Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red Phalarope
Scientific name:	[Phalaropus fulicarius]
Date:	10/12-14/26
Time:	10:50 on 10/12, etc
Length of time observed:	20+ min
Number:	1-2 on 10/12; 1 on 10/13; 2 on 10/14
Age:	Assumedly adult nonbreeding
Sex:	--
Location:	Sand Hollow Reservoir
County:	Washington, UT
Latilong:
Elevation:	~3000 ft
Distance to bird:	from 80 to 800+ yards
Optical equipment:	Leica scope, 20-60x; photos taken with my Apple Mini-12 thru the scope
Weather:	Stormy, ranging from blustery and overcast; to calm and sunbreaks
Light Conditions:	Heavy overcast with glary backlight looking eastward; sunny with side-light looking northward
Description: Size of bird:	smaller than robin, closer to tanager size?
(Description:) Basic Shape:	shorebird with long, narrow, straight bill
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	grayscale: predominantly plain gray above; white below (showing white just above waterline); black mask
(Description:) Bill Type:	long, thin, straight
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Phalarope with plain gray upperparts; white underparts; white throat and face with dark eye mask; white forehead; bill long, thin, straight. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	silent
Behavior:	Typical phalarope behavior: swimming along surface in a non-direct direction within a fairly confined area, occasionally picking food off the surface. The individual near the dam was associating with 3 Red-necked Phalaropes.
Habitat:	Large reservoir, either near the dam (assumedly comparatively deep water) or way out toward the center of the lake.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Adult nonbreeding Wilson's Phalarope: Bill was much too thick; structure seemed comparatively bulky/compact Adult nonbreeding Red-necked Phalarope: Viewed side-by-side for careful comparison (see pic). Bill was comparatively thicker/stouter; size was larger; structure was comparatively bulky/compact. Pattern in head/forehead/mask was slightly different; amount and pattern of white along the waterline extended farther upward.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Very limited for Red: one close view in winter at Tokeland Marina, SW WA; several winter storm-blown birds in a pond at Ridgefield NWR in SW WA; a few distant birds during a pelagic out of Westport. Red-necked: multiple large flocks off the SW WA coast, eg close off the Ocean Shores jetty; a count of 280 at Sand Hollow in 2025.
References consulted:	Sibley app
Description from:	Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Paul Hicks (there were many others present)
Observer's address:	1630 E 2450 S #26
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	I assume James Loveless from "northern" Utah got pics, but perhaps not -- I don't recall. On my return leg along the dam back to my car the phalaropes were gone, so it is possible no one else actually saw or documented the phalaropes I saw.
Date prepared:	11/02/26
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	October 12-14 saw an historical fallout of several storm-blown pelagic species. My photos are of both phalaropes close in to the dam face on 10/12 near the height of the storm. The closest bird is clearly larger, more compact in structure, with stouter/thicker bill, plus other subtle plumage differences. On 10/12 hours later I saw an individual far off shore (roughly the SW section) that I judged to be Red based on the compact structure with a hint of stouter bill but distance was at the extreme limit of my scope for such fine detail. On 10/13 I again saw what struck me as the same bird in almost the exact spot. On 10/14 there were 2, same area. These more distant sightings only reinforce my impression of a stockier, more compact, and heavier-flying Red Phalarope observed and tracked from distance in the same area of the lake on 11/08/24 that I reported to UBRC on 12/08/24.[2024-87] Ali White shared a pic [on file - different individual] she took the morning of 10/14/26 at 9:34am at an industrial retention pond out by the StG airport. [maybe 8 miles away?] She guessed it was a Red-neck, but just a few days ago I took a closer, zoomed-in look and see that it was also a Red Phalarope. I am including her pic. From my eBird notes, 10/12-14: Associating with 3 red-necks just off the west dam face for nice side-by-side comparison. Neither seen on return leg, but I saw a(nother?) Red Phalarope off the SW shore hours later. Comparatively/proportionately shorter, thicker (stouter) bill; slightly larger size and more compact structure (see pic for Red-necks); stronger/larger gray wash extending over the "shoulder" into the breast-side area. Additionally, slight difference in mask pattern and white plumage pattern along the waterline. My first definitive view in UT. 10/13 apparently continuing bird off south shore, same spot I observed one yesterday. Comparatively compact/stocky structure; comparatively stout bill 10/14 *2 or 3, probably continuing; structure comparatively more compact/stocky; bill comparatively more stout