Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2012-14
| Common name: |
Upland Sandpiper |
| Scientific name: | Bartramia longicauda |
| Date: | 4/28/2012 |
| Time: | 1515 |
| Length of time observed: | 1 min |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | AHY |
| Sex: | unknown |
| Location: | Antelope island, The UPSA was on the east side of the island and east of the road, about half-way between the visitor center and the Garr Ranch. It was near where the bison herd was grazing that day and in an area with dry relatively short patchy grasses; not along the shoreline. |
| County: | [Davis] |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | about 60 meters |
| Optical equipment: | zeiss 10 x 40 binoculars |
| Weather: | sunny |
| Light Conditions: | excellent, sun behind us |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The small squarish head, thin neck, and short bill instantly cried out Upland and on that basis I distinguished it from the similar-sized yellowlegs (which wouldn't usually be in dry grassland habitat). The legs and tail were hidden by the grass. I saw several willets that day but they are bigger and bigger-headed with a longer, darker bill, and were along the water's edge. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none |
| Behavior: | standing then walking through/behind grasses |
| Habitat: | dry grassland, relatively short grasses with open patches |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
see above |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
UPSA is a species I know well from the midwestern sand prairies where I have done a lot of bird survey work and research over the past 12 years. |
| References consulted: | none |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Dan Wenny |
| Observer's address: | 517 S. Bench St., Galena, IL 61036 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 5/8/2012 |
| Additional material: | No_additional_Materials |
| Additional_Comments: | I was using a general checklist so didn't realize this obs needed documentation until I submitted it to eBird. This was my first visit to Antelope Island. |