Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Black Storm-Petrel
Scientific name:	Hydrobates melania
Date:	10/13/26
Time:	Approximately 8 AM
Length of time observed:	Approximately two minutes
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:
Location:	South side of the south jetty at Utah Lake SP
County:	Utah
Latilong:
Elevation:	Approximately 4500'
Distance to bird:	Maybe 200 yards
Optical equipment:	Vortex Viper HD Spotting Scope
Weather:	Cloudy
Light Conditions:	Soft, cloud-diffused light
Description: Size of bird:	Larger than nearby Barn Swallows
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Storm-Petrel with slender and pointed wings
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark
(Description:) Bill Type:	Not discernible at the distance, but I would expect it to be tubenosed
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	As I was on the south jetty at Utah Lake State Park, I noticed a group of Barn Swallows that flew over my head. I followed them with binoculars to try to attempt to count them. When I returned to my scope I was able to relocate them out on the water. That is when I noticed a dark bird displaying Storm-Petrel behavior over the water. I initially thought it was a Least because it had a dark rump and earlier reports of Least were circulating among the birding community. However, after later reviewing wingspans, I landed on Black Storm-Petrel as the ID. I'm pasting my record notes from my eBird checklist below: One of the determining factors for this ID is that the Storm-Petrel was larger than the Barn Swallows that briefly surrounded it as it flew low and nighthawk-like over the surface of the water. This individual banked several times to show an all-dark topside, including the rump, and its relatively long pointed wings that dwarfed the wingspan of the Barn Swallows as they banked and turned. The tail appeared pointed from what I could see. I could not discern a notch in the tail due to distance and quick movements of the bird. Perhaps the outer tail feathers were closed or slightly twisted? I watched it for about two minutes and then lost it while attempting to make a phone call to a birder on the north jetty and capture photographs. It seemed that the wingspan was the only indication I had that it was bigger than the Barn Swallows. I could not discern covert color under the viewing conditions, so the topside appeared all dark as it banked in the scope. It showed strong flaps and short glides at times, sometimes appearing to touch down on the water but only briefly.
Song or call & method of delivery:	N/A
Behavior:	It appeared to be foraging over the water
Habitat:	Open water on Utah Lake
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Least had been reported on the lake, but they would not have a wingspan that dwarfed the wingspan of nearby Barn Swallows. Wedge-rumped, which had been seen on the lake, would show a white rump patch and be more the size of the Barn Swallows in both length and wingspan.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I was having my first experience with Storm-Petrels as a result of weather conditions that dropped them on the lake.
References consulted:	Sibley, Merlin, Macaulay Library, Birds of the World
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Jeff Cooper
Observer's address:	Utah County
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None
Date prepared:	10/20/26
Additional material:	No_additional_Materials
Additional comments: