Dry north end of Quichapa Lake from Google Street View

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Description:
Quichapa Lake is a large lake jsut west of Cedar City that doesn't get birded very often.  The large lake is entirely surrounded by private land, but there are several access point where viewers can scan the water for waterbirds and shorebirds.  The surrounding land is mostly agriculture, with some shrubsteppe and other semi-arid habitat.  Depending on time of year the lake may be very full and flooded all the way north of UT-56 on the north end.  It may also be very low and hard to find a good place to look for birds from.

Birding:
The lake is an oasis in the dry and often hot valley during migration and the summer.  Waterbirds use this as they pass north and south during migration and for Iron County it can provide a lot of species that would otherwise not show up here--most notably shorebirds.  The most notable sighting from Quichipa was Utah's first NEOTROPIC CORMORANT in 2007 which stayed for several weeks.  Other notable sightings here include EURASIAN WIGEON, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WHIMBREL, DUNLIN, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, SABINE'S GULL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and LARK BUNTING.  Although this site is often skipped wen heading between the north and St. George, it may well be worht a quick stop during migration given the remote location.

Directions:
From I-15 in Cedar City take exiu 59 and head west on UT-56/200 North.  Follow the road about 6 miles.  Turn left onto 6300 West and go south for 1.5 miles.  Turn Right onto Shirts Creek Road and go till the road comes to a a T with dirt roads going north and south.  You can try viewing from anywhere along the lake here.  There are also two roads on the west side of the lake that get pretty close, but this is the best viewing area.