Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2005-33
| Common name: |
Wandering Tattler |
| Scientific name: | Heteroscelus incanus |
| Date: | 18 Sep 2005 |
| Time: | ~ 4:30 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Antelope Island Causeway |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 25 - 40 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 8 x 42 binoculars, 20 x 60 Kowa scope |
| Weather: | clear |
| Light Conditions: | bright |
| Description: Size of bird: | ~ Killdeer size |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | shorebird |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | gray with white belly and vent |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | medium long shorebird type |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The head was gray with prominent white supralorals, a white eye-ring split
horizontally by a black eye-stripe that extended backward about and eye width
and forward to the lores where it was very broad and dark. The wings were gray with black tips which extended slightly past the tail. The back, wing coverts neck and breast extending along the flanks were a very smooth, consistent gray. There was a patch of white on the throat and an unstreaked white belly and vent area. The legs where a yellow orange color and relatively short compared to the
tringa sandpipers. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none heard |
| Behavior: | It was bobbing its tail as it moved along the rocks next to the shore eating the numberous bugs (midges) on the rocks. |
| Habitat: | Shore of a salt water lake |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Either Yellowlegs would have had longer legs and longer necks and more patter on
the back, wings and breast.and narrower pointed bills. A Solitary Sandpiper would have an unbroken eye-ring, a smaller bill, and more spotted contrasting black-gray colors on the back and wings. A Willet would have a thicker longer bill, gray legs, and longer neck. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen one before in Utah near the marina not far from where this one was and also in Hawaii. |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds |
| Description from: | From memory and looking at the picture I took. |
| Observer: | Milton Moody |
| Observer's address: | 2795 Indian Hills Dr., Provo, UT 84604 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | miltonmoody@yahoo.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Pomera Fronce found the bird on the 11th of Septerber. Cindy & Steve Sommerfeld, Tim Avery, Colby Newman, Carol Davis, Brian Currie, Tuula Rose, Eric Huish and Bonnie Williams also observed this bird. |
| Date prepared: | 19 Sep 2005 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |