Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Neotropic Cormorant
Scientific name:	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Date:	June 18, 2011
Time:	afternoon
Length of time observed:	1 hr
Number:	3
Age:	1 apparent adult; 2 apparent first summer; one apparent adult
Sex:
Location:	4924 South Murray Blvd., Murray, UT
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:
Elevation:	4399 ft.
Distance to bird:	30 yds
Optical equipment:	Nikon D300 DSLR camera, Nikon 80-400mm VR f4.5-5.6 lens
Weather:	overcast
Light Conditions:	diffuse, flat lighting due to cloud cover
Description: Size of bird:	1/3 smaller than typical D.C. cormorant
(Description:) Basic Shape:	cormorant shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	brown- 1st summer; black adult
(Description:) Bill Type:	cormorant
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Approx. 1/3 smaller than DCCOs, with proportionately longer tail. Gray bills, with V shaped white border on chin patches. (See Photo).
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	Sitting on decorative flotation device in an apartment complex pond. Birds flapping wings to dry off after successfully fishing.
Habitat:	Apartment Complex Decorative Pond
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	DCCO... from extensive experience
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Multiple sighting, studies of NECOs in the Salt Lake Valley, beginning April 2009.
References consulted:	None
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Richard B. Young
Observer's address:	Salt Lake City, Ut
Observer's e-mail address:	richbyoung@isp.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld were first to discover and report these birds. I came by approx. 2 hours later to photo-document the birds.
Date prepared:	June 19, 2011
Additional material:	Photo
Additional_Comments:	Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld were first to discover and report these birds. I came by approx. 2 hours later to photo document their presence/ages/behavior.