Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2019-46


Common name:

Pomarine Jaeger

Scientific name: Stercorarius pomarinus
Date: 15 May 2011
Time: approx. 3:30 pm etc.
Length of time observed: several minutes in total
Number: one
Age: adult
Sex: ?
Location: Antelope Island Causeway between mile markers 5.5 - 6.1
County: Davis
Latilong: 41.0870, -112.1414 approx.
Elevation: 4200 feet
Distance to bird: various
Optical equipment: Leica 10x42 trinovid binocs &
Weather: Mostly overcast, extremely windy
Light Conditions: misc.
Description:        Size of bird: size of a gull
(Description:)       Basic Shape: similar to a gull
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: (see below)
(Description:)            Bill Type: (not noted in notes)
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
Copied from my eBird checklist at the behest of Colby:

Adult light phase at mm 5.5 - 6.1. Saw it three times (starting ~3:30pm), once with a scope:
-- great looks at long tail with inverted "knob" tips [i.e. the tail projections were twisted]
-- pale breast with clear dark band
-- black cap
-- strong flier in near gale force winds
-- perched for a while on the mudflat.
Song or call & method of delivery: silent
Behavior: Flying in extremely strong wind & perched on mudflat
Habitat: Mudflat and air above saline lake.
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
(Not recorded in notes, but I got very good scope views of twisted tail projections.)
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
I have seen many over the years, both on pelagic trips and over land, in several countries, but I do not consider myself an expert at field identification of species in this difficult genus.
References consulted: Likely National Geographic & possibly Sibley guides.
Description from: Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer: David Wheeler
Observer's address: 2196 South 1000 East, SLC, UT 84106
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird: Laura Lockhart
 
Date prepared: 28 Dec 2019
Additional material: No_additional_Materials
Additional comments: Sorry for the paucity of details, but I'm submitting this information from my eBird notes many years after the fact, at the behest of Colby.