Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Blackpoll Warbler
Scientific name:	Dendroica striata
Date:	09-10-07
Time:	1715 hrs
Length of time observed:	15 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	likely first fall (possibly adult female)
Sex:	??
Location:	St. George, Red Hills Golf Course
County:	Washington
Latilong:	19
Elevation:	~850 m
Distance to bird:	5-15 m
Optical equipment:	8 x 42 Leica binoculars
Weather:	mostly cloudy
Light Conditions:	overcast, occasionally sunny
Description: Size of bird:
(Description:) Basic Shape:
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Medium sized yellowish warbler, actively foraging in small trees, dense shrubs and vines, gleaning food from leaves and flushing and chasing moths, occasionally dropping to the ground in pursuit of moths. Yellowish overall, with yellow/olive upperparts, and yellow throat and chest gradually lightening toward the belly and white undertail coverts. Indistinct, slighty blurry streaking extending from upper chest along sides to flanks. Head with olive crown and nape of neck, lighter yellow supercilium, and thin darker olive stripe extending through eye. Upper back with thin short dark streaks, wings dark blackish with two distinct bright white wing bars, yellow wing panel (thin yellow edges on primaries), bright white tertial edging and distinct white primary tips. Upperside of tail black with white patches on outer retrices, showing as white corners in flight. Underside of tail white, with dark corners. Relatively long wings and short tail. Dark eye, thin dark bill slightly paler on lower mandible, legs were black and yellow, with dark along the front of the legs, yellow on the back of the legs, and yellow feet. (see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none heard
Behavior:	actively foraging in small trees, dense shrubs and vines, gleaning food from leaves and flushing and chasing moths, occasionally dropping to the ground in pursuit of moths.
Habitat:	In vegetation patch along City Creek on the Red Hills Golf Course.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	First fall Bay-breasted Warblers are very similar however distinguished by buffy undertail coverts, dark legs, and typically lack dark streaking on sides. Fall Pine Warblers are also similar however, distinguished from Blackpolls by lack of white primary tips, buffy tertial edges (rather than bright white), dark legs and feet, longer tails and shorter wings, heavier bills, more white on outer tail feathers, and distinct auricular pattern.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	very familiar with fall Blackpoll Warblers and similiar species
References consulted:	description above is from field notes made the evening following the sighting
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Rick Fridell
Observer's address:	3505 West 290 North, Hurricane, UT, 84737
Observer's e-mail address:	rfridell@redrock.net
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	10-21-07
Additional material:	Photos
Additional Comments: