Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-34a
| Common name: |
Red-throated Loon |
| Scientific name: | Gavia stellata |
| Date: | 4-24-2013 |
| Time: | 5:45pm |
| Length of time observed: | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | unknown(immature?) |
| Sex: | unknown |
| Location: | Lee Kay Ponds |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4250 |
| Distance to bird: | 50 yards |
| Optical equipment: | 10X50 Bushnell binoculars, Cannon SX20 Digital Camera, 20-60X Alpen spotting scope |
| Weather: | Sunny.clear, mild(55F) |
| Light Conditions: | good |
| Description: Size of bird: | 2 feet long,similar in size to nearby Western Grebes |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | long,sleek,low in the water |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | dark gary above,pale whitish on face,throat,neck,flanks(water line pale) |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | long,slender,upturned |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Small loon with a slender upturned bill,pale lores,and extensive white on neck
an above waterline. Red eye,yellowish in the bill. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none heard |
| Behavior: | loafing on the water,resting preening, sometimes alert. I never saw it dive. |
| Habitat: | Large pond in a freshwater marsh complex near the south shore of the great salt lake. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
When I first saw the bird in question, I thought,is that a loon?,Yes,its not a grebe,neck to short for Western/Clark's Grebe,too big for any others. So the next question was,Common? no, bill to small,Pacific,no,face to pale. But what clinched the ID for me was seeing the tiny upturned bill,very characteristic of Red-throated Loon,and unmistakable in the field |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
None,lifer |
| References consulted: | Sibley Guide to Western Birds,D.A. Sibley 2003 |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 688 East 700 South #105,SLC,UT 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Stephanie Greenwood,Shyloh Robinson,Jack Binch,Steve and Cindy Sommerfield,and several others showed up within an hour of me reporting it,and many others have seen it since. |
| Date prepared: | 4-25-13 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |