	Boy, as I noted before, I genuinely believe this is a bird of wild origin, and the species ID is certainly not in question, but I don't feel a case has been made to disprove the possibility of caged origins. Colby's discussion of caretenoids/color was excellent and instructive, and pushed me farther towards believing the bird is not an escapee, but I still feel some discussion of feather wear would be required by the observer to quell my reservations about its wild origins. Without that, there is reasonable doubt in my mind. I reluctantly vote NO.

2010-29 Hepatic Tanager

Evaluator
Bob B.	11 Aug 2010	No. ID	I feel the photo rules out Hepatic Tanager. The light colored bill alone is enough to call the ID into question. I don't know what to make of what appears to be dark colored wings. Is this artifactual due to shadowing? The bill appearance looks more like a Summer Tanager than a Scarlet Tanager. At any rate this does not appear to me to be a Hepatic Tanager. The habitat is wrong. The observers apparently have little experience with Hepatic Tanagers.
Rick F.	23 Aug 2010	No, ID	Photos show a male Summer Tanager. Several features are not appropriate for a Hepatic Tanager, most notably the bill size and coloration (Hepatic and Scarlet Tanagers would both show a gray bill).
Steve H.	26 Aug 2010	No, ID	Bill of bill in the photo does not fit Hepatic Tanager. It is too long and pale for Hepatic which has a shorter heavy dark bill, but appears typical of a Summer Tanager bill. The back appears dark (almost black) which would rule out both Hepatic and Summer Tanager, but I think the dark coloraton is caused by shadows and is not the true color, as the back of neck, upper back, and rump also appear dark, same as the wing color.
Eric H.	26 Sep 2010	No, ID	I don't think any of the three records adequately ruled out Summer Tanager. I would have liked a description of structural differences and a more precise description of the colors and contrast between the gray and red areas. A first year male Summer can be patchy red and may not have red wings. Bill and head shape in photo look to me like Summer Tanager but this photo could be misleading.
Colby N.	18 Aug 2010	No, ID	Did not adequately eliminate the expected Summer Tanager.
Ron R.	30 Aug 2010	No, ID	The photos do not seem to show a hepatic tanager and the written descriptions are not sufficient to describe this species. The photos clearly indicate an yellowish/orange bill, not consistent with hepatic tanager's gray bill. The bird also does not seem to show grayish flanks that are consistent with hepatic tanager. The dark wings of the photo seem most consistent with scarlet tanager, but the bill shape and color is not consistent with scarlet tanager. It is possible the wings appear darker in the photo than they were. My best guess of the bird in the photo is summer tanager, a regular species at Lytle Ranch.
Terry S.	16 Aug 2010	No, ID	The narrative description given is sparse and doesn't effectively rule out other possible species. The photographs do not show gray auriculars and the bill seems too pale for Hepatic Tanager. The shadows in the photos make it difficult for definition of color. This most probably is a Summer Tanager.
Merrill W.	6 Aug 2010	No, ID	Not a one of them saw the head of this bird and that is half of the correct I.D. Until they can find Richard Deem or Deen and produce a photo then my vote is no. Sibley's book doesn't show any brown on the wings, but the NGS fieldguide does. They are basing their whole identification on Sibley's depiction of the back and the wings. [after seeing the photo - 11 Aug 2010] --I still don't feel comfortable voting to accept this. I already voted not to accept, and my vote remains the same after viewing the photo.
David W.	11 Aug 2010	No, ID	Neither the photo (which shows a pale bill, red auriculars, and a pinkish rather than orange tone to body, with very little duskiness to flanks) nor the brief written description rules out a Summer tanager.

2010-30 Ruff

Evaluator
Bob B.	4 Aug 2010	Acc	I believe this description effectively eliminates all other possibilities.
Rick F.	23 Aug 2010	Acc	Well described
Steve H.	26 Aug 2010	Acc	Key field marks observed.
Eric H.	26 Sep 2010	Acc
Colby N.	18 Aug 2010	Acc	Adequate description and timing not unexpected
Ron R.	28 Sep 2010	Acc	Sufficient description to ID bird and eliminate other species. Size, white u-shaped rump patch, orange legs, color of back and wings and light area on face are key points.
Terry S.	16 Aug 2010	Acc	A very convincing narrative description.
David W.	16 Aug 2010	Acc	I am convinced the report corresponds to a Ruff, but I am not sure it is a "Reeve".