Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Ancient Murrelet
Scientific name:	Synthliboramphus Antiquus
Date:	November 20th 2025
Time:	2:40 PM
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	juvenile
Sex:	unknown
Location:	Lincoln Beach on Utah Lake
County:	Utah
Latilong:
Elevation:	4,488'
Distance to bird:	100 feet
Optical equipment:	Vortex Razor Spotting Scope
Weather:	Mostly Cloudy
Light Conditions:	diffused light because of clouds, but bright
Description: Size of bird:	The size of a nice hoagie sandwich, or about 10 inches long
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Oblong
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Black, White, and Gray
(Description:) Bill Type:	Short and stubby
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I was scoping the lake and was looking out toward the Sandy Beach area of the lake when I saw a tiny bird flying directly toward me. I initially saw the white underwing, and dark top and a very unique quick rapid and stiff style of wingbeat and with what appeared to be pointed wings. It continued flying toward Lincoln Beach, when it started to turn north and reveal an oblong bird with a dark face, white belly, white moving from the breast up onto the side of the neck that was very noticeable, and stopping near the nape area. I knew at that moment it was an Ancient Murrelet and began to yell at Eli, Ian, Robbie, and Tammy to get over near me to look as I wasn't sure where it would land. As it kept flying I soon realized it was going to touch down about 100 feet from where we were standing in the lake. It landed and first began to preen and flap wings revealing again the dramatic white underwing. It then sat and loafed and swam around about 100 feet off the end of the jetty while we watched it and took photographs. It gave wonderful views in the scope that let me note other important details, including a lack of any white in the eyebrow area, that led me to believe it was a possible juvenile bird. I also noticed the gray back that extended from the nape all the way down the back of the bird. I noticed the dark eye, the dark face, crown, nape and a bright white lower throat into chest area that extended all the way down the entire front of the bird, as was seen when it flew. The bill I also noted on the flanks that the bird had some white and checkering type pattern mixing with the dark. It appeared as if the flanks were black in comparison to the back. I kept watching the bird, and trying to get information out to the birding community, when I fielded a phone call and Eli Philip was keeping an eye on the bird. That would be the last I saw of the bird as it drifted away, and he would last see the bird heading south when he lost it. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none heard.
Behavior:	Watched it actively fly for a good distance, watched it flap wings in the water, and saw it swimming. I never saw it dive.
Habitat:	Open water
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Long-billed and Marbled Murrelet were eliminated by the very evident white underwing. A Scripps's Murrelet was eliminated by the pale bill. A Dovekie was eliminated by the white neck and pale bill. It was far too small to be any kind of loon. Eared Grebe was eliminated by the dark eye and general body shape, as was a Horned Grebe. The size was too small for a Clark's or Western Grebe
Previous experience with this & similar species:	none
References consulted:	Sibley
Description from:	Notes taken at time of sighting , From memory , and Photo(s) taken at time of sighting
Observer:	KC Childs
Observer's address:	Orem, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Robby Nielsen, Eli Philip, Ian Peay, and Tammy Aho
Date prepared:	November 21st 2025
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Photos on ebird checklists. Tamara Aho had the best photographs, but Ian Peay and Robby Nielsen also have photos on their checklists. Here is the checklist with the photos that Tammy gave permission for me to use. https://ebird.org/checklist/S285384060 Additional Comments: I've wanted to see these since I started birding, and have always kept an eye out for them, since I knew they were a possibility, and the day finally came, and what a day it was. Also of note was a very slow moving low pressure system off of California moving through the desert southwest with lots of moisture circulating up into Utah, and including Utah Lake.