Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	White-rumped Sandpiper
Scientific name:	Calidris fuscicollis
Date:	9 August, 2026
Time:	0752
Length of time observed:	~25 seconds
Number:	2
Age:	Unknown
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Lee Creek
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:	40.778388,-112.179972
Elevation:	~1920 m
Distance to bird:	~30 m to >400 m
Optical equipment:	Vortex Viper 8x42 binoculars, Vortex Razor HD 18x spotting scope
Weather:	Partly cloud, ~30% cloud cover, ~80 degrees F, calm
Light Conditions:	Sun at an angle of ~110 degrees coming over my right shoulder, mostly shaded by a thick cloud at the time
Description: Size of bird:	Both birds were slightly larger than Western Sandpipers
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Long-winged, obvious Calidris shorebirds
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Brown above, pale below, notable white wing stripe
(Description:) Bill Type:	Not visualized well
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	At 0752 as I was standing approx here (40.778388,-112.179972), I was alerted to a group of flying shorebirds by Western Sandpiper (WESA) calls. At this point in the morning I had not had any Calidris so the sound stood out. I lifted my binoculars to find a group of six Calidris in flight coming from my SW headed NE. As they passed me and banked, I was shocked to see two clear white rumps. I quickly got the scope on them and followed them for about 20 seconds during which they banked twice more giving great views of the diagnostic white rump. Other field marks: white wing stripe, dark tail, gray-brown upperparts not noticeably different in shade compared to WESA. Even when they weren't banking, I could pick out the two White-rumped Sandpipers by slightly larger size next to the four WESA. I attempted digiscoping unsuccessfully, the birds continued moving north up the shore line until I lost them in a mass of phalaropes also in flight headed north.
Song or call & method of delivery:	None (however, the Western Sandpipers that were with them called)
Behavior:	Flying
Habitat:	Shore of the Great Salk Lake
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Wilson's Phalarope (WIPH) easily ruled out by these two birds' overall Calidris appearance, only slightly larger than Western Sandpiper (vs WIPH being significantly larger), white wing stripe, lack of trailing legs, and boldly contrasting white rump with dark tail (vs paler tail of WIPH, giving a low contrast rump that almost looks like the rump and tail are the same color). Curlew Sandpiper is also white rumped, but would have been noticeably larger and bulkier next to WESA rather than the slight size difference I observed.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	WRSA: I have observed several hundred White-rumped Sandpipers including >200 individuals seen in May of this year (2026) during some time in Nebraska and South Dakota. WIPH: I have observed thousands of Wilson's Pharalope across two decades of birding CUSA: I have observed >500 in Australia and southeast Asia. Though never in direct comparison to White-rumped Sandpiper, I have seen them next to other Calidris similar in size to WESA (e.g. stints) and the size difference is striking rather than subtle as I observed in the WRSA next to WESA.
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to Birds (mobile app)
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	David Hollie
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None
Date prepared:	8/16/2026
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