UBRC Report

Rick Fridell, Kenny Frisch, Stephanie Greenwood, Mike Hearell, Mike Schijf, Bryan Shirley, Mark Stackhouse, Larry Tripp, David Wheeler,  Non-voting Members:  Milt Moody (Secretary/Webmaster), Eric Huish (Archivist), Cody Neuman (eBird Liaison)

This annual report of the Committee summarizes 86 records of 62 species submitted in 2020.  The Committee accepted 70  of these records (81.4%).  The primary reason for records being rejected by the Committee during the period covered by this report was insufficient descriptive details to eliminate similar species.  Other reasons included: signs that the bird may have been a hybrid, and a higher level of scrutiny for a first state record. 

Incoming committee members for the 2021 year, Bryant Olsen and Steve Sommerfeld also participated in the review of some of the records included in this 2020 report:.  The report was compiled by Milt Moody.  Comments on the status of  species and context of the records as well as proof reading and editing was provided by Mike Schijf.

This year two new species were added to the checklist of the birds of Utah. A first state record for a Blackburnian Warbler (2020-46) from Sand Hollow State Park in Washington  County, was submitted by Jenner Bryson .  The sight record  included  an excellent series of photos and was accepted unanimously by the Committee.  The Mexican Duck was split from the Mallard species and was also added to the checklist.  This brings the total number of species for the Utah bird list to 467.

All species evaluated by the Committee are listed by common and scientific name using the nomenclature and taxonomic order of the American Ornithological Society Checklist of North American Birds, 61st supplement, followed by  the number of the records accepted for this species in the last ten years followed by the total number of official sightings for Utah (in parenthesis). The following information is included with each record in the species section:  record number, the number of birds observed along with age and sex if known, sighting location, occurrence date, observers with the initial finder listed first, observer(s) who submitted written documentation of the record, observer(s) who submitted photographs or videos, and the final-round vote of the committee with the first number being the “accept” votes and the second number being the “not-accept” votes.  A review summary  (in parenthesis) will follow the final round vote for those records that were not unanimously accepted in the first round. Any comments about the species records as a whole will be in a final italicized paragraph at the end of the species section and comments about individual records will be in italics after that record.

The Utah Bird Records Committee would like to thank those individuals who submitted documentation of their sightings. The Committee encourages all observers to document and submit a report of unusual sightings. Multiple documentation of sightings is more valuable than a single report, since one observer may notice key field marks not reported by other observers; those field marks may contribute significantly to the value of the record. The submission of photographs and recordings of songs or calls, along with the written documentation is strongly encouraged by the Committee.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS:

Brant  (Branta bernicla) (1 / 4)
     2020-03 - 11 Jan 2020 -Lake Park, West Valley, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one., Photos)   2nd round: 9-0

Mexican Duck (Anas diazi) (3 / 3)
     2020-18 - 17 May 2020 - Powell Lake, Lehi, Utah Co., by Bryant Olsen, (male, Photos)   2nd round: 7-1

     2020-76 - 5 Dec 2020 - Oquirrh Lake, Daybreak, Salt Lake Co., by Joe Dziedzina  (adult male, Photos)    2nd: 2-7  - (Although there is an unclear line, most reviewers thought that there are to many indications of hybridization to accept this sighting).

     2020-74 - 23 Nov 2020 - Sullivan Virgin River Park, Washington Co., by Jack Bushong  (adult male, Photos)    2nd: 8-1: 
     Note: It is likely that most, if not all Mexican Ducks reported in Utah contain Mallard genes as a result of genetic introgression.   (m.j.schijf)

Harlequin Duck   (Histrionicus histrionicus)  (3 / 9) 
     2020-16 - 8 May 2020 - Willard Waste Water Plant, Box Elder Co., by Mike Hearell; Bryant Olsen,
       (male & femaler, Photos)   1st round: 9-0

Black Scoter   (Melanitta americana)  (11 / 26)
     2020-71 - 4 Nov 2020 - River Lane, Sandy Beach, Utah Co., by Kendall Watkins  (adult male, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Common Ground-Dove  (Columbina passerina)    (0 / 1)
     2020-81 - 18 Dec 2020 -  Hurricane, Washington Co., by Gene Redford   (one, Photos)    2nd: 2-7  - (The possibility of a Ruddy Ground-Dove was not eliminated).

Ruddy Ground-Dove  (Columbina talpacoti)    (1 / 2)
     2020-82 - 20 Dec 2020 -  Escalate, Garfield Co., by [undisclosed]  (adult female, Photos)   1st round: 9-0
   

 Rivoli's Hummingbird   (Eugenes fulgens)  (0 / 7)    
     2020-24 - 12 Jun 2020 -  Washington, Washington Co., by Bill Griffiths  (female),   2nd round:  0- 9  - (With size being the most convincing factor, but also being a tricky thing to judge, the description proved not to be enough to eliminate other species.)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird  (Archilochus colubris)  (2 / 3)  

     2020-07 - 7 Sep 2019 - Saratoga Springs, Utah Co., by Archita Benvie   (one, Photos)   1st round: 0-9  - (Other species could not be eliminated. Most reviewers thought it was more likely a Black-chinned Hummingbird).
     2020-21 - 6 Jun 2020 - Ogden, Weber Co., by Kristin Purdy, (adult male, Photos)   1st round: 9-0

Broad-billed Hummingbird   (Cynanthus latirostris)  (4 / 10)  
     2020-58 - 10 Oct 2020 - Castle Valley, Grand Co., by Glenn Kincaid  (adult male, Photos): 1st round: 9-0: 

Vaux's Swift   (Chaetura vaux)  (9 / 22)  
     2020-41 - 7 May 2020 -  Blackridge Reservoir, Salt Lake Co., by Corey Riding  (one)  2nd round: 2-7  - (Although Vaux's Swift would be the most likely alternative Chimney Swift couldn't be ruled out by the description).

Hudsonian Godwit   (Limosa haemastica)  (3 / 16)  
     2020-49 - 24 Jun 2020 - Antleope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Kadynn Hatfield  (adult male, Photos):  1st round: 9-0 

     2020-30 - 13 Aug 2020 -  West Willard Playa, Box Elder Co., by Kendall Watkins, Bryant Olsen  (adult, Photos)  1st round: 9-0
 

Ruff   (Calidris virgata)  (4 / 9) 
     2020-36 - 9 Sep 2020 -  Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Kendall Watkins  (adult female, Photos)  2nd round: 8-1  - (The description augmented the photos and confirmed this sighting).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper   (Calidris acuminata)  (1 / 2)
     2020-64 - 29 Oct 2020 - Ouray NWR, Uintah Co., by Lesley Tullis, (2) by James Loveless  (? juvenile, Photos)   1st round: 9-0

White-rumped Sandpiper   (Calidris fuscicollis)  (2 / 9)  
     2020-20 - 3 Jun 2020 - Lincoln Beach, Utah Co., by James Hoffman, (female, Photos)   1st round: 9-0

Buff-breasted Sandpiper   (Calidris subruficollis)  (2 / 6)  
     2020-37 - 9 Sep 2020 -  Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Kendall Watkins  (adult, Photos) 2nd round: 9-0

Red Phalarope  (Phalaropus fulicarius)  (10 /23)
    2020-42 - 13 Sep 2020 -  Causeway, Antelope Island, Davis Co., by Holly Minor  (juvenile, Photos) 1st round: 9-0 

    2020-48 - 22 Sep 2020 - Near Saltair, Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one, Photos)  1st round: 9-0 

    2020-68 - 7 Nov 2020 - Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Pomarine Jaeger  (Stercorarius pomarinus)  (3 / 5)
    2020-39 - 10 Sep 2020 -  Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Terry Reid  (adult) 2nd round: 6-3  - (Though the main field mark was the distinctive shape of the tail, it was enough to accept this rare sighting).
    2020-70 - 18 Nov 2020 - Lee Kay Ponds, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen  (Juvenile, Photos) 1st round: 9-0

Parasitic Jaeger   (Stercorarius parasiticus)  (3 / 14)

    2020-23 - 22 Sep 2007 -  Farmington Bay WMA, Davis Co., by Ryan O'Donnellt  (juvenile, Photos)   2nd round: 8-1  (With some field marks pointing more towards a Pomarine Jaeger there was some question, but more reviewers ended up leaning towards a Parasitic Jaeger).
    2020-02 - 21 Sep 2014 - Antelope Island Causeway, 2nd bridge, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen  (adult & Juv., Photos)    2nd round: 3- 4, 2 NAS  - (In the first round, most assumed that this was the same bird that was seen two weeks earlier at the same location, when it was considered more on the description itself in the second round, it was decided that other species were not adequately eliminated).
    2020-01 - 5 Oct 2014 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen  (adult & Juvenile, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

    2020-38 - 10 Sep 2020 -  Sand Hollow SP, Washington Co., by Liam Murphy & Giulia Donato  (juvenile, Photos)  1st round: 9-0   This is the first record of this species from the southern end of the state. (m.j.schijf)

Long-tailed Jaeger  (Stercorarius longicaudus)  (4 / 13)
     2020-34 - 29 Aug 2020 -  "Jennifer's Phone Booth," Colorado River, Grand Co., by Glenn Kincaid  (juv., Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Laughing Gull  (Leucophaeus atricilla)  (1 / 1)    
     2020-32 - 14 Aug 2020 -  Willard Bay State Park, Box Elder Co., by Ian Batterman  (adult)  1st round: 0-9  - (Without a photo, the description was not enough to eliminate other possible species, most notably the more common Franklin's Gull).

Western Gull  (Larus occidentalis)  (9 / 13)   
     2020-05 - 11 Jan 2020 - Lee Kay Ponds, Salt Lake Co., by Ian Batterman  (1st winter) : 0-9  - (The description doesn't eliminate similar species, especially Herring Gull, which would be more likely).
 

Red-throated Loon  (Gavia stellata)  (11 / 21)
    2020-72 - 15 Nov 2020 - Willard Bay State Park, Box Elder Co., by Kendall Watkins  (one, Photos) 1st round: 9-0 

Yellow-billed Loon  (Gavia adamsii)  (3 / 12)
    2020-73 - 17 Nov 2020 - Willard Bay State Park, Box Elder Co., by Kendall Watkins  (juvenile, Photos)  1st round: 9-0 

    2020-84 - 10 Dec 2020 - Deer Creek State Park, Wasatch Co., by Suzi Holt  (one, Photo) 1st round:  9-0   eBird checklists showed photos of two individuals – a new high count for Utah.  (m.j.schijf)

Black Vulture    (Cathartes aura)  (0 / 0)
    2020-61 - 5 Oct 2020 - Mouth of Escalante River, Kane Co., by Daniel Gorder  (two)   2nd round: 0-9  - (Because the observer was unaware of how rare this bird is in Utah and didn't pay much attention when he saw this bird, the description of what he saw was not sufficient to accept this record. We expect this species to show up in Utah).

Zone-tailed Hawk  (Buteo albonotatus)  (14 / 25)

    2020-13 - 14 Apr 2020 - Kolob Canyon, Zion NP, Washington Co., by Jason Pietrzak, (Photos)    2nd 9-0

Boreal Owl  (Aegolius funereus)  (5 / 9)
    2020-10 - 30 Aug 2019 - Marshall Lake, Duchesne Co., by Robert, Christina, & Kiley Reed  (two, Photos & Video)   1st round: 9-0

    2020-56 - 3 Oct 2020 - Uinta Mountains, Wasatch Co., by Jeff Cooper  (three adults, Photos)  1st round: 9-0
    2020-63 - 23 Oct 2020 - Naturalist Basin, Duchesne Co., by Mike Hearell  (two, Photos, Audio)   1st round: 9-0

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  (Sphyrapicus varius)  (23 / 24)
     2020-11 - 17 Apr 2020 - Park City, Old Town, Summit Co., by Keith Aran, (Photos) :  0-8  - (This bird showed signs of being a hybrid and probably more toward the Red-naped Sapsucker side).

     2020-62 - 26 Oct 2020 - Allen Park, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., by Quinn Diaz  (juvenile, Photos)   3rd: round: 4-5  - (In a very close vote, the possibility of a hybrid could not be ruled out).

     2020-77 - 3 Dec 2020 - Herriman, Salt Lake Co., by Kendall Watkins & Bryant Olsen  (juvenile female, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

     2020-83 - 27 Dec 2020 - Torrey, Wayne Co., by Kevin Lapp  (juvenile, Photos)  2nd round: 9-0  - (Some concern about being a hybrid was alleviated in the 2nd round).

Gilded Flicker  (Colaptes chrysoides)  (3 / 3)  
    2020-54 - 22 Sep 2020 - Posy Lake Campground, Garfield Co., by Deedee OBrien  (adult female, Photos)   2nd round: 0-9  - (Characteristics of a Northern Flicker suggested a possible hybrid of that species).

Gyrfalcon  (Falco rusticolus)  (2 / 8)
    2020-75 - 1 Dec 2020 - Willard Spur WMA Co., by Bryant Olsen  (juvenile, Photos)   2nd: 9-0  (Despite some thought that this might be an escapee, the evidence did not support that suspicion and this record was unanimously accepted).

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher   (Tyrannus forficatus)   (5 / 13)
    2020-27 - 12 Aug 2020 -  Rush Valley, Tooele Co., by Bryan Shirley  (female/juvenile - Photos by Suzi Holt): 9-0

Eastern Phoebe   (Sayornis phoebe)   (7 / 22)
    2020-22 - 8 Jun 2020 - Utah Lake North Shore Parkway Trail, Utah Co., by Kendall Watkins, (adult, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Blue-headed Vireo  (Vireo solitarius)   (2 / 5)  
     2020-43 - 13 Sep 2020 -  Garr Ranch, Antelope Island, Davis Co., by Holly Minor  (one, Photos)   2nd round: 0-9  - (A bright Cassin's Vireo could not be eliminated as a possibility).

Winter Wren  (Troglodytes hiemalis)   (9 / 10)
     2020-78  - 7 Dec 2020 - East Canyon, Mormon Flats, Morgan Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one, Photos)   1st round: 9-0
     2020-09 - 29 Jan 2020 - Willard Bay State Park, Box Elder Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one, Photos & Audio)   1st round: 9-0

Eastern Bluebird  (Sialia sialis)  (4 / 8) 
     2020-08 - 8 Dec 2019 - Stewart Lake WMA, Uintah Co., by Kevin Glueckert  (one, Photos & Audio)    2nd round: 9-0  - (The combination of the photo and the audio together was enough to accept this record in the second round).

Veery  (Catharus fuscescens)  (3 / 14)
     2020-35 - 1 Sep 2020 -  Mormon Flat CG, Jeremy Ranch Road, Morgan Co., by Mia McPherson  (adult, Photos)  3rd round: 6-3  - (A difficult ID with a close call resulted in acceptance in the 3rd round).
      This is the second consecutive year with an accepted Veery record in Utah, but only the third accepted record since 1983.  (m.j.schijf)

Brown Thrasher  (Toxostoma rufum)  (12 / 30) 

     2020-55 - 24 Sep 2020 - Feeder in Big Water, Kane Co., by Pat Larkin  (one)   1st round: 9-0

     2020-59 - 24 Sep 2020 - Buffalo Ranch Pond, Farmington, Davis Co., by Colin Maguire  (one, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

     2020-53 - 28 Sep 2020 - Fish Springs NWR, Juab Co., by Janice Gardner  (adult, Photos)  1st round: 9-0
     2020-52 - 29 Sep 2020 - Bryce, Garfield Co., by Dean LaTray  (adult, Photos)1st round: 9-0
     2020-65 - 15 Oct 2020 - Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne Co., by Shauna Cotrell   (one adult) 1st round: 9-0

 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch  (Leucosticte australis)  (7 / 8)
     2020-06 - 9 Jan 2020 - LaSal Mountains, Loop Road,  Grand Co., by Steve Heinrich  (one, Photos)    2nd round: 9-0

     2020-69 - 12 Nov 2020 - La Sal Mountain Loop Road, Grand Co., by Steve Heinrich  (several, Photos)  1st round: 9-0
     All 8 UBRC-accepted records of this species have been since 2008, with 7 of those records coming from San Juan and Grand Counties.  (m.j.schijf)

Thick-billed (McCown's) Longspur  
(Rhynchophanes mccownii)  (11 / 23)

     2020-80 - 19 Dec 2020 -  Ogden Bay WMA, Weber Co., by Mike Hearell  (>three adults, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

     2020-79 - 6 Dec 2020 -  Harold Crane WMA, Weber Co., by Kristin Purdy  (adult,.Photo)  1st round: 9-0

     2020-86 - 28 Dec 2020 -  Upper Gold Hill Road, Tooele Co., by Bryant Olsen  (female?, Photos)  1st round: 9-0 
     It is possible that an increase in observations of this species may be due to increased observer coverage in appropriate wintering habitat.  (m.j.schijf)

Cassin's Sparrow   (Peucaea cassinii)  (2 / 4)
     2020-04 - 8  Oct 2019 - Near Loa, Wayne Co., by Ian Batterman  (one)   1st round: 0-9  - (The description did not eliminate the possibility of other similar sparrows and also this bird being in a mixed flock would not be typical for this species especially out of its range).

     2020-25 - 5 Jul 2020 -  Desert Lake WMA,  Emery Co., by Kevin Glueckert  (adult male, Audio,  Photos)   1st round: 8-0

     2020-85 - 27 Dec 2020 - Washington Fields area, Washington Co., by Tony Jones  (one, Photos)  1st round:  9-0
     The two UBRC accepted records of this species in 2020 account for the only Utah records backed up with photographic evidence.   (m.j.schijf)

Ovenbird  (Seiurus aurocapilla)  (11 / 26)  
     2020-44 - 12 Sep 2020 -  Sand Hollow State Park, Washington Co., by Tony Jones, Terry Reid  (adult, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Louisiana Waterthrush  (Parkesia motacilla)  (0 / 1)
     2020-26 - 8 May 2017 -  Springville, Utah Co., by Noel Zaugg  (adult  Photos)   2nd round: 1-8  - (An even first round was swayed toward the Northern Waterthrush side in the second round by a couple of solicited expert opinions and other convincing comments. A close call).

Golden-winged Warbler  (Vermivora chrysoptera)  (2 / 5)   
     2020-29- 10 Aug 2020 -  Pine Lake Campground, Garfield Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one, Photos):  1st round: 9-0

Kentucky Warbler    (Geothlypis formosa)  (1 / 3)  
     2020-50 - 21 Sep 2020 - St. George, Washington Co., by Jeana S.  (one, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Hooded Warbler  (Setophaga citrina)  (4 / 9)  

     2020-15 - 9 May 2020 -  Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Monte Neate-Clegg,   3rd round: 5-4  - (With no photos for this bird, the decision was close but ended up to accept.).

     2020-60 - 23 Oct 2020 - Allen Park, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., by Pomera Fronce  (male, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Cerulean Warbler  (Setophaga castanea)  (0 /0) 
     2020-33 - 20 Aug 2020 -  Utah Lake Parkway Trail (North Shore), Utah Co., by Rachel LeBlanc  (adult male) 2nd round: 1-8  - (The committee didn't feel that this record meet the higher level required for a first state record without physical evidence as outlined in the bylaws).
     The vast majority of fall western records of this species have come in October, with no known previous western records from August.   (m.j.schijf)

Northern Parula  (Setophaga americana)  (18 / 31)  
     2020-14 - 6 May 2020 -  Price River Valley, SE of Price, Carbon Co., by Justin Streit,  (Audio 1, Audio 2)   1st round: 9-0

     2020-17 - 13 May 2020 - Garr Ranch, Antelope Island, Davis Co., by Cullen Clark, (Photos)   1st round:  9-0
     2020-47 - 21 May 2020 - Utah Test and Training Range - North, Box Elder Co., by Jessi Morris  (one, Photos) 1st round: 9-0

     2020-31 - 16 Aug 2020 -  Jordan River Parkway Trail, Salt Lake Co., by Kendall Watkins  (1st Year, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Magnolia Warbler  (Setophaga magnolia)  (5 / 15)
     2020-19 - 12 May 2020 - Birch Creek, Piute Co., by Steve Clark, (female, Photos)   1st round: 9-0

     2020-51 - 25 Sep 2020 - Confluence Park, La Verkin, Washington Co., by Mike Schijf  (female, Photos) 1st round:  9-0
 

Bay-breasted Warbler  (Setophaga castanea)  (3 / 6)
     2020-67 - 7 Nov 2020 - Royal Oaks Park, Washington Co., by Bryant Olsen  (male?, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

     2020-28 - 8 Aug 2020 -  Duck Creek Visitor Center, Kane Co., by Bryant Olsen  (adult male,  Photos)  1st round: 9-0

Blackburnian Warbler  (Setophaga fusca)  (1 / 1)  
     2020-46 - 20 Sep 2020 - Sand Hollow State Park, Washington Co., by Jenner Bryson  (one, Photos):  1st round: 9-0      first state record
     Every state neighboring Utah has multiple previous records of this species, so this state first seemed long overdue.   (m.j.schijf)

Blackpoll Warbler  (Setophaga striata)  (9 / 21)

     2020-40 - 13 Sep 2020 -  Willard Spur, Box Elder Co., by Mike Hearell  (1st year, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

     2020-45 - 19 Sep 2020 - Buffalo Ranch Pond, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one, Photo)  1st round: 9-0

Black-throated Blue Warbler  (Setophaga caerulescens)  (6 / 23)
     2020-57 - 4 Oct 2020 - Painter Spring, Millard Co., by Bryant Olsen   (female, Photos)  1st round: 9-0

       2020-66 - 24 Oct 2020 - Lytle Ranch Preserve, Washington Co., by James Loveless  (male, Photos) 1st round: 9-0

Palm Warbler  (Setophaga palmarum)  (14 / 26)
     2020-12 - 3 May 2020 - Bountiful Pond Park, Davis Co., by Max Malmquist, (Photos) :  1st round: 9-0

* The heading photo is of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 
   by James Loveless  (Record 2020-64)