Sandy Beach from Bing Birds Eye View

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Description:
River Lane is probably the most well known (or top 2) birding location in Utah County.  River Lane follows the Spanish Fork River for a couple miles until it dumps into the south end of Utah Lake.  This area is more known for the migrant trap birding along the road than the birding here at the end of the road.  Most birders don't think of the two locations as separate--as they are birded in the same trip usually.  But the habitat at the river "delta" is quite different, and if you were focusing on waterbird then the list you would have here is going to be quite different than on the road--with some overlap.  The actual beach isn't much of a beach anymore--as year after year it seems to erode more and more to the point where there isn't a ton of beach shoreline.  But the waterbirds are still on the water, and the wide open views of the lake for here could make for a potentially great lake watch site.

Birding:
During the winter months when the lake freezes over there isn't much bird activity--but during migration and the summer months there can be quite a bit of bird activity on the water.  Fall migration seems to be the real high point for things here when both CLARK'S and WESTERN GREBE are present in good numbers, along with AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and CASPIAN TERN.  Other birds end up mixed in including HORNED GREBE, BLACK TERN, SABINE'S GULL, and CATTLE EGRET.  Waterfowl can often be seen passing and about 15 species have been recorded including TUNDRA SWAN and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. The shorebird list form here is actually quite impressive with almost 20 species and some real nice rarities including: AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, STILT SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.  Here at the end of the road its not uncommon to find EASTERN KINGBIRD during the summer, and various migrant songbirds in spring and summer. WESTERN TANAGER are often foraging at the tree edges here.  huge flights of all 6 species of swallows are often seen out over the water here during questionable weather.  Check out the River Lane hot spot for more information about the birding here--and next time you stop by try creating a checklist for both locations!

Directions:
From I-15 Exit 260 in Springville go west on Rte 77 for 4.2 miles.  At the stop sign turn right and go another .2 miles to River Lane.  Turn right here and you are on River Lane.  Follow this north for 1.3 miles. It will jog to the left and then right again about half way.  At the 1.3 mile mark you have to turn left onto a dirt road.  After .2 miles you're along the river and continue straight till the road dead ends at the beach.