Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2021-49
| Common name: |
Upland Sandpiper |
| Scientific name: | Bartramia longicauda |
| Date: | 9-4-2021 |
| Time: | 12:30 p.m. |
| Length of time observed: | ~3 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | uknown |
| Sex: | uknown |
| Location: | Northlake Park and Loch Lomond Pond (eBird Hotspot) - North shore of Utah Lake |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | 40.361063, -111.855632 |
| Elevation: | ~4,500 |
| Distance to bird: | 100 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Leica Ultravid 8x42 HD, Kowa TSN-883 Prominar and Razor HD 27-60x85 |
| Weather: | 85 degrees, sunny |
| Light Conditions: | Harsh mid-day sun, but bird was in a good direction for lighting when observed. |
| Description: Size of bird: | ~12 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Pretty Unique, tall shorebird, fairly long legs, long tail and short bill |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brown and white |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Fairly short and straight |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
I was with Bryant Olsen and Charles Hurd looking for the
recently reported Ruff on Utah Lake. After striking out at the original location
of the Ruff observation (over by Saratoga Springs), we decided to try our luck
on the north shore of the lake. We went over to the Loch Lomond Pond parking
area, and proceeded to walk south towards the lake shore. The lake has receded
in recent months and after walking through some brush and phragmites, the damp
lakeshore has grown in and is full of short grasses and weeds. The second we
moved beyond the taller vegetation into the grasses, we heard the bird do the
classic, unmistakable "pledubup" flush call. We had been talking earlier in the
day about Bryant's observation of an UPSA farther north on the Jordan River the
day before, and had just played the call in the truck on the drive over. I was
so taken by surprise my first thought was to check my phone to see if I had
accidentally played the call in my pocket. Realizing that
this was not a recording, we began scanning the shoreline and grassy/weedy area
for the bird. We spotted the bird within about a minute and watched it running
in the grass ~100 yards away for about 30 seconds. Unmistakable bird. Noted the
short, straight yellow bill with a black tip. Fairly long legs, rounded lumpy
body contrasting with the long neck, small head and short bill. Brownish tones,
fairly uniform above with streaking on breast, giving way to a whitish/creamy
belly and undertail. After confirming the ID through the scope I proceeded to
try to get a digiscope photo. The bird took flight and then called 3 more times.
We took some distant flight shots, the shape of UPSA is very distinct (see
photos) - fairly long, tapered wings, noticeably long tail for a shorebird,
small head and rounded body is hard to confuse with any other species. It landed
briefly 150 yards away, and then took flight again (calling for a 5th time) and
flew NW towards the ag fields/Jordan River. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Intermittent "flush" call, unmistakable "pledupub" heard 5 times. First time was while the bird was on the ground, other 4 times was during flight. |
| Behavior: | Obviously disturbed (by us), frantic running through grasses and weeds. Then seen flying with shallow, almost flittery wingbeats, which was also pretty distinctive compared to other shorebirds. |
| Habitat: | 6"-12" grasses and weeds along the lake shore. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
The shape, habitat and sounds of UPSA are difficult to say what other shorebirds it could have been confused with. Maybe yellowlegs? Brown tones and short bill eliminate LEYE. Long tail eliminates everything else. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I observed UPSA a number of times this spring in South Texas, both on the ground and in flight/flyovers. |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: |
From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Max Malmquist |
| Observer's address: | 2377 East Boyes Street |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Bryant Olsen and Charles Hurd |
| Date prepared: | 9-4-2021 |
| Additional material: | Photos, Ebird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S94181292 |
| Additional comments: |