Records Committee Utah Ornithological Society Web Site

Records Committee
Utah Ornithological Society

Status & Comments
Year 2012 (records 40 through 62)

2012-41 Baltimore Oriole

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	15 Oct 2012	Acc	I have tried to see if I could make this into a hybrid, but I can't. It indeed looks like a first year male Baltimore and I am voting yes.
2nd round:	12 Nov 2012	Acc
Rick F.	19 Oct 2012	Acc	nice record
2nd round:	12 Nov 2012	Acc	I don't see any thing suggested a hybrid
Steve H.	18 Oct 2012	Acc
2nd round:	25 Nov 2012	Acc
Ryan O.	31 Oct 2012	Acc
2nd round:	15 Nov 2012	Acc	The pure white median coverts are expected for Baltimore Oriole in this plumage. I see no white in the greater coverts which might imply a hybrid.
Ron R.	9 Nov 2012	Acc	Clearly Baltimore oriole in nature. The question is whether it is a hybrid with Bullocks. The head pattern (photo B) does not seem to contain evidence of the black eyeline of Bullocks. Also, there is not extensive white in the wing (C) or black terminal band on tail (D).
Terry S..	25 Oct 2012	No, ID	I have puzzled over this sighting and keep looking at the photos. It seems there is more white in the wing bars or coverts than I would expect in a pure Baltimore Oriole. I am not sure a hybrid BaltimoreXBullock's can be ruled out even though the hybrid zone for these two closely related species is in a narrow geographic area in the prairie states.
2nd round:	18 Nov 2012	Acc	My concerns regarding a possible hybrid have been answered.
Jack S..	10 Nov 2012	Acc	Good documentation and photographs!
2nd round:	14 Nov 2012	Acc
Mark S.	6 Oct 2012	Acc	Looks good for adult female of this species. I see no reason to suspect a hybrid. in addition to the marks noted, the mottled back pattern supports this i.d., too.
David W.	4 Oct 2012	Acc
2nd round:	13 Nov 2012	Acc	I really don't see any indication that this bird is a hybrid.

2012-42 Ovenbird

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	16 Oct 2012	Acc
Rick F.	19 Oct 2012	Acc
Steve H.	18 Oct 2012	Acc
Ryan O.	21 Oct 2012	Acc
Ron R.	9 Nov 2012	Acc	Photos clearly show this species.
Terry S..	23 Oct 2012	Acc
Jack S..	10 Nov 2012	Acc	Good documentation and photographs!
Mark S.	17 Oct 2012	Acc	Sure looks like an Ovenbird to me.
David W.	17 Oct 2012	Acc

2012-43 Harlequin Duck

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	31 Oct 2012	Acc
Rick F.	12 Nov 2012	Acc	Nice record
Steve H.	25 Nov 2012	Acc
Ryan O.	31 Oct 2012	Acc
Ron R.	9 Nov 2012	Acc	Photos clearly show this species.
Terry S..	26 Oct 2012	abst	[submitted record]
Jack S..	10 Nov 2012	Acc	Good photograph!
Mark S.	20 Oct 2012	Acc	Clearly a Harlequin Duck.
David W.	31 Oct 2012	Acc

2012-44 Philadelphia Vireo

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B. 2nd	6 Jan 2013	Acc
Bob B.	12 Nov 2012	No, ID	There are some features of this bird that just don't look quite right. The bill looks way to big for a Philadelphia Vireo. The bill of a Philadelphia Vireo should be, if anything, shorter than a Warbling Vireo, and this bill looks more like that of a Red-eyed Vireo. The tail looks too long also. Could this possibly be a Yellow-green Vireo? I can't be certain of the eye color from the photos. I would like to see what others have to say on this bird.
2nd round:	20 Dec 2012	No, ID	I still cannot equate the bill on this bird with a Philadelphia Vireo. It is too big. This bird is not a Warbling Vireo, it is not a Red-eyed Vireo, so I again raise the question of a Yellow-green Vireo. I have enough doubts that I will continue to vote no. I wonder if the web-master might see if he can lighten up the head on the last photograph to see if there might not be a tinge of red in the eye? I don't think we can say there is no red on the eye on the basis of these photos.
Rick F.	12 Nov 2012	Acc	photos are definitive
2nd round:	26 Dec 2012	Acc	I don't have any issues with this being a Philadelphia Vireo. I believe the size, proportions, and plumage all fit PhVi. I also lightened the photos and couldn't get a hint of red in the eye.
Steve H.	25 Nov 2012	Acc	Yellow underparts, especially the throat, and dark lores are consistent with this species.
Ryan O.	7 Nov 2012	Acc
2nd round:	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	9 Nov 2012	Acc	Philadelphia or warbling wireo. Photo clearly shows dark lores and yellow throat and underparts that are consistent with Philadelphia Vireo.
2nd round:	27 Jan 2013	Acc	All field marks are consistent with this species. While the bill is larger than many of this species, it is not outside the range exhibited by the many photos on the web of birds from the eastern US and Canada.
Terry S..	18 Nov 2012	Acc
2nd round:	28 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	10 Nov 2012	Acc	Good photographs!
2nd round:	27 Dec 2012	Acc
Mark S.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	I have a few reservations about this record, that otherwise looks fine for Philadelphia Vireo. I don't think we have to worry about the usual look-alike, Warbling Vireo, as the solid yellow underparts seem beyond even the brightest of that species, and the dark eye line in front of the eye also support PHVI. But I was concerned by the apparently large bill and elongated shape of this bird as seen in the first photo. It made me wonder if we might have a Yellow-green Vireo. However, I can't see any significant hint of red in the eye in any of the photos, and the pattern of yellow on the underparts doesn't fit YGVI very well, so I'll stick with my original call on this bird.
2nd round:	21 Dec 2012	Acc	I share Bob's concern over the structure of this bird - in the first photo especially, it looks too long and large-billed. But I'm not sure that it's outside of the range possible for PHVI. I tried lightening up the two photos where we can see the eye, but couldn't tease out even a hint of red. The yellow underneath seems too extensive, and uniform for YGVI, the other possibility, but not necessarily out of the range of variability for that species on that field mark. But given the lack of any red in the eye, I think the evidence swings towards PHVI. Even though an immature YGVI wouldn't have the reddish eye, an immature would have much less yellow underneath. In spite of the odd structure, I think all of the other evidence points to PHVI as the correct call for this bird.
David W.	2 Nov 2012	Acc	Yellow throat & breast, black eyeline extending in front of the eye, gray crown. This one looks good.
2nd round:	21 Dec 2012	Acc

2012-45 Common Redpoll

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	12 Nov 2012	Acc
Rick F.	12 Nov 2012	Acc
Steve H.	25 Nov 2012	Acc
Ryan O.	9 Nov 2012	abst	[submitted record]
Ron R.	9 Nov 2012	Acc	Photos clearly show this species and written description effectively eliminated hoary redpoll.
Terry S..	18 Nov 2012	Acc
Jack S..	10 Nov 2012	Acc	Good documentation!
Mark S.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent documentation.
David W.	9 Nov 2012	Acc	very nice record.

2012-46 Eastern Phoebe

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	12 Nov 2012	Acc	Great video. Didn't need the video to confirm the ID, but the tail pumping was icing on the cake.
Rick F.	12 Nov 2012	Acc
Steve H.	25 Nov 2012	Acc	Good photos/video
Ryan O.	15 Nov 2012	Acc
Ron R.	5 Dec 2012	Acc	Nice photos and video clearly show this species. Tail wag very evident in video.
Terry S..	18 Nov 2012	Acc
Jack S..	12 Nov 2012	abst	[submitted record]
Mark S.	20 Dec 2012	Acc
David W.	13 Nov 2012	Acc	Nicely documented.

2012-47 Common Redpoll

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	13 Nov 2012	Acc
Rick F.	18 Nov 2012	Acc
Steve H.	25 Nov 2012	Acc
Ryan O.	15 Nov 2012	Acc	I'm not sure I can see all five birds well enough in the photos to eliminate Hoary Redpoll, but at least four seem to me to be clear-cut Commons, and I see nothing on the fifth to make me suspicious of Hoary.
Ron R.	5 Dec 2012	Acc	Photos clearly show this species.
Terry S..	18 Nov 2012	Acc
Jack S..	13 Nov 2012	Acc
Mark S.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	No discussion regarding Hoary Redpoll weakens this record, but the identifiable birds in the photos all appear to be Commons, by bill size, overall color, and streaking on the underparts.
David W.	13 Nov 2012	Acc	The write-up was not definitive, and did not even eliminate a Cassin's finch, but the photos were adequate to accept this as a Common redpoll.

2012-48 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	19 Nov 2012	Acc
Rick F.	12 Dec 2012	Acc
Steve H.	25 Nov 2012	Acc
Ryan O.	18 Nov 2012	abst	[submitted record]
Ron R.	5 Dec 2012	Acc	Nice description and sufficient photos to identify this species.
Terry S..	18 Nov 2012	Acc
Jack S..	11 Dec 2012	Acc	Good documentation!
Mark S.	20 Dec 2012	Acc
David W.	26 Nov 2012	Acc

2012-49 Common Redpoll

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	29 Nov 2012	Acc
Rick F.	12 Dec 2012	Acc	great record
Steve H.	28 Nov 2012	Acc	Nice photos.
Ryan O.	26 Nov 2012	Acc	I'm not sure we can tell from this documentation whether the "first-year female" bird is an adult female, an immature male, or an immature female without careful study of the shape of the retrices and study of molt limits in the coverts, etc., but regardless, I vote to accept the species identification.
Ron R.	5 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent description and photos clearly show this species.
Terry S..	28 Nov 2012	Acc	Great photos
Jack S..	11 Dec 2012	Acc	Good documentation!
Mark S.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	Good documentation.
David W.	26 Nov 2012	Acc	Excellent documentation & photos.

2012-50 Reddish Egret

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Bob B.	28 Nov 2012	Acc
Rick F.	12 Dec 2012	Acc	Glad we can accept this record
Steve H.	28 Nov 2012	Acc	Good to see this record properly resubmitted.
Ryan O.	28 Nov 2012	Acc
Ron R.	5 Dec 2012	Acc	Photos clearly show this species. Glad this record was resubmitted.
Terry S..	28 Nov 2012	Acc	I am glad this was so readily resubmitted.
Jack S..	11 Dec 2012	Acc
Mark S.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	The correct i.d. for this beast.
David W.	28 Nov 2012	Acc

2012-51 Blackpoll Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	6 Jan 2013	Acc
Bob B.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	Streaking on the back eliminates Pine Warbler, Yellow feet and legs eliminate Pine and Bay-breasted Warblers. I believe this is a Blackpoll Warbler.
Rick F.	26 Dec 2012	Acc	photos are definitive
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	27 Jan 2013	Acc	Photos clearly show key marks: streaked back, black eyeline, lack of auricular patch, white undertail coverts, light colored legs and feet, and faint breast streaking. Lateral throat stripe not obvious.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc	Good photographs!
Mark S.	21 Dec 2012	Acc	The description is unhelpful, but the photos show a Blackpoll Warbler.
David W.	22 Dec 2012	Acc	I struggled a bit with this one because the face and degree of breast streaking seemed more reminiscent of a Bay-breasted warbler. But the foot color and the white belly to undertail coverts are convincing. Pine warblers have longer tails and darker legs. On another note, it is amazing how different the color saturation of the bird (especially the degree of yellow) appears between some of the photos (compare D & E). It's almost hard to believe the photos are of the same bird.

2012-52 Northern Parula

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	6 Jan 2013	Acc
Bob B.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	The description is good for Northern Parula. The photos are not going to win any prizes, but, by gum, they are better than nothing.
Rick F.	26 Dec 2012	Acc	Great record
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	27 Jan 2013	Acc	Good description and minimally adequate photos, especially A' eliminate other species.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc	Good documentation!
Mark S.	21 Dec 2012	Acc	The poor photos are supported by a good description, and adequately eliminates similar species.
David W.	22 Dec 2012	Acc	Another nice record by Eric. (31 Dec 2012) "Northerner than most..."

2012-53 Common Redpoll

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	6 Jan 2013	Acc
Bob B.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	What a year for Redpolls.
Rick F.	26 Dec 2012	Acc
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	27 Jan 2013	Acc	Adequate description to eliminate other species, including hoary redpoll (at least in individuals seen well).
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc
Mark S.	20 Dec 2012	Acc	Description adequate to eliminate similar species.
David W.	22 Dec 2012	Acc

2012-54 Hoary Redpoll

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	3 Feb 2013	No ID	The streaking on the flanks seems too heavy for a Hoary Redpoll. Without a description or view of the back of the bird to support a Hoary, I think this is more likely a light Common Redpoll.
Bob B.	23 Dec 2012	No ID	This bird is way too streaked and dark for a Hoary Redpoll. Looks to me to be a fairly typical Common Redpoll.
Rick F.	26 Dec 2012	No, ID	I'd accept this record as a Common Redpoll. I believe the streaking is too bold on the sides, the undertail coverts too marked, and the overall upperside plumage too brownish for a Hoary Redpoll.
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	No, ID	Streaks on sides and undertail coverts are too extensive for Hoary Redpoll. Suggest resubmitting as a record of Common Redpoll. Also, this record represents at least two individual birds, one with a pink wash on the upper chest and one without.
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	No ID	This bird does has characteristics more similar to common redpoll. These include a relatively large bill, perhaps curved culmem (photo D'), and no apparent pale rear scapulars. Photo B appears to be another individual due to pink on chest that is not apparent in other photos, especially as compared to photo C (chest is washed out on A and B). Overall coloration not outside range of variability for common redpoll.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	No ID	The streaking on the sides of the breast looks heavily streaked. The bill looks larger and does not seem to have a straight culmen like I would expect in a Hoary Redpoll. The photo also seems to show streaking on the undertail coverts which is more consistent for a Common Redpoll
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	No ID	This bird looks to be within the plumage variation range of Common Redpoll. Additional photographs or a detailed description of the structure and plumage would have been very helpful.
Mark S.	23 Dec 2012	No ID	Looks like a Common Redpoll to me; bill too large, streaking on the flanks too heavy, and dark streaks on the vent.
David W.	31 Dec 2012	No ID	I am not certain about this bird. It is one of those difficult "intermediate" birds. The bird is overall quite pale, which supports a Hoary. The red cap (poll) is realtively large for a Hoary, but proabbaly within its range. There is some streaking on the undertail coverts, but not very extensive/thick, with the possible exception of one streak. Streaking elsewhere on the flanks is again heavier than I'd like to see for a Hoary, but probably within the range of variability for that species. The bill is intermediate, but strikes me as large for a Hoary (though a better profile view would be helpful). There is some brownish wash on the flanks and back, but not extensive--again intermediate. I really wish the rump were visible in the photos or described in the report, to allow for a better ID. As it is, I am uncertain, but leaning toward a pale Common redpoll. I'd like to read what the rest of you thought, so I'm voting NO for this round.

2012-55 Black-throated Blue Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	3 Feb 2013	Acc
Bob B.	24 Dec 2012	Acc	Diagnostic photos. Great find.
Rick F.	24 Dec 2012	abst	[submitted record]
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	Acc	Excellent photo unmistakable.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent documentation!
Mark S.	24 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent photo and description.
David W.	31 Dec 2012	Acc	Like this bird, females often have a small white wing spot, contrary to most field guide illustrations.

2012-56 Neotropic Cormorant

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	3 Feb 2013	Acc
Bob B.	24 Dec 2012	Acc
Rick F.	24 Dec 2012	abst	[submitted record]
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	Acc	Excellent photo clearly shows this species.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent documentation!
Mark S.	24 Dec 2012	Acc
David W.	31 Dec 2012	Acc

2012-57 Yellow-throated Vireo

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	3 Feb 2013	Acc
Bob B.	24 Dec 2012	Acc	Great photos
Rick F.	24 Dec 2012	abst	[submitted record]
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	Acc	Excellent photo clearly show this species.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent Photo!
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent documentation!
Mark S.	24 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent photo and description.
David W.	31 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent photo shows the vireo structure well.

2012-58 Mountain Plover

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	3 Feb 2013	Acc
Bob B.	31 Dec 2012	Acc
Rick F.	30 Jan 2013	Acc
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc	Bill shape and details of facial pattern also eliminate Greater and Lesser Sand-Plovers, which were not considered in the similar species section.
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	Acc	Photo clearly shows this species.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc	Great find!
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc	Good photographs!
Mark S.	26 Dec 2012	Acc	Photos and description adequately support this i.d.
David W.	31 Dec 2012	Acc

2012-59 Lawrence's Goldfinch

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	3 Feb 2013	Acc
Bob B.	31 Dec 2012	Acc
Rick F.		abst	[submitted record]
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	Acc	Nice photo clearly shows this species.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc	Excellent documentation!
Mark S.	26 Dec 2012	Acc	Good photo & description.
David W.	31 Dec 2012	Acc	Good photo.

2012-60 Red-necked Grebe

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	3 Feb 2013	Acc
Bob B.	31 Dec 2012	Acc
Rick F.		abst	[submitted record]
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	Acc	Apparently late moulting individual. Photo and descrition capture important field marks.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc
Mark S.	26 Dec 2012	Acc
David W.	31 Dec 2012	Acc

2012-61 Red-necked Grebe

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	3 Feb 2013	Acc
Bob B.	31 Dec 2012	Acc
Rick F.		abst	[submitted record]
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	Acc	Photo clearly shows this species.
Terry S..	30 Dec 2012	Acc
Jack S..	27 Dec 2012	Acc
Mark S.	26 Dec 2012	Acc
David W.	31 Dec 2012	Acc	Nice photo.

2012-62 Common Redpoll

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kathy B.	5 Feb 2013	Acc	Written documentation is incomplete, but photos A through D show multiple Common Redpolls and photo E shows a Common Redpoll.
Bob B.	31 Dec 2012	Acc
Rick F.	30 Jan 2013	Acc
Ryan O.	8 Jan 2013	Acc	Record does not attempt to eliminate Hoary Redpoll, but the photos that are clear enough to identify all show Common Redpolls. It would be nice to have some indication of how the number was estimated ( coarse eyeball guess, counted by tens, counted in one area and then counted areas the same size, etc.), but I don't see that as a reason to reject the record.
Ron R.	24 Feb 2013	Acc	Photos clearly show this species.
Terry S..	14 Jan 2013	Acc
Jack S..	3 Feb 2013	Acc
Mark S.	16 Jan 2013	Acc
David W.	31 Dec 2012	Acc	I cannot speak for all the individuals in this flock, but there are certainly Common redpolls mixed in. Many have brownish tones, lots of red on their breasts. The bird in photo E has a "large" bill and "poll" consistent with a Common redpoll.