Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Hudsonian Godwit
Scientific name:	Limosa haemastica
Date:	August 5, 2022
Time:	1200-1330
Length of time observed:	90 min
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Willard Spur WMA
County:	Box Elder
Latilong:	41.37391 112.13594
Elevation:	4213
Distance to bird:	150-200 yards
Optical equipment:	85 mm scope with 20-60 zoom eyepiece
Weather:	Cloudy and hot; spitting sprinkles at times
Light Conditions:	Poor. Overcast.
Description: Size of bird:	Just smaller than Marbled Godwits present
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Football
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dull gray upper, gray and white lower
(Description:) Bill Type:	Long, thin and recurved
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Long, thin re-curved bill. Pink at the proximal end; black at the distal end. Whitish supercilium ending just aft of the eye. Dark eyeline. Gray crown and dull gray upper parts. The bird flapped its wings briefly, twice, when all the godwits were unsettled apparently due to slight spitting rain and a breeze, but they all settled and stayed. Wings on upper surface mostly much darker (blackish, at least) than gray uppers and with obvious white stripe at the base of the flight feathers. Bold white rump contrasted with a thick, black terminal tail band. Underparts dull gray to paler gray with small smudges on sides which appeared to be rufous when the light brightened, but that was distant and difficult to nail down. White undertail coverts with narrow dark smudges that appeared to be remnants of barring. Sides of rump appeared to have this dark barring as well. Did not see wing linings. Long legs. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None detected.
Behavior:	Bird probed in the mudflats and circulated easily with a large flock of Marbled Godwits and some dowitchers. Sometimes rested with bill tucked into scapulars, almost always facing away from the dike where I was observing.
Habitat:	Brackish surface water-covered mudflat of a large saline lake. Vegetation nearby.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Marbled Godwit: Larger than Hudsonian and generally cinnamon and black all over, especially the upper parts which are finely checkered; no white under-tail coverts. Bar-tailed Godwit: Lacks the bold and contrasting black-and-white wing, rump and tail pattern. Willet: Has a straight, dark, shorter bill and lacks the white rump and black terminal tail band.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Hudsonian: One; the Aug 2020 bird at this same location and in exactly the same plumage; many Marbled Godwits annually; no experience with Bar-tailed. Willets annually also.
References consulted:	O'Brien, Crossley and Karlson, 2006; Paulson, 2005; Sibley, 2000; UBRC records.
Description from:	Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Kristin Purdy
Observer's address:	Ogden, Utah
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	Aug 5, 2022
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Sorry for the terrible photos.