Records Committee Utah Ornithological Society Web Site

Records Committee
Utah Ornithological Society

Status & Comments
Year 2020 (records 61 through ??)

2020-61 Black Vulture

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	15 Nov 2020	No, ID	Did not rule out immature Turkey Vultures
2nd round:	30 Dec 2020	No, ID
Kenny F.	8 Nov 2020	No, ID	Not enough here for a state first record without a picture. Doesn't sufficiently rule out juvenile Turkey Vultures which may have a shorter tail. Also doesn't mention the wing pattern which is quite different and stands out in Black Vulture.
2nd round:	8 Dec 2020	No, ID	Not enough details are here to accept as a first state record without documentation.
Stephanie G.	26 Oct 2020	No, ID	Not enough documentation for a state first.
2nd round:	9 Dec 2020	No, ID	Continued "no" based on lack of evidence and unable to rule out juv. Turkey Vulture.
Mike H.	23 Nov 2020	To 2nd
2nd round:	18 Dec 2020	No, ID	I agree that juvie Turkey Vulture was not ruled out.
Mike S.	31 Oct 2020	No, ID	Without a more detailed description, juvenile Turkey Vultures (or possibly even juvenile condors) cannot be safely eliminated. Too bad no photos were taken.
2nd round:	30 Nov 2020	No, ID	With no description of the wings or style of flight, we are left with very limited documentation that doesn't adequately rule out similar species. Crazier things have happened, but I would be pretty surprised to see this species in Utah anytime soon. From what I can find, the northernmost Arizona record is from Wickenburg (approximately 200 miles from the Utah border). In addition, there are no Nevada records, and all the Colorado records are east of the rockies.
Bryan S.	14 Nov 2020	No, ID	Definitely not enough description to accept. Most likely juvenile Turkey Vultures
2nd round:	30 Nov 2020	No, ID
Mark S.	11 Nov 2020	Acc	I suppose this will have to go onto the "hypothetical" list, as a single observer sighting, but even the scant description given establishes the i.d. as Black Vulture.
2nd round:	10 Jan 2020	No, ID	I can't see how gray neck skin can belong to any of the alternative species, but I can accept that there is insufficient evidence presented for a species of this rarity.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	To 2nd	The structure sounds good for a Black but I would have liked to have had the white in the wing brought up in the in flight desription. The observer sounds confident in seperating Vultures from previous experiance. Hard to accept in the first round even though this is a bird I'd expect to show up in southern Utah.
2nd round:	27 Dec 2020	No, ID	To bad they record wasn't documented better. Very well could have been the correct ID.
David W.	26 Oct 2020	No, ID	Nope. Although this description does well fit a Black vulture, it relies too heavily on what amounts to "trust me" to exclude other possibilities (especially immature condors). It is unfortunate the observer didn't write down what field marks made him discount the possibility of other species.
2nd round:	30 Nov 2020	No, ID	There are very few field marks to evaluate in this record. This may have been an "obvious" ID to the observer, but that doesn't translate into an adequate report, irrespective of whether this is a state first. To evaluate this record, I need to know WHY it was obviously not some other Cathartid (the juveniles of which pretty much all fit the field marks presented here). Shape of wings? White in wings, and where? These are questions I think need to be answered to eliminate the more common (in Utah) immature Turkey vultures and Condors. I have long wondered why Black vultures have never soared onto our state list, considering just how widespread and common they are. I also believe they are long overdue. The observer may well have seen two Black vultures, but he has not made a definitive case.

2020-62 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	15 Nov 2020	Acc	Adequate photos support identification.
2nd round:	30 Dec 2020	Acc	Looks good for a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
3rd round:	29 Jan2021	Acc	I have no problem accepting this as a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. It appears the red tint in the nape is a photo aberration, as it appears elsewhere on the plumage.
Kenny F.	8 Nov 2020	Acc	While I wish there were better shots of the face and throat area, the broadly barred back pattern and juvenile plumage look good for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
2nd round:	8 Dec 2020	Acc	I don't see any signs of hybridization with Red-naped on this bird. Juvenile Yellow-bellied can often molt their crown feathers first before their body feathers (see record 2020-77).
Stephanie G.	27 Oct 2020	No, ID	Hm...I do think there is some Yellow-bellied heritage here, but is it a "pure" YBSA? I don't think we can rule out hybrid. To me, it doesn't look like juvenile plumage, the pattern on the face is too well-defined to be a juvenile YBSA for this time of year. A "small red crown" would not be apparent on a juvenile YBSA. There seems to be some red on the throat, which would rule out adult YBSA female. The back is nice and messy, but we can't see the throat in any of the pictures to really cinch the ID. My thought is perhaps hybrid RNSA x YBSA. It at least can't be ruled out in this case.
2nd round:	9 Dec 2020	No, ID	Continued "no" vote, as hybrid cannot be ruled out.
3rd round:	11 Jan2021	No, ID	Continuing to vote "no" as hybrid cannot be ruled out.
Mike H.	27 Nov 2020	To 2nd
2nd round:	18 Dec 2020	Acc	Although I don t like the juvie plumage as an identifier for that time of year, most other marks seem to be ok.
3rd round:	11 Jan2021	Acc	I still can t see anything on this individual to tell me it isn t a YBSA.
Bryant O. 3rd:	13 Jan 2021	Acc	This is another bird I consulted on the ID before it was submitted. Although the photos are poor and leave much to be desired, never the less it shows a sapsucker in juvenile plumage, which at that date should be a Yellow-bellied. YBSA X RNSA hybrids seems to have the molt strategy of the RNSA and juveniles should have completed their 1st formative molt by then, here are some examples: https://ebird.org/checklist/S78539610 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S77283743 . Also, in most photos no red is visible on the nape, although some do show some photographic false shades that may be red. Note that having red on the nape does not rule out a pure YBSA, as some YBSA males can have some red on the nape, even as juveniles, such as this bird: https://flic.kr/p/qWdtzS
Mike S.	19 Nov 2020	Acc	This would be difficult if the date was much earlier, but I believe this extent of juvenile plumage on October 26 indicates Yellow-bellied over Red-naped.
2nd round:	30 Dec 2020	No, ID	After taking a second look and comparing photos, I've decided to change my vote. I believe this record is inconclusive. This might be a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, but I m not certain that we can rule out a late-molting immature Red-naped, let alone a hybrid. Photo A1 appears to show a little bit of red in the nape. The head appears to show a greater extent of adult plumage than most juvenile Yellow-bellied would show at this date. I think the back pattern is okay for a YBSA. However, we cannot see the throat and there is virtually no written description to fill in details that are not visible in the photos. This combination makes me believe that this bird cannot be confidently identified as a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
3rd round:	11 Jan2021	No, ID	It's possible that I'm imagining things, but I maintain that there appears to be a bit of red in the nape showing in photo A1. Maybe it's just an artifact of a marginal-quality photo, but it's odd that it would be showing in that exact area. I don’t believe a reddish nape on a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker would be expected, especially in October. When I compare this bird to the other two YBSA records that we are currently reviewing (2020-77 and 2020-83), I am seeing a more contrasting head pattern, indicating this bird may be further along in its molt despite the observation being significantly earlier than those other two records. These factors lead me to enough uncertainty that I'm continuing to vote "No."
Bryan S.	30 Nov 2020	No, ID	The description doesn't really note anything other than that was in juvenile plumage. Looking at the photos, I think that plumage is actually further along than a juvenile Yellow-bellied would be in October. The photos aren't great, but it looks like the pattern on the face is more prominent than a juvenile would show. Based on the evidence we have I think it is inconclusive.
3rd round:	14 Jan2021	No, ID	Sticking with my no vote for the reasons listed in my previous vote and detailed by others here. Believe it is inconclusive based on what evidence we have
Steve S 3rd:.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Photos favor Yellow-bellied.
Mark S.	25 Nov 2020	To 2nd	I'm going to punt on this one - the date is marginal for calling this a Yellow-bellied on juvenile plumage alone. A RNSA molting late could still show juvenile plumage at this date. Other things that give me pause is the reddish wash on the nape, and the somewhat divided white barring on the back. On what I can see of the plumage, though the photos aren't sufficiently clear for much confidence, this might score as a RNSA x YBSA hybrid.
2nd round:	10 Jan 2021	No, ID	I don't think a hybrid can be ruled out.
3rd round:	12 Jan2021	No, ID	Not "clean" enough for me.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc
2nd round:	27 Dec 2020	Acc	Most Sapsuckers seem to show a mix of traits. This one shows enough for me to call it a YB.
David W.	17 Nov 2020	Acc	The large amount of juvenile plumaged retained this late into October, along with the broad white barring on the back, suggest a Yellow-bellied.
2nd round:	30 Dec 2020	No, ID	I think Mike Schijf put it best. I lean a bit more toward Yellow-bellied, but there is enough uncertainty about hybridization that I'll change my vote.
3rd round:	18 Jan2021	No, ID	I'll stick with the 2nd-round vote. Maybe it was a Yellow-bellied with a reddish nape. Maybe.

2020-63 Boreal Owl

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	15 Nov 2020	Acc
Kenny F.	8 Nov 2020	Acc	Good documentation of this record but we should probably get separate records for the Murdock Basin and Soapstone Basin owls.
Stephanie G.	27 Oct 2020	Acc	Well documented.
Mike H.	27 Oct 2020	Acc
Mike S.	31 Oct 2020	Acc	Very nice photos and audio.
Bryan S.	30 Nov 2020	Acc
Mark S.	25 Nov 2020	Acc	Excellent documentation. Nice work, Mike!
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc
David W.	27 Oct 2020	Acc	Another fine record with good photos..

2020-64 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	15 Nov 2020	Acc	Nice record
Kenny F.	8 Nov 2020	Acc	Awesome documentation of this Asian vagrant.
Stephanie G.	8 Nov 2020	Acc	Nice documentation and find.
Mike H.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Great photos of this rarity.
Mike S.	30 Nov 2020	Acc	Excellent photos show a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Well-documented by many observers.
Bryan S.	30 Nov 2020	Acc
Mark S.	25 Nov 2020	Acc	Excellent photos.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc	Nice photos make it easy.
David W.	3 Nov 2020	Acc	The excellent photos, especially those from James Loveless, confirm the ID..

2020-65 Brown Thrasher

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	15 Nov 2020	Acc	Pithy description
Kenny F.	8 Nov 2020	Acc	Good description rules out other species.
Stephanie G.	8 Nov 2020	Acc	Previous experience with this species and the fact that this seems to be a good year for Brown Thrashers.
Mike H.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Description seems to fit and familiarity with species helps.
Mike S.	23 Nov 2020	Acc	The description matches a Brown Thrasher. I suppose a Long-billed Thrasher cannot be ruled out based on the description, but this is an instance where probability should prevail.
Bryan S.	30 Nov 2020	Acc
Mark S.	25 Nov 2020	Acc	Adequate documentation of a distinctive species.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc	A lot of these birds seen this year.
David W.	17 Nov 2020	Acc	The two reports complement each other.

2020-66 Black-throated Blue Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	15 Nov 2020	Acc
Kenny F.	8 Nov 2020	Acc	Nice pictures of this bird.
Stephanie G.	8 Nov 2020	Acc	Stunner
Mike H.	8 Nov 2020	Acc
Mike S.	19 Nov 2020	Acc	Awesome photos show a male Black-throated Blue Warbler. I m trying not to be disgruntled about being at Lytle Ranch this same day and missing out on this bird.
Bryan S.	30 Nov 2020	Acc
Mark S.	26 Nov 2020	Acc	Unmistakable; excellent photos, no write-up (but not necessary).
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc	I saw this bird there on the 27th.
David W.	17 Nov 2020	Acc	Nice photos show unmistakable male.

2020-67 Bay-breasted Warbler

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	15 Nov 2020	Acc	still present on 11/13
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Photos clearly show the 2nd Bay-breasted Warbler of the fall in southern Utah.
Stephanie G.	22 Nov 2020	Acc	Great find
Mike H.	13 Dec 2020	Acc	Coloration and absence of streaking look good.
Mike S.	23 Nov 2020	Acc	Another great find by Mr. Olsen. Was reported through November 12th.
Bryan S.	30 Nov 2020	Acc
Mark S.	26 Nov 2020	Acc	Adequate photos and description to establish identification.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc
David W.	17 Nov 2020	Acc	Written account and photos confirm the ID.

2020-68 Red Phalarope

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	15 Nov 2020	Acc	Definitive photos.
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Thick bill and clean gray back look good for Red Phalarope.
Stephanie G.	22 Nov 2020	Acc	Thick bill with pale base, pale gray unstreaked back. Looks good to me.
Mike H.	13 Dec 2020	Acc	Bill and overall pattern match.
Mike S.	23 Nov 2020	Acc	Clearly a Red Phalarope based on the thick bill and unstreaked back.
Bryan S.	30 Nov 2020	Acc
Mark S.	26 Nov 2020	Acc	Good documentation.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc
David W.	17 Nov 2020	Acc	Nice photos show bill shape, plain back, and face pattern.

2020-69 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	30 Dec 2020	Acc	Nice record
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Photos show many different Brown-capped Rosy-finch. One has to wonder if Brown-capped Rosy-finch breed in small numbers in the La Sals or if these are migrants from Colorado.
Stephanie G.	22 Nov 2020	Acc
Mike H.	18 Dec 2020	Acc	The deep/bright rosy coloration and head pattern together rules out 1st year GCRF.
Mike S.	17 Dec 2020	Acc	Multiple sets of photos clearly show this species.
Bryan S.	28 Dec 2020	Acc
Mark S.	26 Nov 2020	Acc	Some of the photos show at least 2 adult Brown-capped Rosy-Finch; birds in the some of the other photos look inconclusive.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc	Looks good for a BC Rosy.
David W.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Based on the photos, I agree with the ID. Pink bellies preclude the possibility of a juvenile.

2020-70 Pomarine Jaeger

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	30 Dec 2020	Acc	Well documented record
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Awesome documentation of this confiding and long-staying rarity. Photos rule out other smaller jaeger species.
Stephanie G.	22 Nov 2020	Acc	Nice find
Mike H.	13 Dec 2020	Acc	Well documented. Head coloration and wing pattern appear to be diagnostic for POJA.
Mike S.	17 Dec 2020	Acc	Another great record. Definitive set of photos.
Bryan S.	28 Dec 2020	Acc
Mark S.	26 Nov 2020	Acc	Excellent documentation.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc	Nice bird with great photos. The in flight pics leave no question for me.
David W.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Based on distribution of white on upper and underside of wing, bill shape, barring on and around undertail coverts, and shape of the tail projection, I think this is a Pomerine.

2020-71 Black Scoter

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	30 Dec 2020	Acc	good photos
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Nice photos of an adult male.
Stephanie G.	22 Nov 2020	Acc	Great record
Mike H.	23 Nov 2020	Acc	Well documented and observed by many. I did hear that duck hunters got ahold of this guy.
Mike S.	17 Dec 2020	Acc	Photos clearly show an adult male Black Scoter.
Bryan S.	28 Dec 2020	Acc
Mark S.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Good documentation and photos.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc
David W.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Lovely photos leave no doubt.

2020-72 Red-throated Loon

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	good record
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Excellent diagnostic pictures.
Stephanie G.	22 Nov 2020	Acc	Great find, clear ID. Cutest of the loons in my opinion. :)
Mike H.	23 Nov 2020	Acc	Photos easily identify a RTLO.
Mike S.	17 Dec 2020	Acc	Photos show a Red-throated Loon.
Bryan S.	28 Dec 2020	Acc
Mark S.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Excellent documentation and decent photos establish the i.d.
Larry T.	29 Nov 2020	Acc
David W.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Nothing else quite looks like it. That upturned bill eliminates the other similar possibilities.

2020-73 Yellow-billed Loon

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	Excellent photos!
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Good photos to separate this species from Common Loon.
Stephanie G.	9 Dec 2020	Acc	Nice find. Thick bill, seems to check out.
Mike H.	23 Nov 2020	Acc	Well documented.
Mike S.	17 Dec 2020	Acc	I'm glad this bird was re-found after the initial observation on 11/17 (it's nice to have more than just photos A and B to work with!). Subsequent photos are excellent, along with nice written documentation.
Bryan S.	28 Dec 2020	Acc
Mark S.	27 Nov 2020	Acc	Excellent documentation and photos.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	Acc
David W.	24 Nov 2020	Acc	Looks good. Photo J by James Loveless is amazing.

2020-74 Mexican Duck

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	Obviously some recent Mallard introgression in this duck, but that's likely the case with nearly all Mexican-type ducks in the US. On another note, I'm not sure why this species was automatically deferred to the review list upon it's split; I observed multiple "Mexican Ducks" annually in Washington County for 15+ consecutive years between 2000-2016 when I was actively birding.
2nd round:	29 Jan 2021	Acc	This clearly is not a F1 hybrid. It's my understanding that all Mexican-type ducks in the US have varying degrees of Mallard introgression. If the preponderance of phenotypic characters favor a Mexican Duck rather than a Mallard (as does this individual) than it falls within the normal range of Mexican-type Ducks in the US.
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Photos seem to show a pure Mexican Duck with no signs of hybridization with Mallard.
Stephanie G.	9 Dec 2020	Acc	Observer seems to have experience with the species and the field marks seem to line up.
2nd round:	22 Jan 2021	Acc	Continuing to accept
Mike H.	6 Jan 2021	No, ID	I think this is a hybrid. The dark crown goes down to the eye and a pure Mexican Duck would have a pale eyebrow .
2nd round:	11 Jan 2021	No, ID	I still don t like the pattern of the head and the delineation on the base of the neck isn t as defined as I feel it should be.
Bryant O. 2nd:	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Although having more photos showing the spread tail and rump would be great, from what we can see of this bird it doesn't show any obvious sign of Mallard genes.
Mike S.	31 Dec 2020	To 2nd	I think the observer makes a solid case, and I think this bird mostly looks good for a Mexican Duck. However, I keep getting hung up on the heavily contrasting silvery gray in the tertials (and apparently a little bit extending to the scapulars as well). I can find plenty of photos of Mexican Ducks that show some silvery gray in these areas, but this is usually more subtle than what we re seeing here. This makes me question whether we are looking at a phenotypically pure bird. I m curious to see what others think.
2nd round:	13 Jan 2021	Acc	My first round concerns were minor so I ll set them aside. Since this bird doesn't appear to show any of the usual hybrid traits, I'm good with accepting as a Mexican Duck.
Bryan S. 2nd :	14 Jan 2021	Acc	Good Description and shows no obvious signs of hybridization
Steve S. 2nd:	12 Jan 2021	Acc	I think this is about as good as your going to get for Mexican Duck in Utah. I doubt there are very many pure Mexican Ducks in the northern part of its range, but I think this one is close.
Mark S.	10 Jan 2021	Acc	Good description and analysis, and the photos support the narrative.
2nd round:	12 Jan 2021	Acc	Looking for phenotypic purity in these records is, I think, a fool's errand. Given the variation in the Mallard-complex species, we can't be sure whether a slight deviation from the paradigm phenotype is a sign of some mixture of genes in generations past, or simply individual variability. Truth be told, there are probably few genetically pure Mexican Ducks in the northernmost reaches of their range. But we can't know from simple field observations. By the same token, are Mallard records to be dismissed as hybrids, because they may carry Mexican Duck genes? One of the overlooked pieces of data on this record and the other Mexican Duck record we're considering is that a Mallard at this time of year should be in full alternate plumage. So when splitting feathers over the "H" question, consider that Mallard males all have solid green heads, etc. on the date of these sightings. I think this record shows enough of Mexican Duck-ness to accept.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	To 2nd	Leave this one for the Mexican Duck experts.
David W.	30 Dec 2020	To 2nd	I'd like to see what others say about this one. The eyeline, lack of gape spot, etc. seem good for this species, but I am troubled by how contrastingly pale the tail looks in all the photos (despite the description).
2nd round:	18 Jan 2021	Acc	Although I am on the record as being a general skeptic of most Mexipato records in Utah, I am going to hold my nose and vote to accept this one. The tail still troubles me, but seemingly few others.

2020-75 Gyrfalcon

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	Marginal record; much is based on the size difference compared with a raven, however, based on the photos this could be a female peregrine .
2nd round:	29 Jan 2021	Acc	This is a marginal record, regardless of provenance. I'll vote for a soft acceptance base on the written description and apparent size. I believe without evidence to the contrary, the default should be that a wild, free-ranging bird is indeed a wild, free-ranging bird. .
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	No, Nat	Comments from the Utah Rare Bird Alert" FB group seem to indicate that there is a lost Gyrfalcon in northern Utah that would be similar to this bird so I don't know if an escapee can be ruled out for this bird. Here are the comments from Carel Brest van Kempen: "I saw a Gyrfalcon in Salt Lake City on Nov. 10th. I learned that a falconer had lost a young Gyr 2 months earlier from its chamber. I'm pretty sure that was the bird I saw. He sent me a photo of her sister and they looked very similar: both brown-gray with an unusually warm buff base color to her underparts. She had a band but no jesses. I couldn't see whether the bird I saw was banded, but she acted like a wild bird (except for the fact that she was perched in the city on a streetlight). She was a strong flier and appeared to be living successfully. This bird could well be the same individual I saw." "The lost bird was indeed hatched this year and had no jesses, only a seamless metal captive-bred band, and if she indeed survived, has been living wild for three months, and would be hard to distinguish from a wild-hatched bird, behaviorally. The fact that the bird I saw last month had a similarly warm, rich tone to her underside makes me believe she was the lost falconer's bird, but again, no way of knowing for sure. It seems to me that nearly all the wild Gyrfalcons that come this far south are first-year birds."
Stephanie G.	9 Dec 2020	No, ID	Hm, this is a tough one. The photos are so poor, I don't know if there's enough evidence to support such a notable record. I think the field marks may be a bit subjective, especially considering the distance of the bird.. Going to vote no for now and see if I can be persuaded in the next round.
2nd round:	22 Jan 2021	Acc	While the photos don't show much, the continued description and arguments have turned me around.
Mike H.	6 Jan 2021	Acc	Soft accept. Most photos aren t helpful, but Photo B and photo F seem to show a good head size when compared to the wingspan and body size. This is also an area where they ve been observed before.
2nd round:	11 Jan 2021	Acc	The photos are not great, but when combined with the observer s notes I do feel that this is a Gyrfalcon. Now the question is provenance. Where do we draw the line on this? There have been Gyrfalcons in Utah prior to this record that have had absolutely zero indications of the bird being an escapee. So, we know they can occur here. We also know that most wild Gyrfalcons observed in UT have been first year birds and this one appears to be the same. There has also been a GYRF showing up in CO semiannually. I don t think we can just write off an observation due to the fact that a falconer lost a bird a few months ago. The likelihood of the falconers bird moving S or not surviving is just as likely as a wild GYRF making it to UT. Also, I m sure we get more individuals here than we know with so much of what would be good areas being uninhabited and rarely visited. Here is a quote from Steve Mlodinlow from last week regarding escapees- One should strive for accuracy which often does not = conservative (which in these cases often simply means rigid) The Barnacle Goose example is an excellent one in which blind conservatism has obscured our understanding of an interesting real phenomenon .
Bryant O. 2nd:	13 Jan 2020	Acc	This feels weird to me to vote on my own record, but here goes. Firsts lets consider the ID. I see a lot of raptors and have been doing winter raptor surveys for Hawk Watch International for 9 years, one survey at Fillmore recently we saw over 295 raptors in one day. When doing raptor ID in the field one often IDs distant birds, and a lot goes into GISS, learning the subtle difference between body shape and flight style. This is what got my attention of this bird, it just didn't have the GISS of a Peregrine or Prairie Falcon, both of which I've seen many of in all ages and plumages. The shape of the wings was off and the flight style and wing beats just didn't seem right, so thats when I got out of the car and put my spotting scope on the bird and watched it for 20 minutes. It checked all the boxes in plumage for a Gyr and didn't check all the boxes for PRFA or PEFA, and the more I watched it the more confident I was that it wasn't a PRFA or PEFA and therefore had to be a Gyr. Size compared to the Ravens and RLHA helped, but were not the only basis of my ID. As to the possibility of a captive, lets me start by saying Mr. Van Kempen's account is nothing but internet hearsay. I work at an Aviary and although I don't work directly with the captive birds I'm around them enough and talk with their keepers and trainers enough to know that there is a big difference in behavior between captive raised birds and wild birds. This is especially true of "imprinted" birds, which have lost their natural fear of humans and associate people with food. Because owning a Gyrfalcon is a sign of great status in some cultures, breeding captive Gyrs can be very lucrative and today virtual all falconry Gyrs are bred in captivity through artificial insemination and as such virtually all of them are imprinted, including the one Mr. Van Kempen mentioned. These birds suffer from a life long identity crisis thinking they are human and can not take care of them self in the wild anymore than any other pet. When they escape they stay near people and human altered landsc apes and seek people out. A case in point is Tracy Aviary's Raven Cache that was chased off during a bird show by a Cooper's Hawk and ended up going to the capital building and making friends with the assistant attorney general. Also captive birds often don't have the muscle tone to maintain prolonged flight, and falconers have to training their birds vigorously for years before they get the strength and skill to be used in the hunt, an escaped captive juvenile Gyr wouldn't know what to do with it self and wouldn't be capable of the behavior that I witnessed, a prolonged intense fight with a raven, then soaring in a thermal to great heights. An escaped Falconry bird would be in the city near people, not out near the Great Salt Lake, a vast open treeless landscape, which is exactly the right habitat a wild Gyr would seek out. The bird Mr. Van Kempen claimed to see was in the city. Some years ago I chased an adult Gyr that ended up being an escaped captive, it sat on a poll with a crowd of people nearby but was complexly unfazed, in a residential neighborhood next to a golf course and was sluggish and tame. Eventually Hawk Watch showed up and captured the bird with lures. The difference between the behavior and habitat choice of these 2 birds couldn't be more stark.
Mike S.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Accepting based on the description, as I think the observer does well to rule out similar species. There is always the chance of this species escaping from captivity so I don t know that we can ever be 100% certain of a wild bird. However, the timing is consistent with past wild Gyrfalcon records. The described behavior and lack of jesses is useful information as well.
2nd round:	13 Jan 2021	Acc	I still believe that the probability of a wild bird exceeds the chance of an escaped captive.
Bryan S. 2nd:	14 Jan 2021	Acc	Good description. I feel like the odds that it is a wild bird is more likely than that it is an escapee and lean toward accept unless there is obvious signs saying otherwise
Steve S. 2nd:	12 Jan 2021	Acc	Good enough description to accept.
Mark S.	10 Jan 2021	Acc	The i.d. is not in question, only the origin. but as the observer notes, this fits the expected pattern for a wild bird, and no particular signs of captive origin were noted.
2nd round:	12 Jan 2021	Acc	I thank Kenny for that information from Carel Brest van Kempen, but it still falls into the realm of speculation, and this sighting fits the pattern of Utah Gyrfalcon occurrences. Another philosophical question is how long an escaped captive of a species that naturally occurs in an area has to be free before being counted as "naturally occurring." The ABA says 24 hours.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	Acc	I can't see much in the pics. But I'll accept from the description.
David W.	30 Dec 2020	Acc	I'm inclined to believe Mr. Olsen on this one. It's not a slam dunk, but I was worn down by the steady attrition of weak field marks. It helped that the bird was interacting with other birds to give direct comparisons.
2nd round:	18 Jan 2021	Acc	Mark's noting of the ABA technicality on released native birds brought an appreciative smile to my face. I don't think, however, we go by Big Day rules--we've never voted on an "ethical tick" either. Leave it to Mark to ask the Great Philosophical Questions. I also appreciated Bryant's persuasive defense of his record. He also brought a smile to my face with his "nothing but internet hearsay" comment. Based on Bryant's arguments, my confidence remains intact. I will stick to my first round vote.

2020-76 Mexican Duck

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	These ducks are rare to uncommon from my experience. I don't believe we should be reviewing this species.
2nd round:	29 Jan 2021	Acc	This clearly is not a F1 hybrid. It's my understanding that all Mexican-type ducks in the US have varying degrees of Mallard introgression. If the preponderance of phenotypic characters favor a Mexican Duck rather than a Mallard (as does this individual) than it falls within the normal range of Mexican-type Ducks in the US.
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	No, ID	While this bird seems to mostly be a pure Mexican Duck, it seems to show at least some Mallard genes. I would expect the body of Mexican Duck to be uniform but this birds chest feathers have a chestnut wash like I would expect for a Mallard making this bird a good candidate for a hybrid.
Stephanie G.	9 Dec 2020	No, ID	Something seems off about this one, unfortunately. The curl to that tailfeather suggests hybridization.
2nd round:	5 Feb 2021	No, ID	Too much hybridization apparent for me to be totally comfortable with accepting.
Mike H.	8 Jan 2021	No, ID
2nd round:	11 Jan 2021	No, ID	I don t like the coloration of the torso not being uniform and the patterning seems soft. I also don t like the curl to the tail feathers. If the curl were the only issue, I would probably feel different, but with the other marks against it I feel this is some sort of Hybrid.
Bryant O. 2nd:	13 Jan 2021	No, ID	This one clearly has Mallard genes, black rump and undertail coverts plus curl to the tail and contrasting rufous breast.
Mike S.	31 Dec 2020	No, ID	This one looks like a Mallard hybrid with the pale belly, curled tail feathers, and reddish breast.
2nd round:	13 Jan 2021	No, ID	In my opinion, there are too many Mallard traits to call this one a Mexican Duck. I could probably overlook any one of the issues I mentioned in the first round, but when combined, I believe it's outside of normal variation.
Bryan S. 2nd:	14 Jan 2021	No, ID	Lighter tone brown belly, black vent, and curled tail
Steve S. 2nd:	12 Jan 2021	No, ID	To me this one is to far into the hybrid zone to accept.
Mark S.	10 Jan 2021	Acc	The only field mark that might not add up is the slightly curled tail feathers, but this level of curl can be seen in Mexican Duck, and would be too little for an adult male Mallard.
2nd round:	12 Jan 2021	Acc	As per my note regarding Mexican Duck record 2020-74. I think that the small variations from ideal plumage for Mexican Duck that this individual shows are within the range of variation for that species, and not likely indicative of significant hybridization, especially considering the time of year/plumage for Mallard-type ducks.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	To 2nd	Like 74, looks like a Mexican duck but with all the odd Mallard mixing out there I'll leave it for the experts.
David W.	31 Dec 2020	No, ID	I think there is too much curl to the tail, too weak an eyeline, and too light & unspecled torso feathering for a Mexican duck.
2nd round:	18 Jan 2021	No, ID	I continue to think this is a questionable record, despite the defense mounted by the Distinguished Mr. Stackhouse, the only one of us who actually lives in their regular range.

2020-77 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	A juvenile sapsucker this late is most likely a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and this bird doesn't seem to show any signs of hybridization with Red-naped.
Stephanie G.	9 Dec 2020	Acc	Finally a YBSA I actually feel comfortable accepting.
Mike H.	29 Dec 2020	Acc	Back pattern and plumage for time of year look good.
Mike S.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Nice photos show a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Bryan S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc
Mark S.	12 Jan 2021	Acc	Good documentation and photos. Besides the retained immature plumage, the back pattern and the red extending across the crown (Red-naped molts from the forehead back) supports this i.d.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	Acc
David W.	22 Dec 2020	Acc	The date is compelling on this juvenile.

2020-78 Winter Wren

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	well-documented
Kenny F.	8 Dec 2020	Acc	Good documentation directly showing the differences in call between Winter and Pacific Wren.
Stephanie G.	9 Dec 2020	Acc	Audible seems to be spot on in my perception.
Mike H.	8 Jan 2021	Acc	The squeaky call matched by ear and on spectrogram. Still photos appear to match plumage as well.
Mike S.	6 Jan 2021	Acc	Photos and especially the video/audio establish the ID of Winter Wren.
Bryan S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc	I was unable to get the link to the video to work, but accepting based on the description and photos
Mark S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Good documentation; calls sound like Winter Wren; photos look like Winter Wren.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	Acc	I didn't hear the calls but I'll accept on the pics and description.
David W.	22 Dec 2020	Acc	So strange that two different Troglodytes species were associating with each other. Maybe they still remember the days they were considered one species.

2020-79 Thick-billed Longspur

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	nice collaborative effort to document this longspur
Kenny F.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Large pink bill, black bib and broken rear auriculars are all good field marks for Thick-billed.
Stephanie G.	11 Jan 2021	Acc	Well-documented, other species ruled out effectively in my view.
Mike H.	29 Dec 2020	Acc	The photos on this record are not that good, but Max Malmquist did get good photos on 12/18 which are not attached to this record. Going off of my own observation I can say that the rusty median coverts were quite visible and this is a diagnostic field mark on this species among other longspurs.
Mike S.	6 Jan 2021	Acc	Nice documentation by multiple observers.
Bryan S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc
Mark S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Good documentation.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	Acc	Not a big fan of name changes.
David W.	15 Dec 2020	Acc	If the various commercial compilations of longspur vocalizations can be believed, we heard Thick-billed (nee McCowns's) Longspur(s), based on the quality of the rattles and the chips. Adendum (18 Dec 2020): The photo that was added to this record, though blurry, actually shows important field marks supporting the ID, including the body shape, bill size & shape, short tail, and the pattern of white in the tail. I'm not sure I would have voted to accept based solely on the photo, but it does supplement the voice ID nicely.

2020-80 Thick-billed Longspur

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	nice record
Kenny F.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Large pink bill, black bib and broken rear auriculars are all good field marks for this Thick-billed record too.
Stephanie G.	11 Jan 2021	Acc	Beautiful
Mike H.	29 Dec 2020	Acc	Once again, the photos aren t the greatest in the world, but they definitely show enough to determine species.
Mike S.	6 Jan 2021	Acc	Photos back up the good written description.
Bryan S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc
Mark S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Good description supported by photos.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	Acc
David W.	22 Dec 2020	Acc	I'm grateful for photos in this record of a species which is difficult to photograph.

2020-81 Common Ground-Dove

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	There was a major movement of both ground-dove species in the southwest this fall. Photos appear to be a Common, as does the description of 'white or light color along or underneath tail on side'.
2nd round:	29 Jan 2021	Acc	I'm not sure what others are seeing in the photos, but the I believe the description and photos both favor a Common Ground-Dove. Several have mentioned the extent of the dark speckling on the scapulars, and while this can indeed be a distinguishing characteristic between the species, in my experience it is often very subtle in both color and extent, and certainly the rather blurry photos are inclusive at best on this character. I don't see anything in the photos to rule out a Common GD, and the description of the tail and added 'Scalloped look" strongly favor a Common GD.
Kenny F.	31 Dec 2020	No, ID	Despite the blurry pictures, this bird seems like a Ruddy Ground Dove to me. Photo A makes the bird seem two-toned with a more rufous brown body color contrasting with a paler head. The spots on the wings seem to extend up onto the scapulars like a Ruddy would show, look more black than a Common would show and the spotting seems to form long thin lines on the wings and scapulars which seem to fit better for a Ruddy. Photo A also doesnt seem to show any scaled pattern on the nape, crown, and breast which fit better for a Ruddy. Ebird also shows 6 fall/winter records of Ruddy Ground-dove north of the Phoenix area this year indicating something of an irruption year. There have been no records in the same time frame north of the Phoenix area this year of Common Ground-dove.
Stephanie G.	11 Jan 2021	Acc
2nd round:	5 Feb 2021	No, ID	I see what others are saying about Ruddy Ground-Dove..
Mike H.	29 Dec 2020	No, ID	This bird appears to be a Ground-Dove species, but I don t believe the description or photos are enough to nail down to a specific species.
2nd round:	17 Jan 2021	No, ID	Nothing has changed my thoughts from the first round.
Bryant O. 2nd:.	14 Jan 2021	No, ID	Looks more like a female Ruddy Ground-Dove to me, as does the description of a dark bill. Certainly can't rule out a Ruddy based on photos or description.
Mike S.	13 Jan 2021	No, ID	These poor photos are not ideal for establishing the ID, but I'm leaning towards a Ruddy Ground Dove based on the plumage coloration. I emailed the observer and asked if he considered Ruddy Ground Dove and this was his reply: "I looked at pictures of both [Common and Ruddy] and I believe it is still a common ground dove. You can't tell in the pictures I sent but in the front breast area and head there is a scalloped look. I thought at first his head was fluffy but realized it was his coloring." That description would seem to favor a Common Ground Dove, but I still think the photos favor Ruddy. Another consideration is the timing of this record. This bird was only present in Hurricane on 12/18 and 12/19, then the Ruddy Ground Dove showed up in Escalante on 12/20 (record 2020-82). Same bird, perhaps?
2nd round:	22 Jan 2021	No, ID	I have some lingering uncertainty due the supplemental description by the observer. However, I am still leaning towards Ruddy Ground Dove. I agree with Kenny and David that the extent and shape of wing spotting appears to favor Ruddy.
Bryan S.	14 Jan 2021	To 2nd	Originally I planned on accepting this record until I got to the next one (Ruddy Ground-Dove) and it made me rethink this one. I am not sure if with the poor photos and lack of description we can rule out a female Ruddy.
2nd round:	27 Jan 2021	No, ID	Same reasons as listed in previous vote and same concerns noted by others
Steve S. 2nd:	12 Feb 2021	Acc	Photos are poor at best, but I believe they show a Common Ground-Dove.
Mark S.	13 Jan 2021	No, ID	The photos look more like Ruddy Ground-Dove, though it's hard to say for sure. The description, too, especially of the dark bill, sounds better for female Ruddy Ground-Dove.
2nd round:	14 Jan 2021	No, ID	Even with a re-review, this looks more like a Ruddy Ground-Dove to me. Perhaps better photos would help, but as it stands there's not enough evidence to support the i.d. presented.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	No, ID	I can't rule out a Inca from the photos and description.
David W.	22 Dec 2020	No, ID	This is a ground-dove. However, this record doesn't address which one. The possibility of a female Ruddy ground-dove is not even mentioned. When I look at the blurry photos, the spotting pattern on the wings looks more like that of a Ruddy-ground-dove than a Common to me. Also, the observer says the bird had a "Shortish dark beak." That sounds like a Ruddy (though perhaps the observer simply didn't notice the pink base).
2nd round:	18 Jan 2021	No, ID	I'm a bit puzzled and troubled by the scaly breast comment of the observer, but this really looks like a female Ruddy to me.

2020-82 Ruddy Ground-Dove (undisclosed: record submitted by Jeff Lauersdorf, also seen by Debbie Savage)

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	Well documented record
Kenny F.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Unscaled pale head and contrasting reddish brown body look good for Ruddy Ground-dove as well as the thin dark spots on the wing extending up to the scapulars.
Stephanie G.	11 Jan 2021	Acc
Mike H.	29 Dec 2020	Acc	Great photos. Clearly a Ruddy Ground-dove. The only thing that gave me pause on this record was the anonymity. Once Milt confirmed that the observer did give name and location, but wanted it left off of public view, I felt better.
Mike S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Good photos confirm the ID. Great record! (Also, see my comment on record 2020-81)
Bryan S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc
Mark S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Photos show a Ruddy Ground-Dove with all-dark bill, smooth gray head and nape.
Larry T.	27 Dec 2020	Acc	Nice to have good photos. Looks like a Ruddy.
David W.	22 Dec 2020	Acc	This record of a very rare bird in Utah was saved by the photos showing black base to bill and black oval marks on scapulars. Nice yard bird!

2020-83 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	great photos
2nd round:	2 Feb 2021	Acc	I don't see any indication of hybridization in this sapsucker.
Kenny F.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Retained juvenile plumage in December points towards Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, as does the messy barred back and lack of any red on the back of the head which would be apparent by now in either a Red-naped Sapsucker or a Red-naped x Yellow-bellied hybrid.
Stephanie G.	11 Jan 2021	Acc	I finally feel comfortable voting yes on a YBSA with this one!
2nd round:	5 Feb 2021	Acc	Continuing to accept, I think it falls within range just fine for YBSA.
Mike H.	8 Jan 2021	No, ID	The back pattern appears to lean more towards hybridization or RNSA.
2nd round:	9 Feb 2021	Acc	Have gone back and found a few East Coast examples of YBSA that resembles this back pattern. The yellowish of the scalloping, along with the dual linear pattern of the back is what made me lean towards the H Word in the first round.
Bryant O..2nd:	11 Feb 2021	Acc	Within variation of pure YBSA
Mike S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Great photos show a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
2nd round:	2 Feb 2021	Acc	A hybrid at this date should show some combination of a reddish nape and/or throat, a more orderly back pattern, and would likely be (at least mostly) in adult plumage. I think we can rule out a RNSA for similar reasons. I believe that the back pattern can be quite variable, and this looks sufficiently messy for a YBSA.
Bryan S.	27 Jan 2021	Acc
2nd round:	4 Feb 2021	Acc	.
Steve S.	12 Jan 2021	Acc	Photos and time of year suggest Yellow-bellied
2nd round:	12 Feb 2021	Acc	For this late in the year photos certainly look like Yellow-bellied
Mark S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc	Excellent photos and good description. Checks all the boxes for a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, with no obvious signs of hybridization.
2nd round:	8 Feb 2021	Acc	I don't see any signs of hybridization - the back pattern is well within normal for YBSA.
David W.	18 Jan 2021	Acc	Unless global warming is causing our fine, temperate sapsuckers to double-brood, a bird retaining this much juvenile plumage (so beautifully photographed) past the winter solstice must surely be a Yellow-bellied. Also, the red on the crown is coming in evenly-speckled rather than progressing from forehead to nape, which supports the ID.
2nd round:	2 Feb 2021	Acc	I still feel confident about this record.

2020-84 Yellow-billed Loon

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	excellent photo
Kenny F.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Excellent photos show a pair of Yellow-billed Loons. All yellow top of the upturned bill, blocky head peaking in front of the eye and paler brown head and body than a Common Loon look best for Yellow-bellied Loon.
Stephanie G.	11 Jan 2021	Acc	I was a bit skeptical when the first photos of this came out, but subsequent photos and record notes clearly showed a Yellow-billed Loon.
Mike H.	29 Dec 2020	Acc	Well documented. Tanto shaped bill, flat crown with slight bump at forehead, heavy patterned back, and of course, bill color are all the marks for a YBLO.
Bryant O.	2 Jan 2021	Acc	As she alluded to in the write up, I caught this one as it had been put down in eBird as a Common Loon, but a couple days later I took a closer look at the photo in the eBird rare bird alert, and then contacted her for more photos, and upon examining told her it was likely a Yellow-billed. The next day (after she changed it) Nate Brown re-found it, and photographed 2 YBLO together, https://ebird.org/checklist/S77395870 , which has to be something of a record high count and also confirmed my suspicions.
Mike S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Many eBird checklists show two individuals. Nice record.
Bryan S.	27 Jan 2021	Acc
Mark S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc	Good documentation.
David W.	29 Dec 2020	Acc	The writeup is Spartan, at best, but the photo tells the tale.

2020-85 Cassin's Sparrow

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	Excellent record
Kenny F.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Scaled back and scapulars, whitish edged tertials, yellow lores and alula, streaked rear flanks and fine streaked crown rule out other sparrow species and point towards Cassin's Sparrow.
Stephanie G.	11 Jan 2021	Acc	Clear record
Mike H.	29 Dec 2020	Acc	Back pattern, facial pattern, and white edges on tertials all point towards Cassin's. Great photos makes our task SOOO much easier.
Bryant O..	2 Jan 2021	Acc	Great photos leave no doubt
Mike S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Great photos and written documentation. There have been multiple rare sparrows at this location this winter (but this was definitely the highlight).
Bryan S.	27 Jan 2021	Acc
Mark S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc	Excellent photos show a Cassin's Sparrow.
David W.	29 Dec 2020	Acc	Excellent photos show subtle plumage details. Kudos to the observer for noticing this nondescript sparrow rather than dismissing it as just another "LBJ".

2020-86 Thick-billed Longspur

Evaluator	Date	Vote	Comment
Rick F.	1 Jan 2021	Acc	nice photos
Kenny F.	31 Dec 2020	Acc	Indistinct facial patter with broken rear auriculars, hints of a black bib, large pink bill and inverted back T on the tail look good for Thick-billed Longspur.
Stephanie G.	11 Jan 2021	Acc	Seems to be an irruption year for these guys
Mike H.	8 Jan 2021	Acc	Photos clearly show diagnostic field marks.
Mike S.	13 Jan 2021	Acc	Nice documentation. We are currently reviewing 5 records of this species simultaneously. Has that ever happened for a single review species before?
Bryan S.	27 Jan 2021	Acc
Steve S..	12 Jan 2021	Acc	Photo and description match this species. There seem to be quite a few around this year.
Mark S.	14 Jan 2021	Acc	Good documentation and photos.
David W.	18 Jan 2021	Acc	Remarkably good photos for this species. I think this species is a good candidate for removal from the list. The only reason it is considered rare is because it occurs in unpleasant places to bird requiring tedious searching with lots of trudging around and constant scanning of reshuffling flocks of larks. I think it is a regular, uncommon species found in a very specific habitat.