Records Committee Utah Ornithological Society Web Site

Records Committee
Utah Ornithological Society

Status & Comments
Year 2019 (records 1 through 25)

2019-01 Great Black-backed Gull

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	15 Jan 2019	Acc	I imagine it's not often that the first record of the year is a state first but it's cool for this one. The massive size, very dark black back, blocky head and thick bill and basically unstreaked head and neck are all good field marks show by this bird. The large white spot on P10 and smaller white spot on P9 is diagnostic for this species vs all other large dark-backed gulls
Stephanie G.	15 Mar 2019	Acc
Mike H.	15 Feb 2018	Acc
Dennis S.	18 Jan 2019	Acc	Unquestionable! A great addition to our State's list.
Bryan S.	2 Mar 2019	Acc
Steve S.	2 Mar 2019	Acc
Mark S.	15 Mar 2019	Acc	Excellent documentation of a long overdue species for Utah.
Larry T.	7 Mar 2019	Acc	Nice bird to start the year off with.
David W.	16 Jan 2019	Acc	The combination of bill size (immensely thick), back color, body size relative to other gulls, leg color, iris color, and bullying behavior against adult ducks all support this species. This bird has been very well documented by many knowledgeable birders since first discovered by Brian Maxfield. Excellent record.

2019-02 McCown's Longspurl

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	2 Mar 2019	Acc	Photos look good for a McCown's.
Stephanie G.	15 Mar 2019	Acc
Mike H.	6 Mar 2019	Acc
Dennis S.	20 Feb 2019	Acc	No question. Good substantiating photos and several good birders saw it!
Bryan S.	2 Mar 2019	Acc
Steve S.	14 Apr 2019	Acc
Mark S.	11 Apr 2019	Acc	Even though the written description doesn't mention the similar Chestnut-collared, the photos eliminate that species, and show a McCown's.
Larry T.	7 Mar 2019	Acc
David W.	24 Feb 2019	Acc	Nice large bill eliminates similar species. Terry's photo is amazingly crisp.

2019-03 Brown Pelican

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	2 Mar 2019	Acc	Description is a match for Brown Pelican.
2nd round:	4 May 2019	Acc	The field marks all match a Brown Pelican. Not having photos and/ or a record being a few years old shouldn't be enough to reject a record.
Stephanie G.	15 Mar 2019	No, ID	The description fits Brown Pelicans, but with it being a record with no photos and over two years old, not sure I'm comfortable with accepting in the first round.
2nd round:	17 May 2019	No, ID	I think the observer should explain why it took him two years to submit the record. Without pictures and the extended period of time not submitting the record, I'm not comfortable accepting a rarity like this.
Mike H.	6 Mar 2019	Acc	Description seems to fit, but I do wish all reports had a photo. I know this isn t going to happen, but one can wish.
2nd round:	22 May 2019	Acc	If this wasn t a Brown Pelican, I m not sure what else it could be.
Dennis S.	2 Mar 2019	Acc
2nd round:	24 Apr 2019	Acc	All we have to go on is a written description and it seems to be adequate. What can you misidentify with a "brown" pelican. But why 2 years old?
Bryan S.	4 Mar 2019	No, ID	I wish there was a better description of the field marks and how he eliminated White Pelican. I am always a skeptic and fell like this report doesn't include enough to convince me
2nd round:	22 May 2019	No, ID	The description fits, but the fact that it is so long ago keeps gnawing at me. I don't think that being a old sighting necessarily means it shouldn't be accepted, but our memories do funny things over time & it is really easy to think "oh yeah, I saw that mark" as we look at a field guide a few years later. Based on how rare Brown Pelican is in Utah it is hard for me not to be skeptical
Steve S.	14 Apr 2019	Acc
2nd round:	7 May 2019	Acc	I don't see how this description can fit anything other than Brown Pelican.
Mark S.	11 Apr 2019	Acc	Description doesn't fit anything else.
2nd round:	15 Apr 2019	Acc	I think we're spoiled by the days of digital photography into wanting a photo of every "good bird." But there was a time that photos were a luxury, and written descriptions had to be carefully examined, especially from a single observer. One of the things that factored into that evaluation was how easily the bird could be mistaken for another species. Brown Pelican is close to as unmistakable as they get, occasional reports of oiled White Pelicans notwithstanding. The observation presented here is detailed, and prolonged. I tried to imagine with what the observer could have confused this bird - including of course White Pelican, but even things like Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and just can't see anything else that fits everything described except Brown Pelican. That's good enough for me, even without a photo.
Larry T.	7 Mar 2019	Acc	Description sounds like a Brown Pelican.
2nd round:	30 May 2019	Acc	The description is good enough for me. Nothing to real confuse this species with..
David W.	24 Feb 2019	Acc	Wow. A good 15 minutes before sunset.
2nd round:	29 Apr 2019	Acc	I think the description leaves room for no other alternative. Distinct yellow crown and grayish bill eliminate an oiled American white pelican.

2019-04 Brown Thrasher

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	2 Mar 2019	Acc	Description matches Brown Thrasher. Was the Brown Thrasher in Moab that winter possibly one of these?
2nd round:	4 May 2019	Acc	I don't think a record being 5 years old should overrule the exact description of a Brown Thrasher
Stephanie G.	15 Mar 2019	No, ID	Without photos, and with the record being several years old, not sure I'm comfortable with accepting in the first round.
2nd round:	17 May 2019	No, ID	I'm sticking with my "no" vote since the notes were not made at the time of the sighting, no photos, and the time elapsed between the sighting and the record submission were so long.
Mike H.	14 Apr 2019	Acc	Description and experience with this species.
2nd round:	22 May 2019	Acc	Still feel the description fits and even though the lack of photos and delay in reporting are not ideal, I don t feel they should discredit the observation.
Dennis S.	2 Mar 2019	Acc
2nd round:	29 Apr 2019	Acc	Prior experience still tips to accept.
Bryan S.	4 Mar 2019	Acc
2nd round:	22 Jun 2019	Acc	With 2 birds and being an old sighting the record seems a bit dubious to me, but the record describes the key points well enough to support accepting this record.
Steve S.	14 Apr 2019	Acc
2nd round:	7 May 2019	Acc	Observer eliminated similar birds, and his being familiar with Brown Thrasher keeps my vote as a yes.
Mark S.	11 Apr 2019	Acc	Description adequately eliminates similar species. The date is good for a vagrant of this species.
2nd round:	29 Apr 2019	Acc	As per my first round comments - the description, date, habitat and behavior all sound good for Brown Thrasher.
Larry T.	7 Mar 2019	Acc	unusual to see 2 birds but sounds like a Brown Thrasher.
2nd round:	30 May 2019	Acc	I will stay with my accept vote. Everything fits for the record as stated by others.
David W.	26 Feb 2019	Acc	Description sounds like a Brown thrasher to me. I am assuming from the details in the description that "Notes made later" do not mean four years later.
2nd round:	1 May 2019	Acc	The records is old, but it still sounds like Brown thrasher to me. Only other bird around here that seems like a likely confusion would be the Sage thrasher, and the observer has experience with both species. 1) Habitat this late in season, especially by an ecotone of riparian brush with sagebrush, may not be that significant (I've had a Sage thrasher in my yard in downtown Sugarhouse during migration), but habitat does add some weight to the claim. 2) Observer matched the songs, though one could confuse those with the thrasher family variable songsters. 3) Reddish brown upperparts with long tail seems to eliminate most other birds from consideration in this part of the world. 4) Discussion of strong bill is very convincing, especially as relates to eliminating Sage thrasher. 5) Heavy, dark streaking, though it is a relative term, is also a good field mark, especially when it is compared to a Hermit thrush to bring out the streakiness vs spottiness (which applies some to the Sage thrasher differentiation as well). 6) The observer noted the Brown thrashers being larger than Sage thrashers, which they certainly are, by a significant margin.

2019-05 Tennessee Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	2 Mar 2019	Acc	Fantastic photos clearly show white undertail coverts.
Stephanie G.	31 Mar 2019	Acc	Pretty straightforward, white undertail coverts pretty clear. nice clear pictures.
Mike H.	6 Mar 2019	Acc
Dennis S.	2 Mar 2019	Acc
Bryan S.	2 Mar 2019	Acc
Steve S.	14 Apr 2019	Acc
Mark S.	15 Apr 2019	Acc	Good photos allow this "confusing fall warbler" to be positively identified. White vent, black lore, white-behind-the-eye supercillium, short tail, and very acute bill all eliminate the similar Orange-crowned Warbler.
Larry T.	7 Mar 2019	Acc	Nice photos.
David W.	4 Mar 2019	Acc	Amazing photos show a very straight bill, no breast streaking.

2019-06 Red-throated Loon

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	4 May 2019	Acc	The contrasting white underparts and bill shape match Red-throated Loon.
Stephanie G.	31 Mar 2019	Acc	Neck goes straight down in to the water, clean white neck, small loon. Looks good to me.
Mike H.	26 Apr 2019	Acc	Photos aren't the best, but the experience of some of the observers makes up for it.
Dennis S.	6 Mar 2019	Acc
Steve S.	14 Apr 2019	Acc
Mark S.	15 Apr 2019	Acc	The photos are poor, but taken along with the written description we have enough evidence to eliminate similar species. Shape and bill size eliminate Common Loon, and the extensive white on the flanks and neck eliminate Pacific/Arctic Loon.
Larry T.	7 Mar 2019	Acc
David W.	5 Mar 2019	Acc	Convincing writeup.

2019-07 Mexican Duck

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	4 May 2019	Acc	Photos rule out hybridize with Mallard.
2nd round:	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Photos of the bird don't show any field marks consistent with hybridization with Mallard.
Stephanie G.	31 Mar 2019	Acc	Seems to have ruled out other options; detailed record with clear field mark
2nd round:	22 Aug 2019	Acc	Lack of curled feathers seems to rule out hybridization
Mike H.	18 May 2019	No, Nat	Would like to read others opinions.
2nd round:	8 Oct 2019	Acc, NAS	I’m having trouble deciding on this particular record. I feel it is impossible to eliminated the bird not having other genes and provenance is another can of worms.
Dennis S.	24 Apr 2019	Acc, NAS	A problematic group.
2nd round:	20 Aug 2019	Acc	I appreciate the input of several committee members and think we are right in approving the species for our State, and this record substantiates it.
Bryan S.	22 Jun 2019	Acc
Steve S.
Mark S.	15 Apr 2019	Acc	This record looked good to me, with no signs of hybridization, in every respect except for the blue speculum and thick white leading edge to the speculum. Some references say that the speculum should be greenish (though I put little faith in the exact shade of such structural colors), and that there should be no white, or only a very thin white, leading edge to the speculum (referenced to Pyle). So I went to my own photos of Mexican Duck taken here in Nayarit, Mexico, where we have no records of Mallard, and are far outside the range of Mallard, but do have resident Mexican Ducks. Several of my photos show a thick white leading edge on a blue speculum on male Mexican Duck. With that, I see no clear evidence of a hybrid in this record.
2nd round:	13 Jul 2019	Acc	If I was sitting on my back porch in San Blas, I couldn't see any ducks, but if I was on my front porch during a rain storm, a duck might come by on the flooded street, but I've only seen Muscovy and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in that setting. We have to go inland to find Mexican Ducks (that are common about 30 km from here). This is clearly a complex and unsatisfying situation, especially on the fringes of the range for any of these Mallard-complex species. It is unlikely that any "genetically pure" individuals could be ever found, even if we could adequately define what we mean by "genetically pure." But the AOU has acknowledged and accepted this situation in the recognition of the various species of the complex. So I think we go contrary to the reasoning of the NACC by trying to parse any individual too closely, and even less by constructing theories regarding possible lineage. This individual looks phenotypically fine for a Mexican Duck, and shows no obvious signs of hybridization. It clearly has enough Mexican Duck in it to present an appearance that could signify pure Mexican Duck genes, whatever we decide that means. Is it, in fact, a "pure" Mexican Duck? Probably not, but we can't know that from the information in front of us, and perhaps couldn't know even with more sophisticated analysis. But to not accept this record on the theory that it's unlikely that this individual is genetically pure, given the location and the prevalence of hybrids within the Mallard-complex, is to make an argument that the NACC has already considered and decided. You're welcome, Mr. Wheeler, for the gift to your Utah list.
Larry T.	30 May 2019	Acc	Photos look like a Mexican Duck.
2nd round:	7 Sep 2019	Acc	As before. Everything fits the species.
David W.	1 May 2019	No, ID	This is such a subtle, complex ID that I'd like to send it to the second round without prejudice for discussion. I present my thoughts below, though I am not arguing for either an acceptance or rejection of this record. I am presenting a rationale for why I am hoping to send this to the second round for further discussion. My hesitation to vote to accept is based on two things: 1) The Mallard gene pool is so mixed with an immense variation of domestic type genes which express themselves in a complex suite of phenotypes. To complicate things, this gene pool is also enriched with the comingling with other members of this superspecies (including, around here, Spotted duck and Black duck). I am therefore very skeptical of something popping out of a duck egg around here being called a Mexican duck. 2) This bird was associating with another duck which looked like something intermediate between it and a Mallard. I have photos of both, splashing about together. Are they siblings from a hybrid family?? I hope we decide this is a Mexican duck, as I would like to see it on my Utah list, but I want us to be sure. I would like to hear more thoughts from our Committee's Mexican representative on this, though I don't want to base our decision on an argument like, "If this were sitting in my back porch in San Blas, Mexico, I wouldn't think twice about calling it a Mexican duck" (precisely because this bird is so far out of the natural range for that species, and range does matter).
2nd round:	26 Aug 2019	Acc	I still think the phenotypic expression within this species is so scattered, with any one field mark being expressed in a variety of ways depending on the individual duck's mix of genes, that it is a dubious argument to call this a Mexican duck. But since I do not have a genetic sample to work with, it would be just a philosophical stance that I am voting on rather than the evidence presented, and that isn't right. I'll defer to the majority while gritting my teeth.

2019-08 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	4 May 2019	No, ID	Doesn't sufficiently rule out an 1st spring Gray-crowned Rosy-finch.
2nd round:	11 Aug 2019	No, ID	No additional comments.
Stephanie G.	17 May 2019	No, ID	I don't think other species have effectively been ruled out.
2nd round:	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	Other Rosy-finch species not effectively ruled out
Mike H.	22 May 2019	No, ID	I ve looked at the eBird report that was submitted the day of the observation and the description is less than satisfying. Then there are the field marks he listed here that are still not diagnostic and were written from memory 5 days after the observation. As we ve seen from other s photos that have been submitted, this is a tough ID and I don t feel this is a case where we can accept this record.
2nd round:	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	My opinion on this hasn t changed.
Dennis S.	24 Apr 2019	No, ID	Not convinced. Too much doubt with other cogeniters -GCRF and BLRF. Also, with many birders visiting this sight why not seen by others this winter?
2nd round:	20 Aug 2019	No, ID	Still no change from initial thoughts.
Bryan S.	22 Jun 2019	No, ID	With the amount of variation in the Rosy-Finches and the difficulty of ID, the report doesn't convince me that it was a Brown-Capped
2nd round:	3 Sep 2019	No, ID	same comments as round one
Steve S.	7 May 2019	Acc
2nd round:	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	Agreed. could very well be a juvenile Gray-crowned.
Mark S.	15 Apr 2019	No, ID	Here's a species so difficult to identify that meaningful debate can occur even with excellent photos as documentation. And this record is a written description only, from an observer who has no experience with the species. I find nothing in the description that eliminates immature Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. Rather, the description of a "light-pink wash" on the flanks sounds better for immature GCRF than BCRF.
2nd round:	13 Jul 2019	No, ID	As per my first round comments.
Larry T. 2nd:	7 Sep 2019	No, ID	As noted by others, could be a GC Rosy.
David W.	1 May 2019	No, ID	This is such a subtle, complex ID that I'd like to send it to the second round without prejudice for discussion.
2nd round:	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	I agree with others that not enough evidence has been presented to eliminate an immature Gray-crowned rosy-finch. With such a difficult ID, more (and more precise) field marks would need to be presented in order to be certain. I appreciate Mike's comment, pointing to outside evidence on eBird.

2019-09 Little Blue Heron

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	Acc	Nice photos of an adult Little Blue Heron. Good find in the desert!
Stephanie G.	17 May 2019	Acc	Obvious photos, fun find!
Mike H.	22 May 2019	Acc	Photos show a LBHE.
Dennis S.	13 May 2019	Acc	Great photos leave no doubt.
Bryan S.	22 Jun 2019	Acc	Hard to vote yes on this one since I was at Lytle the next day and didn't see it (haha). Great record
Steve S.	7 May 2019	Acc
Mark S.	7 May 2019	Acc	Written description is lacking, but the photos show a Little Blue Heron. Are we sure that these photos are from Lytle Ranch? ;-)
Larry T.	28 Jul 2019	Acc
David W.	20 May 2019	Acc	Excellent photos leave little doubt. I am bemused & intrigued by the comment that the observer is familiar with Reddish egrets but not this species--where did he live?

2019-10 Painted Bunting

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	No, ID	I'm hoping this goes to the second round to see what others thing. The description sounds reasonable but this observer has had a number of "interesting" sightings over the years and it seems odd that somehow he was the only one in the group that got good looks.
2nd round:	25 Aug 2019	No, ID	While the date of this record is consistent with past sightings for this species in Utah, the observers lack of experience with the species combined with the other oddities of this record leave me leaning against this record.
Stephanie G.	17 May 2019	No, ID	No photos, the bird was obscured and was not observed for more than 30 seconds. The reflections from green leaves could have made a greenish cast appear on the bird, possibly another bunting species.
2nd round:	22 Aug 2019	No, ID	Evidence not strong enough to accept record in my opinion. Greenish cast from vegetation may have made another bunting or similar species appear to be green. Possibly a female summer tanager.
Mike H.	22 May 2019	No, ID	Too many red flags in this report.
2nd round:	12 Aug 2019	No, ID	The red flags I was speaking of have been covered by KF & SG.
Dennis S.	13 May 2019	Acc	Provisional acceptance! Did anyone else in group see green color or anything to help substantiate it?
2nd round:	20 Aug 2019	Acc
Bryan S.	11 Aug 2019	Acc
2nd round:	28 Oct 2019	Acc
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	Acc
2nd round:	15 Oct 2019	Acc	Distinctive species with good written description
Mark S.	18 Jun 2019	Acc	Even the female of this species is distinctive, and the description adequately eliminates any other species. The location, plus sex, makes an escapee less likely than a naturally occurring vagrant.
2nd round:	26 Oct 2019	Acc	The description rules out similar species, and 30 seconds is actually quite a long look. Unless someone wishes to question the credibility of the observer, to which I have no knowledge personally, I see no reason to reject this record.
Larry T.	28 Jul 2019	Acc	Noted field marks seem to eliminate similar species.
2nd round:	7 Sep 2019	Acc	I will stay with my accept vote. The species is much more likely to be seen in August/September but I don't think one in May is a problem. As noted we have to go with the documentation of the record unless there's other circumstances we know of.
David W.	21 May 2019	Acc	I know we often agonize over whether records of this species represent escapees, but it seems very plausible to me that a female during migration would be natural & wild.
2nd round:	1 Sep 2019	Acc	I get the distinct impression that some members of the Committee have some knowledge regarding the person submitting this report which is unavailable to me, perhaps based on eBird records. I am open to any information put before me, but I cannot in good conscience base my vote on the reputation of someone without having specific evidence to support such a bias. Please, if there is good cause to doubt the veracity/ability of someone submitting a record before the Committee, present it to the rest of us. I have nothing but respect for my fellow voting members, and I frankly believe you are acting out of knowledge beyond mine, but I cannot act on vague accusations. Very many of the birds we see are hopping around in foliage, which indeed changes the spectrum of light which bathes them. Yet we don't get an undue number of reports of chlorophonias and leafbirds in Utah because our brains naturally account for the chromatic shift and we subconsciously adjust for it. This bird was seen for 30 seconds, which is an eternity in bird watching, and which should have allowed the bird to be seen in a variety of light. For me to assume otherwise in the absence of other information seems a bit forced. (Again, for those of you who do have other information, you can certainly use that to "color" your reasoning, as that would be evidence in support of a different hypothesis. See above.) To address one possibility proposed by Stephanie, female tanagers do not have what is generally considered to be conical bills, so that is, to my mind, an unlikely substitute for a bunting. I do wish the record had addressed wing bars, but seldom do we get truly complete descriptions when the observer notes a definitive field mark which seals the deal in his/her mind. Alas. I am very willing to reconsider changing my vote if presented with specific evidence. [See also my discussion under the Least tern record (2019-19) for thoughts on group birding.]

2019-11 Zone-tailed Hawk

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	Acc	Description matches a Zone-tailed Hawk.
2nd round:	25 Aug 2019	Acc	Differences from Turkey Vulture and Common Black Hawk well listed.
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	Acc
2nd round:	22 Aug 2019	Acc	Appears to match description of Zone-tailed Hawk
Mike H.	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	Curious on other s thoughts here. It is clear that ZTHA are being ID d much more often than in previous years, but I m not sure the description is strong enough to rule out the other possibilities.
2nd round:	12 Aug 2019	Acc	Seems as though I was in a bad mood when I voted on a few of these... After reading the other's comments, I have no problem accepting this record.
Dennis S.	13 May 2019	Acc	Characters observed fit - TV like, banded tail, yellow cere, narrow wings.
2nd round:	20 Aug 2019	Acc
Bryan S.	22 Jun 2019	Acc	Nice description
2nd round:	3 Sep 2019	Acc
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	Acc
Mark S.	18 Jun 2019	Acc	Description eliminates similar species.
Larry T.	28 Jul 2019	Acc
2nd round:	7 Sep 2019	Acc	Description fits a Zone-tailed.
David W.	21 May 2019	Acc	Nice description.
2nd round:	20 Aug 2019	Acc	I believe the combination of field marks, especially the narrow wings, eliminate other similar species.

2019-12 Zone-tailed Hawk

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	Acc	Photos match Zone-tailed Hawk. It seems like they breed near by.
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	Acc
Mike H.	25 Jun 2019	Acc	photographic documentation.
Dennis S.	17 May 2019	Acc	Nice supporting photos.
Bryan S.	22 Jun 2019	Acc	Nice report and photos
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	Acc
Mark S.	18 Jun 2019	Acc	Photos show Zone-tailed Hawk. Are we getting close to the threshold for removing this species from the review list?
Larry T.	28 Jul 2019	Acc
David W.	21 May 2019	Acc	Great photo & description

2019-13 Chimney Swift

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	Acc	Excellent write up matches photo evidence for this species.
2nd round:	25 Aug 2019	Acc	I'll stick with my first round comments that the original description is thorough and is bolstered by the opinions of better birds in the US.
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Larger bill seems to be apparent in photos to rule out Vaux's
2nd round:	22 Aug 2019	Acc	Continuing to accept
Mike H.	25 Jun 2019	Acc, NAS	There are some field marks that I feel lean Chimney and there are ones that lean Vaux s too. It is clearly a chaetura sp., but I m having difficulty with this one. I do feel that most of these field marks are suggestive and not diagnostic. Vaux s would clearly be the more likely species here, but I also hate using a range map to confirm species. For now I ll vote to accept, but not at the species level.
2nd round:	12 Aug 2019	Acc	Since the others don t have a problem accepting this record, I will change to Accept .
Dennis S.	23 Jun 2019	Acc	Written report with supporting photos are convincing enough. The great opportunity to view and compare the CHSW and VASW on the same trip was very fortunate and helped.
2nd round:	20 Aug 2019	Acc
Bryan S.	11 Aug 2019	Acc
2nd round:	3 Sep 2019	Acc
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	Acc	Description and photos seem to favor Chimney Swift over Vaux's Swift
Mark S.	18 Jun 2019	Acc	Excellent documentation. Dark rump, wing length and shape, chunky body all eliminate Vaux's Swift.
Larry T.	28 Jul 2019	Acc
2nd round:	7 Sep 2019	Acc	This is a difficult group but I'm comfortable accepting it with the photos.
David W.	23 Jul 2019	Acc	The paleness confined to throat along with the dark rump are convincing. Nice record with very good photos for such a difficult -to-snap species.
2nd round:	20 Aug 2019	Acc	Emboldened by Mike's change of heart, I will stick to my first round convictions.

2019-14 Baird's Sparrow

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	Acc	I imagine that this record will be voted down and I won't take it personally. I wish I could have gotten a picture of this species, but the call note rules out all but Savannah and Baird's Sparrow and the habitat and behavior seemingly rule out Savannah Sparrow.
2nd round:	25 Aug 2019	Acc	The combination of call note with behavior are right for Baird's Sparrow and the looks of the sparrow. The call note is not the only thing this sighting is based on. This, like all other bird sightings, should be based on not only the visual and audio of a bird but also other things like the behavior of the bird and habitat it was located in. Also I looked through the entire Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Western NA and I can tell you that the only two chips that sound like my recording and look the same on the spectrogram are Baird's and Savannah Sparrow. I included a link to the sound database for that book in my comments and I will link it here again: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/peterson-field-guide-to-bird-sounds/ You can look at the all the other sparrows and see if you can find any other species that sound and look similar. I've put forth the research into this and I don't think it is asking too much for other reviewers to put a little research forward themselves if they are going to disagree with a record and not just dismiss it without their own evidence. We are trying to be scientific here.
Stephanie G.	21 Aug 2019	Acc	Seems to be a thoughtfully documented record that effectively rules out other species. Waveform and behavior matches for Baird's.
2nd round:	24 Sep 2019	Acc	After re-reviewing the record, listening to the audio and the chip calls in the database, and the visual description I am comfortable in accepting this record.
Mike H.	22 Jul 2019	Acc	Comparing with other Baird s calls on spectrograms it appears to line up well in every aspect. When comparing by ear to Savannah it leant seem to be as squeaky. I've spent a fair bit of time comparing the calls of these two species and feel it is a solid match to Baird s. However, calls by themselves are more suggestive of a field mark than diagnostic, but when taken with the other experiences with this bird I don t see any reason I can state that this individual is not a Baird s.
2nd round:	22 Oct 2019	Acc	My first round thoughts are still true. I feel that this species passes through our State a lot more than it s recorded. The secretive nature of the bird combined with most birders lack of desire to pursue a little brown bird through the weeds to confidently make an ID are two of the biggest reasons this species hasn t been observed more- in my opinion.
Dennis S.	23 Jun 2019	No, ID	I'm not comfortable with an ID of this extreme Utah rarity based on solely a chip note.
2nd round:	29 Aug 2019	No, ID	We've only had one accepted record for this mega-rarity. But there have been a number of suspected records - exhibiting secretive behavior, brief looks and call notes. I think this record again falls into the latter category. Even with a similar recorded chip note, I'm still not comfortable accepting this record.
Bryan S. 2nd:	3 Sep 2019	No, ID	I think that the info may point toward a Baird's, but in my opinion is not definitive. Especially considering the rarity of this species in Utah
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	The whole ID is based on chip notes very similar to Savannah Sparrow which I can't eliminate by call. The fact that the observer states that Savannah Sparrows always perch up when flushed makes no sense to me, as I have seen many skulky Savannah,s.
2nd round:	15 Oct 2019	No, ID	Not nearly enough evidence to convince me to accept
Mark S.	18 Jun 2019	Acc	I'm voting a "soft" accept on this one. It's not the kind of comprehensive evidence one would like to see, and I don't think any of the pieces of evidence presented - audio, coloration, behavior - are by themselves sufficient to eliminate Savannah Sparrow, but taken together I think they make Baird's Sparrow the best choice for this bird.
2nd round:	26 Oct 2019	No, ID	I still think that Baird's is a good call for this observation, but agree that the evidence is scant for a record of this magnitude, so I'll change my vote to reflect that.
Larry T.
2nd round:	7 Sep 2019	No, ID	The bird very well could have been a Baird's but I don't feel comfortable accepting it on a call only. I need at least something visually on this rare of a bird in the the state.
David W.	8 Aug 2019	No, ID	I want to send this to the second round. The behavior is right for a Bairds. The call seems right. But is it unique? I want more of a discussion.
2nd round:	20 Sep 2019	No, ID	I'm very torn about this one. I'm going to counterbalance Mark by voting a soft NO because there is just so little here to grasp onto. It may (even likely) well have been a Baird's, but I'd like to see more than is presented in this record. Round three anyone?

2019-15 Curve-billed Thrasher

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	Acc	The call matches the western subspecies of Curve-billed Thrasher. I can't find any other species that would produce a call that is shown by the spectrogram.
2nd round:	25 Aug 2019	Acc	The spectrogram matches a curve-billed thrahser. I didn't know that nearly identical isn't good enough for an audible, espeically given that within a given species, you can have chip note variation and even within a given individual, you can have variation from one chip note to the next. However if you look at the recording of this bird and recordings of other curve-billed thrashers, you can clearly see the similarity. If you look at the link I provided for the subspecies of Curve-billed Thrasher that I had: (https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/peterson-field-guide-to-bird-sounds/?speciesCode=cubthr2&species=Curve-billed%20Thrasher%20(palmeri%20Group)%20-%20Toxostoma%20curvirostre%20[palmeri%20Group]), you will see that they have 4 examples of Wit-weet calls and none of them are identical to each other. While they do show minor differences, they all share a similar pattern and sound. Comparing my recording to them, you will see that they all look similar to each other and more importantly sound very similar. This bird wasn't a mockingbird or any other mimic. I observed it for 5 minutes and it only gave the same wit-weet call the whole time. I don't know of any mimics in Utah that only give the same exact call for 5 minutes without giving any other calls or phrases. Also looking through the Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Western NA, both Gray and Dusky Flycatchers can give wit calls but never in a wit-weet pattern like this bird. Also Cordillerans give a 2 part call but not in the pattern of this bird. Here are links to each of those 3 species so you can see for yourself that the bird I had neither sounded like either of those 3 species and that the spectrograms don't match as well. Dusky Flycatcher: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/peterson-field-guide-to-bird-sounds/?speciesCode=dusfly&species=Dusky%20Flycatcher%20-%20Empidonax%20oberholseri Gray Flycatcher: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/peterson-field-guide-to-bird-sounds/?speciesCode=gryfly&species=Gray%20Flycatcher%20-%20Empidonax%20wrightii Cordilleran Flycatcher: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/peterson-field-guide-to-bird-sounds/?speciesCode=corfly&species=Cordilleran%20Flycatcher%20-%20Empidonax%20occidentalis
Stephanie G.	21 Aug 2019	Acc	Took me a minute to hear it in the recording, but it was clear once I did. Spectogram seems to match for Curve-billed. Fun record!
2nd round:	4 Nov 2019	Acc	I've had such a hard time with this one. The comments against the record are convincing, but so is Kenny's argument. I think that he's provided detailed information against the case for the call to be an empid, and the spectogram matches Curve-billed well.
Mike H.	14 Aug 2019	Acc	I've looked at this again and again and just can t seem to move myself to one side of the fence or the other. The biggest point is I can t make it something else so, I will vote to accept with hopes that it moves on to further discussion..
2nd round:	4 Nov 2019	No, ID	I agree with others that for a sighting of this species, more definitive documentation may be needed.
Dennis S.	23 Jun 2019	No, ID	Again an ID based on a spectrogram "nearly identical" wit-weet call note and no viewing of the bird is insufficient for acceptance.
2nd round:	29 Aug 2019	No, ID	Again the thrasher complex and other birds with similar sounding clucks, chirps, gurgles, weets, make this acceptance questionable. Similar or "seems to match" notes in my mind is not sufficient. With only two previous records, both with photos submitted, our standard for acceptance is met. If "observed" for 5 minutes the recorder needs to emphasize binoculars and maybe a camera more than recorder.
Bryan S. 2nd:	3 Sep 2019	No, ID	Similar to the Baird's Sparrow. For this rare of a species I would like to see something more definitive
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	A heard only bird with calls that could clearly be a Mockingbird?
2nd round:	15 Oct 2019	No, ID	Need more than a "nearly" identical call to accept. As for mimics not giving the same call for 5 minutes, I sat and looked for a calling Bendire's Thrasher for 15 minutes that turned out to be a Mockingbird.
Mark S.	21 Jun 2019	No, ID	I don't think there's enough here to establish the identification. What I can hear on the recording sounds more like an empid like a Dusky Flycatcher for the repetitive calls, and/or perhaps Cordilleran in the one isolated call. I don't hear the more nasal call, with the more emphatic introductory note, that Curve-bill Thrasher can give. Nor am I convinced that the spectrogram is a good match for the thrasher. I'm more intrigued by the behavioral notes, of a bird apparently hiding in the brush. While that certainly suggests a thrasher-like bird, I think that the difficulty of accessing the bird, and the brevity of the observation compromises that information. In the end, I don't think there's enough evidence here to establish the presence of such a rare bird with the degree of certainty that an observation of this significance merits.
2nd round:	26 Oct 2019	No, ID	As per my first round comments - I don't think the weight of evidence here is sufficient to accept a record of this magnitude.
Larry T. 2nd:	27 Oct 2019	No, ID	Can't accept this rare of a bird with what we have to go on. As others have stated there are many species that can be mimics that could learn a Curve-billed call note.
David W.	30 Jul 2019	No, ID	I have a hard time hearing a definitive song fragment in those audial recordings. Mimids in general (and, for that matter, other families of birds) are given to such a variety of mimicry, that I am hesitant to assume another member of this family might not have spent some quality time jamming with a curvy friend down in Arizona last winter and picked up some new licks. I'm open to being persuaded, but I at least want to hear the opinions of others in the second round.
2nd round:	26 Aug 2019	No, ID	Very many families of birds incorporate fragments of other species' calls/songs into their own songs, including finches, starlings/mynas, corvids, mimids, thrushes, silkies, etc. I'm going to need more than just a fragment of a sonogram to convince me on this one.

2019-16 Swallow-tailed Kite

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	No, ID	Although most of the description seems to match Swallow-tailed Kite, the lack of seeing a swallow tail shape while driving 70+ mph on the highway makes it seem suspect.
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	No, ID	I feel like the sighting is lacking in argument and in details. No mention of a swallow-like forked tail, I don't know if a highly contrasting Swainson's Hawk can be effectively ruled out.
Mike H.	25 Jun 2019	No, ID	The observer seems to have experienced this species many times, but I still have a hard time accepting a drive-by sighting on the freeway. If I had a dollar for every time my mind played tricks on me with an ID while driving, only to turn around and see that the bird in question was nothing close to what I thought I had seen. Curious to others thoughts on this record, but for now I m strongly leaning no.
Dennis S.	23 Jun 2019	No, ID	Putting it mildly - NO WAY!! I'm trying to be polite about this but,traveling down I-15 at 80 mph and identifying a bird never before seen in the state is not acceptable as a record. The most prominent character - long forked tail was never mentioned and raises even more doubt.
Bryan S.	22 Jun 2019	No, ID	A swallow-tailed kite is distinctive enough that it could be id'ed easily from the freeway, but for a first state record it is going to need a better view or a more convincing write-up. The observer mentions the contrasting white/black, but not a forked tail?
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	Swainson's Hawk or maybe even Northern Harrier? Description isn't complete enough and doesn't eliminate other species well enough for me to accept this record.
Mark S.	21 Jun 2019	No, ID	Sounds like he saw a light-morph Swainson's Hawk, that is common at that location.
David W.	27 Jun 2019	No, ID	I have been in contact by e-mail with the observer, and have urged him to be more specific regarding the obvious field mark (the shape of the tail), but have not seen that he has updated his initial report yet. I reserve the right to change my comments if further clarification comes in. As of today, 27 June 2019, my thoughts are these, based on the field marks provided: 1) The reported field marks would indeed match a Swallow-tailed kite. And it seems that someone so familiar with this species would know how to identify it. 2) However, the absence of a description of the length of the tail makes it difficult to eliminate two other species (more likely to occur in this state): A - Swainson's hawk (The contrast in their wings is often much greater than most guides suggest and they often display an almost kite-like flight shape. The tail can also seem pretty dark at times. No description of the head/upper breast of this bird were provided to eliminate a Swainson's with certainty.) B - Mississippi kite (Again, the contrast in their wings is not adequately illustrated in field guides, as became annoyingly apparent during my May trip to Florida, during which I saw plenty of both kites. I specifically thought to myself on several occasions while in Texas that the contrast in the wings was inadequately captured by my Natl. Geo. guide)

2019-17 Prothonotary Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	Acc	Description seems to match but I did go look the next day for this bird (since it wasnt reported until the next day) and I couldn't find it but did have a Yellow Warbler giving a call quite reminiscent of Prothonotary Warbler.
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Detailed description seems to indicate Prothonotary
Mike H.	27 Aug 2019	Acc	Description of bird, song, and habitat all seem to fit.
Dennis S.	20 Aug 2019	Acc
Bryan S.	3 Sep 2019	Acc
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	Acc
Mark S.	12 Jul 2019	Acc	Good description of a very distinctive species.
David W.	27 Jun 2019	Acc	Great report. Field marks, song, habitat, and behavior all match this species.

2019-18 Bendire's Thrasher

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	Acc	Description seems to sufficiently rule out Sage Thrasher.
2nd round:	27 Oct 2019	Acc	Although the description isn't the best, the lack of spotting on the breast would seem to eliminate Sage Thrasher.
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	I would like to see more documentation, but record seems to describe Bendire's and rule out other similar species.
2nd round:	29 Aug 2019	Acc	Continuing to accept; it's not a great record but it seems to rule out similar species.
Mike H. 2nd:	27 Aug 2019	No, ID	I know I voted on this record, or maybe I just thought I did... Either way, I still feel that the description isn t strong enough to eliminate the similar Sage or the less likely Curve-billed Thrasher.
Dennis S.	20 Aug 2019	No, ID	Not convincing. No clear discussion that separates closely related or closely look-a-likes.
2nd round:	29 Aug 2019	No, ID	Still weak comparison with other similar size and look-a-likes.
Bryan S. 2nd:	3 Sep 2019	No, ID	Do not feel that the written description eliminates other species. Call described as "Fairly Strong" but no other description?
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	Observer says he saw "no spotting on the breast as in a Sage Thrasher". If this was seen he should have been able to see the triangular spotting of Bendire's. Also doesn't eliminate the even less likely Curve-billed Thrasher.
2nd round:	15 Oct 2019	No, ID	Still don't think similar birds are eliminated
Mark S.	12 Jul 2019	Acc	This is a weak vote to accept - the description is barely adequate, but I think good enough to eliminate Curve-billed Thrasher and other similar species.
2nd round:	26 Oct 2019	No, ID	I was on the fence on this one, and will hop to the other side given the valid points made by other committee members regarding the possibility of other species not being adequately eliminated.
Larry T. 2nd:	27 Oct 2019	No, ID	I have to agree the description is a bit lacking and other species were not ruled out.
David W.	27 Jun 2019	Acc	I'm not entirely sanguine about this on an irrational gut level, but the provided field marks check out.
2nd round:	20 Sep 2019	No, ID	I'm really on the fence on this one, but I will switch my vote to NO in the second round because the record is a little vague for my comfort.

2019-19 Least Tern

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	7 Jul 2019	No, ID	This observer has had some other questionable sightings and not mentioning the size in comparison with the other terns in the area seems telling that maybe this wasn't a Least Tern and that maybe some light glare made the bill look pale and affected the look of the wings.
2nd round:	27 Oct 2019	No, ID	Long streamer tail and black on the wings are field marks that a 1st year Forster's Tern could show.
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	I'd love to see more documentation, and hate to accept a record for a brief sighting, but the description seems to rule out other tern species.
2nd round:	29 Aug 2019	No, ID	Other reviewers have convinced me by reminding me about the unreliability of this observer. He does seem to show a pattern of being the only one in a group of birders to report rarities.
Mike H.	25 Jun 2019	No, ID	This is the second record in a row (2019-10) that this observer has been with a group of birders and yet he is the only one to observe the rarity. This time he was with 3 other experienced birders and they didn t even list a sterna sp on their respective eBird checklists. I also don t think of Long streamer tail when checking off Least Tern field marks.
2nd round:	4 Nov 2019	No, ID	If I looked at this sight record with blinders on there are still too many holes to accept.
Dennis S.	20 Aug 2019	Acc
2nd round:	29 Aug 2019	No, ID	After reading 1st round comments and re-studying the report I've tipped my vote the other way. A "quick glance" and "long streamer tail" raise a shadow of more doubt.
Bryan S. 2nd:	3 Sep 2019	No, ID	Brief View, no mention of some notable marks (like white forehead). Plus I agree with others - too many reports with marginal views of very rare birds leads me to be skeptical and the report didn't convince me
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	Description seems Ok, but if it was seen well enough to see a yellow bill you would think the white forehead would be seen and included in description.
2nd round:	15 Oct 2019	No, ID	Relevant field marks not included
Mark S.	12 Jul 2019	Acc	Missed seeing some field marks, such as white forehead, and didn't note the distinctive flight style, but I think the field marks noted are sufficient to make this i.d.
2nd round:	26 Oct 2019	Acc	The description is sufficient to rule out similar species(as per my first round comments). As far as the credibility of the observer goes, I have no personal knowledge, and see only circumstantial and third-hand evidence presented here. I can't consider that alone as a reason to reject this record.
Larry T. 2nd:	27 Oct 2019	No ID	This should be a pretty easy bird to I.D. with good looks. But the observer doesn't make a very good case with the description for me to accept it.
David W.	25 Jun 2019	Acc	Although I wish I knew to which dove this was being compared, the other field marks as a whole leave me with little doubt.
2nd round:	1 Sep 2019	Acc	I've gone back & forth on this one. Kenny makes a good point about the possibility of glare on the bill, but what of the black wing bar? This record certainly lacks some details which would be helpful in our evaluation (proper size comparison and forehead description, for starters). But in the end, I am at a loss to substitute some other species in its place with the reported field marks. As for the fact that twice in a row the reporter was the only one who saw the bird being reported, that is mildly troubling. However, I bet all of us have experienced frustration while birding with someone (even sometimes those less experienced than us) when they pointed to some bird we couldn't seem to locate for the life of us. I know one member on the Committee who has made an entire career out of driving me bananas by seeing birds that I could not while we were together. But I believe he saw them. (There was one bird in the Amazon which an entire group of people were pointing at for about a minute, and I never could get on it!! Seemingly, it was impossible to miss.) Do we know whether these other experienced birders were next to the observer of this record the entire time? Or is he a wanderer who secures his own lists? I just don't know, so I cannot disqualify this record based on that information.

2019-20 Zone-tailed Hawk

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Photos match Zone-tailed Hawk
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Weird that the photo is a photo of a photo, but it seems to show a Zone-tailed.
Mike H.	27 Aug 2019	Acc	Good photo and description.
Dennis S.	20 Aug 2019	Acc
Bryan S.	3 Sep 2019	Acc
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	Acc
Mark S.	12 Jul 2019	Acc	Photo shows a Zone-tailed Hawk. Have we hit the threshold for removal from the review list for this species yet?
Larry T.	7 Sep 2019	Acc
David W.	8 Jul 2019	Acc	Good description & supporting photo.

2019-21 Palm Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Description and behavior sound good for Palm Warbler.
2nd round:	27 Oct 2019	Acc	No additional comments
Stephanie G.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Distinctive behavior description
2nd round:	11 Sep 2019	Acc	Continuing to accept
Mike H.	16 Jul 2019	No, ID	Voting no. Curious if I m the only one that finds the not dissimilar to a WCSP description puzzling. I m also not excited that other diagnostic field marks were not mentioned. A lot of emphasis on color and tail-pumping, but not much else.
2nd round:	22 Oct 2019	Acc	Wow, talk about reading something wrong... My initial vote was mostly based on believing the observer was comparing the looks of the Warbler to a WCSP??? Needless to say, I now see what he was comparing and it sheds a whole new light on the observation.
Dennis S.	20 Aug 2019	Acc
2nd round:	9 Oct 2019	Acc	Even with cloudiness question about chip call, the behavior and plumage comparisons with other warblers frequenting the area was convincing enough.
Bryan S.	3 Sep 2019	Acc
2nd round:	28 Oct 2019	Acc
Steve S.	16 Jul 2019	Acc
2nd round:	15 Oct 2019	Acc	Description and behavior fit Palm Warbler
Mark S.	12 Jul 2019	Acc	Behavior plus described field marks establish this i.d.
Larry T.	7 Sep 2019	Acc	Important field marks were noted.
2nd round:	27 Oct 2019	Acc	As before. The observer describes a Palm Warbler.
David W.	8 Jul 2019	Acc	I think there is just enough in that description to vote to accept.
2nd round:	8 Sep 2019	Acc	Mike: I don't know. I compared a variety of calls of both the White-crowned sparrow and the Palm warbler on Xeno-Canto, and I do think there is quite a bit of overlap to the human ear in an overall impression sort of way. Both can be pretty squeaky or chunky. I do not think this comparison should disqualify the record. This was not a sonogram. If there is another species offered as a substitute for a Palm warbler, I am all ears. In the meantime, I will stick with my first round vote, though I do not think this record is as vigorous as I would like.

2019-22 Boreal Owl

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Photos match Boreal Owl. Cool find at this location!
Stephanie G.	22 Aug 2019	Acc	Wish it would have been submitted a long time ago; we can't verify the date or location of the photos, but the photo clearly shows a Boreal Owl.
Mike H.	14 Aug 2019	Acc
Dennis S.	21 Aug 2019	Acc	Even being 16 years old the photo is convincing. (9 Oct.:) Unmistakable photos leave little doubt. However my only concern is the 16 year time frame. I hope it wasn't in Aspen ,Colorado! But I would think being on Christmas Day the experience should be easy to remember and map to the correct place and date.
Bryan S.	3 Sep 2019	Acc
Steve S.	15 Oct 2019	Acc
David W.	11 Aug 2019	Acc	Photos tell the tale. Correct facial disc, pale bill, chocolaty breast stripes, eye "horns", and white spots rather than fine stipples (streaks) on forehead. Odd to see one in the Wasatch. Very jealous.

2019-23 Zone-tailed Hawk

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	25 Aug 2019	Acc	Very well documented individual.
Stephanie G.	29 Aug 2019	Acc	Great photos
Mike H.	22 Oct 2019	Acc
Dennis S.	29 Aug 2019	Acc
Bryan S.	3 Sep 2019	Acc
Steve S.	15 Oct 2019	Acc	Not sure why this is still on yhe review list since it is a regularly occurring bird at least in Washington county.
Larry T.	24 Oct 2019	Acc
David W.	25 Aug 2019	Acc	Pine Park is a known location for this species, and has been for many years. I've seen a pair soaring here in the past as well, so they must regularly breed nearby. Beautiful photos and description are definitive, and I agree these represent two individuals.

2019-24 Brown Pelican

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	25 Aug 2019	Acc	Great documentation of one of the more cooperative Brown Pelicans to show up in the state.
Stephanie G.	29 Aug 2019	Acc	Great bird!
Mike H.	27 Aug 2019	Acc	If only all sight records were this well documented.
Dennis S.	29 Aug 2019	Acc
Steve S.	15 Oct 2019	Acc
Larry T.	24 Oct 2019	Acc
David W.	25 Aug 2019	Acc	A very well documented Brown pelican, seen by many. Photos and description eliminate all doubt. What a great find! [Note that drab bill color and inadequately pale upperwing coverts (present even in immatures) seem to eliminate Peruvian pelican, just in case anyone was wondering. Also, the Peruvian pelican is quite a bit larger than a Brown pelican, though we did not have the two here for contrast.]

2019-25 Wandering Tattler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Kenny F.	27 Oct 2019	Acc	Amazing documentation of a rarity I missed by 2 days since I was out of town.
Stephanie G.	29 Aug 2019	Acc	Great find!
Mike H.	17 Sep 2019	Acc
Dennis S.	29 Aug 2019	Acc
Bryan S.	28 Oct 2019	Acc
Steve S.	15 Oct 2019	Acc
Larry T.	24 Oct 2019	Acc	Good pics of a nice bird for Utah.
David W.	29 Aug 2019	Acc	Amazing photos and good description eliminates other species. The white supercilium is quite narrow in the photos, and clearly does not extend across the forehead as in a Gray-tailed tattler. (Besides, I clearly saw it wandering around, back and forth.) I have looked for this species every time I've stopped at this bridge since the tattler that was seen at this exact spot back in 2005. Dare we call this a "known location"?