Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Black Vulture
Scientific name:	Coragyps atratus
Date:	10/5/2020
Time:	mid afternoon
Length of time observed:	1 hour+
Number:	2
Age:	n/a
Sex:	n/a
Location:	Mouth of Escalante River, Lake Powell.
County:	Kane
Latilong:	37.35259 - 110.93919
Elevation:	3600
Distance to bird:	Variable. Closest was probably 50-75 yards.
Optical equipment:	10x binoculars
Weather:	calm, sunny.
Light Conditions:	excellent
Description: Size of bird:	20+ inches, 4lbs
(Description:) Basic Shape:	raptor like
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	black
(Description:) Bill Type:	hooked
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Large black and gray birds. Gray skin neck and head, short tail.
Song or call & method of delivery:	n/a
Behavior:	n/a
Habitat:	Red rock sandstone canyon.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Cathartes aura (turkey vulture) and Gymnogyps californianus (California condor). Very obvious differences, I knew they weren't turkeys or condors at first sight without binoculars and confirmed 100% with the optics.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen countless turkey and black vultures and many condors having traveled extensively in all their ranges for many years.
References consulted:	Not needed.
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Daniel Gorder
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None
Date prepared:	10/26/2020
Additional material:
Additional comments:	I observed these birds for at least an hour as they flew from perch to perch along the shoreline and the cliffs of the canyon while I was fishing the area from a boat. Didn't even worry about getting low quality ID pics, I knew they were out of their range, but figured it wasn't too uncommon although I had never seen them in Utah before.