Looking east towards Universe Road pfrom Google Street View

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Description:
Universe Road, or Perkins Road, or Route 2416, or CR-206 are a series of roads that lead form Blanding out into Montezuma Creek Canyon.  The specific hot spot however is for the first 1.1 miles of what is actually Universe Road south of 1800 South in Blanding.  The land here is all private and consists of dry desert, shrubsteppe, some grasslands, and also farms.  The land is mostly red dirt and arid with little in the ways of "good" habitat.  But two really good birds have been seen here of the years.

Birding:
This nondescript road passing the rocky juniper covered out cropping owned by the Redd Family has long been a pass by location for birders dropping into Montezuma Creek Canyon to the east.  Most birders wouldn't give a second thought to stopping here as the habitat looks like most of the surrounding areas.  But for some reason a couple of really good finds have popped up here.  The first was on November 9, 1997 when Jim and Jeanne Redd spotted 3 SCALED QUAIL on their property.  Several other reports not attributed to a location also are likely from here in the following years.  The second notable was on June 7, 2007 when I found Utah's 1st EASTERN MEADOWLARK along this route.  The diagnostic photo of the bird is still the only record for Utah, but this corner of the state likely sees this species on a more regular basis--if not as a permanent breeder in very small localized areas.  Species typical of the area year round include: WESTERN MEADOWLARK, RED-TAILED HAWK, COMMON RAVEN, and GOLDEN EAGLE.  During the breeding season BREWER'S and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS can be found along this stretch, as well as BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, WESTERN KINGBIRD, and KILLDEER.  The bird list form here is seriously lacking and although there probably aren't a ton of species to be found, this spot is worth checking if you stop by the Blanding WWTP nearby.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Street in Blanding head south on Main for 1.8 miles.  Turn left onto 1800 South/Browns Canyon Road for 1.1 mile.  At the intersection turn right--this is Perkins Road/Rte 2416/Universe Road.  The hot spot is the road for the next mile on either side.