Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Brown Pelican
Scientific name:	Pelecanus occidentalis
Date:	12 May 2004
Time:	10:30 - 11:30
Length of time observed:	20 minutes total
Number:	1
Age:	immature
Sex:	?
Location:	Newcastle Reservoir, south end
County:	Iron
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	30 meters at closest
Optical equipment:	Pentax 10X42 binoculars, scope
Weather:	cloudy, calm
Light Conditions:	shaded, and opposite the sun when out
Detailed description of bird:	Large brown bird with big pelican beak. The head was all brown, as the immatures in the field guides. Lighter arcs in mid-undersides of wings, light belly. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	Perched along shore when first observed, flew around, then landed in the water, then flew up, circled in the air currents and landed closer to the dam.
Habitat:
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Reservoir - deep open water with rocky banksAmerican White Pelicans are white. Cormorants are smaller and darker with more slender bills.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	(Kevin) I've seen Brown Pelicans in California, Florida, and Mexico. Charlie also has much previous experience with them.
References consulted:	National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Kevin Wheeler, Charlie Sheard
Observer's address:	(Kevin) 455 S 1100 East #6 St. George, UT 84790
Observer's e-mail address:	turtleherder@hotmail.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	John Schijf
Date prepared:	12 May 2004 (General Public)
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	John Schijf reported this bird to me as the same one that had been found in Beaver City a couple weeks ago, then released in Quail Creek Reservoir. Cordell Peterson, however, informed me that the Beaver individual was an adult.