Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Vaux's Swift
Scientific name:	Chaetura vauxi
Date:	7 May 2020
Time:	about 8:25 pm
Length of time observed:	About 5 min, with interruptions
Number:	1
Age:	unknown
Sex:	unknown
Location:	Blackridge Reservoir
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:	40.480021, -112.022203
Elevation:	5270
Distance to bird:	Varied from 20 to 500 feet, due to circling flights
Optical equipment:	10x50 binoculars, but much of the observation made with unaided eye
Weather:	Didn't note at time, but records say it was ~50 degrees with no wind and clear skies
Light Conditions:	Sun was going down, so it was getting darker
Description: Size of bird:	A little smaller than the nearby VGSW
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Cylindrical body, sickle-shaped wings
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark, but paler on chin
(Description:) Bill Type:	Small, but couldn't see much
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Copy-pasted from my eBird comments made at time of observation: With all the swallows and the failing light, it was hard to track flying over the water. Similar to Chimney Swift, but seemed small. Cylindrical body, sickle-like wings. Stiff, rapid wingbeats. Dark, but paler on chin. I think it flew north with a few swallows as we were leaving.
Song or call & method of delivery:	Didn't notice vocalizations specific to this bird with all the motion and sound occurring.
Behavior:	Flying constantly with swallows over reservoir. Stiff, rapid wingbeats. Flight path with lots of turns, but didn't feel terribly erratic.
Habitat:	Artificial pond nearly surrounded by houses on side of hill. But not very far from
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Shape and size differed slightly from swallows flying nearby. Didn't make any other specific comparisons at time of observation.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have only 2 or 3 observations of this species, but I regularly observed the similar Chimney Swift over the past 5 years in Oklahoma and Massachusetts.
References consulted:	None at time of observation. Looked at revised Sibley later to confirm impressions.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Corey Riding
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	none
Date prepared:	15 Sep 2020
Additional material:
Additional comments:	Didn't consider that this observation warranted a submission to the committee, but eBird regional editor (Kenny Frisch) suggested doing so.