Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	White-rumped Sandpiper
Scientific name:	Calidris fuscicollis
Date:	June 11, 2025
Time:	7:45 A.M.
Length of time observed:	30 minute
Number:	28
Age:	Adult
Sex:	unknown
Location:	Pelican Lake
County:	Uintah
Latilong:	40.197274,-109.727561
Elevation:	4,800 feet
Distance to bird:	20 to 200 feet
Optical equipment:	8 x 43 Zen Ray binoculars and Vortex Razor Spotting Scope
Weather:	Sunny
Light Conditions:	early morning light from behind me.
Description: Size of bird:	sandpiper size
(Description:) Basic Shape:	sandpiper shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	white, black, rufous, and gray
(Description:) Bill Type:	slightly decurved sandpiper bill.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I pulled up on a pond that was adjacent to Pelican Lake and noticed a large number of water birds out on it. I got out of the car and one of the first things I noticed was a flock of peeps pickup and start flying around the pond. I noticed that the group flying around all had white rumps, so I thought maybe I was wrong about them being peeps, and they were Phalropes. They flew around on the opposite side of the pond for a good 5 minutes before landing. I got my scope on them and quickly realized that I was dealing with a sizable flock of White-rumped Sandpipers. The sandpipers all had black legs, black bill, and I could see reddish coloring at the base of the lower mandible on some of the birds. Also all of the bills were slightly decurved. I also noticed that some of the birds had a rufous cap on them. All of the birds had a streaked breast and flanks. The primaries on the birds extended past the tail. I counted the birds and had 28 White-rumped Sandpipers. They picked up and started to fly around again and I noticed that all 28 sandpipers had white rumps. They landed again even closer than the time prior and was able to get some decent photos, however they weren't in a tight flock at this point. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard
Behavior:	feeding on mudflat and would pick up and fly around as a flock before landing and continuing to feed on mudflat.
Habitat:	desert lake and mudflats.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Baird's Sandpiper: The white on the rump as they flew eliminated this bird, along with the decurved bill, and the streaked flanks Western Sandpiper: The primaries that extended past the tail, the white rumps, and the red at the base of the lower mandible eliminated this bird. Least Sandpiper: The lack of yellow legs, white rumps, and the long primaries eliminated a Least Sandpiper. Semipalmated Sandpiper: The decurved bill, the long primary projection, and the streaked flanks on the side eliminated this bird
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I had seen a singular bird earlier in the month at Antelope Island Causeway.
References consulted:	Sibley
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	KC Childs
Observer's address:	Orem, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	none that were with me. Others reported the birds after me.
Date prepared:	June 25, 2025
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	I will email the photos.