Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Vaux's Swift
Scientific name:	Chaetura vauxi
Date:	5/9/21
Time:	5:30 pm
Length of time observed:	5 min
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	?
Location:	Old Mill Holding Pond
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:	40.629565,-111.805098
Elevation:	4672'
Distance to bird:	50 yards
Optical equipment:	Pentax ED 8x43, Canon 60D with 100-400 IS lens
Weather:	Warm and sunny- around 65.
Light Conditions:	Bright sun
Description: Size of bird:	Tiny. Smallest bird in the swallow/swift mixed flock.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Cigar with wings
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Overall dark gray with paler gray throat and rump
(Description:) Bill Type:	Tiny and stubby
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Classic chaetura cigar with wings shape and rapid wingbeats in flight. Never soared while observed. Compact body with short tail. Throat and rump paler contrasted with the much darker body. Wings were evenly tapered. (see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard
Behavior:	Fed through the swallow/swift flock as the flock would work its way north and then come back south to the holding pond every few minutes. Would fly on sputtery rapid wingbeats interspersed with glides with the wings held angled down. Never seen soaring.
Habitat:	Holding pond adjacent to the foothills
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Smaller size, flight style, and all dark color rule out any swallow species. White-throated Swifts are larger with white marks on the body. Vaux's Swifts closely resemble Chimney Swifts but this bird showed several field marks that are more consistent with Vaux's Swift. The tail and wings were shorter than expected in a Chimney with a paler throat and rump were paler and more strongly contrasted to the rest of the body than I've ever seen in any Chimney Swifts. This bird didn't exhibit the bulging inner primaries/secondaries usually seen in Chimney Swifts and appeared evenly tapered.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I grew up seeing Chimney Swifts every summer at my family's house back in Western NY and were a common resident all over any city or town from May-Aug. I have seen Vaux's Swifts in several parts of Washington and a group of at least 200 at one location. I have only seen a Vaux's one other time in Utah.
References consulted:	Sibley's 2nd edition. National Geographic 7th edition. Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Kenny Frisch
Observer's address:	4609 S Wallace Ln Holladay
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	My wife could tell that it was a small swift and not a White-throated Swift.
Date prepared:	5/19/21
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Here is the ebird checklist for the report: https://ebird.org/checklist/S87701224