Recapture Reservoir photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
At 6,100 feet in elevation, Recapture Reservoir lies in the shadow of the Abajo Mountains to the west.  The once large reservoir has seen its water level dwindle in recent years, and currently the reservoir may only be 3-4 football fields long.  Surrounded by canyons covered in pinyon juniper woodland, and Ponderosa pine, the shorelines have a desert feel too them.  The juniper habitat on the east side of the reservoir is very thick.  When the water is higher, a wetland habitat is often found near the inlet at the back of the reservoir, while there are usually plenty of beaches and sandbar habitat as well.

Birding:
In this part of the state Recapture was the biggest open body of water east of the Colorado--but now with it's receding water level, its days as a waterbird migrant trap might be numbered.  Historically in late March through May the lake attracted a variety of waterbirds.  Notably more than 20 species of waterfowl have been observed here including WOOD DUCK, BLUE_WINGED TEAL, GREATER SCAUP, and HOODED MERGANSER.  Diving birds like COMMON LOON and WESTERN GREBE are usually present as well.  A decent shorebird list has built up with most species being reported just once or a few times. SNOWY PLOVER, MARBLED GODWIT, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and both RED-NECKED and WILSON'S PHALAROPE have all been observed.  BONAPARTE'S and FRANKLIN'S GULL have been seen during migration along with CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULL. A spring wears on and breeders arrive its not uncommon to see large numbers of WHITE-THROATED SWIFT and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW soaring near the dam.  The juniper along the east side are usually good for a number of passerine species including both GRAY and DUSKY FLYCATCHER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY-WARBLER, and JUNIPER TITMOUSE. Other specie that are reported form here include BUSHTIT, GRAY VIREO, PINYON JAY, and one report of a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER.  The area list spans over 100 species and on a late spring day you can have a very productive morning of birding here.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Blanding, take Center Street/U-191 east for 1 block then continue to follow it as it turns north for 4.2 miles across Recapture Dam.  After the dam take the first left.  At .2 miles you can turn left and follow the road down to the water here.  You can also continue straight around the backside of the reservoir on this road.

Looking south from Mission Road photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
If you happen to be in Bluff during spring take a quick drive to the east along Mission Road/SR-162 towards Montezuma Creek. For the first couple miles the road is borders on the north by red rock cliffs, and on the south by agricultural fields.  Further south is the San Juan River.  There are a couple locations to access the river where lush riparian habitat dominated by cottonwood, willow, and russian olive provide great habitat.  The fields along the road are often flooded in the spring providing wetland type habitat even if just for a few weeks.  During the rest of the year birding along the river is also possible, but the fields won;t be as productive.

Birding:
This quick drive is mostly birding by car, but you can get out and scope the fields to look for waterbirds during migration.  If the fields are wet in April you will usually see a handful of WHITE-FACED IBIS, and may snag some shorebirds like MARBLED GODWIT, or even gulls like FRANKLIN'S GULL.  Along the road there are usually SAY'S PHOEBE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, ROCK WREN, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.  CHIPPING and BREWER'S SPARROW might be present, while LUCY'S WARBLER can usually be heard in the trees along the river.  Overhead keep an eye out for WHITE-THROATED SWIFT and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.  One thing to keep an eye out for here is CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN which have been found mixed in with large flocks of COMMON RAVEN in the fields.  The much smaller cousins are quite easy to pick out in a flock if present.  Migrants along the river, as well as waterfowl can be found. Apparently during the winter, large numbers of WOOD DUCKS have been seen but are unreported here in eBird.

Directions:
From the intersection of Red Rock Rd and Main Street in Bluff, head east on Main Street for .8 miles.  Turn right onto Mission Road which you can take for 2.9 miles to the turn off to old swinging bridge on the right.

Abajo Mountains North Side photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
After you pass Dalton Springs you are on Road 101 wrapping around the north slope of the Abajos.  Passing through various habitats, including shrubsteppe, juniper woodland, oak woodland, aspen, and conifer from 7,500' to around 8,500' in elevation.  These mountains are one of the most underbirded ranges in the state and the distributions of species here is widely unknown.  Along the drive there are various side roads, campgrounds, lakes, and places to look for birds.  You can pull off in any number of places and walk the road, as well as wandering into the forest.  In order to get a better picture of the status and distribution of birds in the area, this location along with others along Road 101 on the north slope have been split out into their own locations. A nice drive out of Monticello and you can bird Dalton Springs, Monticello Lake, here along Road 101 on the slope, and end up on the west at Foy Lake.

Birding:
Whenever I find myself in Monticello a quick drive west into the mountains has become a traditions.  The only issue is most of the time its in the spring, so I never get to see what the summers are like up here.  The road along the north slope takes you through a ton of great habitats, allowing for plenty of birding opportunities and a variety of species.  Often looking to the skies you will find raptors soaring--RED-TAILED, COOPER'S, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK are all see with some frequency, while TURKEY VULTURE are a common sight.  I have heard reports of both NORTHERN GOSHAWK and GOLDEN EAGLE as well.  Along the road, you can often find WILD TURKEY, while MOUNTAIN and WESTERN BLUEBIRD sit on snags along the road.  Various woodpeckers, and corvids can be seen, while sparrows, warblers, and flycatcher are probably present in various habits during the summer.  These underbirded mountains need some love from birders, and the summer probably not only provides escape from the heat in the desert below, but also a chance to make some birding discoveries in the area.

Directions:
From the intersection of 200 South and Main Street/US-191 in Monticello, head west on 200 south for .3 miles.  Turn left onto Abajo Drive, which after .4 miles turns into Creek Road heading west into the mountains.  After 4.3 miles you will pass Dalton Springs Campground and head northwest around the north slope.  The next 6 miles along the north slope along Road 101 are all part of this hot spot.

Foy Lake photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Foy Lake is a small (maybe 5 acre) lake, nestled into the mountains on the north slope of the Abajos.  With steep hillsides covered in mixed Aspen, conifer, and oak woodlands rising to the south the imposing mountains loom over the small body of water.  To the west, oak gives way to mixed juniper woodlands; while a mix of mostly oak, aspen and juniper gently slope down to the north.  The edge of the lake is bordered by cattails, giving it marshy sections, while several species of large shrubs at the base of the slopes provide a riparian habitat. A pit toilet is available, as well as camping.  In order to get a better picture of the status and distribution of birds in the area, this location along with others along Road 101 on the north slope have been split out into their own locations. A nice drive out of Monticello and you can bird Dalton Springs, Monticello Lake, Road 101 along the slope, and end up on the west here at Foy Lake.

Birding:
Foy Lake is a little further drive back into the mountains, but the birding seems to be a little more productive here than at nearby Monticello Lake, given the proximity to the range of habitats.  Various waterfowl may be present once the water is ice free in the spring. CANADA GEESE and MALLARD can usually be found, while other waterbird migrants like REDHEAD and PIED-BILLED GREBE might be present.  The surrounding hills can provide numerous corvids, including STELLER'S JAY, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, COMMON RAVEN, and even CLARK'S NUTCRACKER.  Not a whole lot of birders ever make it here in to the Abajos, and the area is in generally unknown to birders.  Lots of things to be discovered in the area, with status and distributions of mountain species in this part of the state being largely undocumented.  There are virtually no reports form birders here in the summer months, so what actually might be here is up for debate.

Directions:
From the intersection of 200 South and Main Street/US-191 in Monticello, head west on 200 south for .3 miles.  Turn left onto Abajo Drive, which after .4 miles turns into Creek Road heading west into the mountains.  Continue another 9.3 miles, and then stay left at the fork going another 1.1 mile till you reach Foy Lake.

Monticello Lake photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Monticello Lake is a small 5 acre lake on the north slope of the Abajos, surrounded by mixed oak and aspen woodlands.  The open slopes are dominated by this habitat, while the peaks of the Abajos linger to the south. Conifer stands mixed in nearby, along with riparian habitat along Spring Creek to the east, provide a variety of habitats.  There is a dirt road along the west side of the lake, along with a pit toilet.  Access is limited to when the snow melts in the spring, and when it arrives again in the fall.  Typically by the time the lake is accessible the ice is gone. In order to get a better picture of the status and distribution of birds in the area, this location along with others along Road 101 on the north slope have been split out into their own locations. A nice drive out of Monticello and you can bird Dalton Springs, this lake, Road 101 along the slope, and end up on the west at Foy Lake.

Birding:
In the past people have birded Monticello Lake while birding the North Slope of the Abajos, but the new hot spot was only just created in 2015.  The birding in the area looks like it would be awesome during the summer given the great range of habitats here.  The actual lake is so small that there are never a ton of birds on it, with CANADA GEESE and MALLARDS usually present when the water is open.  Other waterbirds will show up form time to time during migration, including EARED GREBE.  The surrounding open habitat usually has a few MOUNTAIN and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, while WILD TURKEY are occasionally seen on the road nearby.  Looking at the nearby habitat I would assume you can pick up YELLOW WARBLER, LAZULI BUNTING, and DUSKY FLYCATCHER along nearby Spring Creek.  The hills to the south are going to have your regular mountain fair including WARBLING VIREO, HERMIT THRUSH, CHIPPING SPARROW, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and other Aspen specialists.  The coniferous portions should have a variety of finches, woodpeckers, etc.  Birders don't tend to make it down here in the summer, so what might actually be here is still pretty wide open of discussion.  If you find yourself in Monticello in June or July do yourself a favor and make your way in to the Abajos and see what you can find!

Directions:
From the intersection of 200 South and Main Street/US-191 in Monticello, head west on 200 south for .3 miles.  Turn left onto Abajo Drive, which after .4 miles turns into Creek Road heading west into the mountains.  Continue another 7.1 miles till you reach Monticello Lake on your right.

Comb Wash photo by Google Maps User

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Description:
Comb Wash is a valley in southeastern Utah that runs from Elk Ridge in the north approximately 35 miles to the south, where it merges with the San Juan River at an elevation of about 4200'. The eastern edge of the wash forms steep cliffs of Navajo Sandstone, rising in places to 1000' above the valley floor. On the western edge of Comb Wash is a series of canyons draining Cedar Mesa. To the north is Arch Canyon, which has Texas Canyon as an upper tributary. In the central section are Mule Canyon, Dry Wash, and the combined outlet of Fish and Owl Canyons. To the south are McCloyd's Canyon (containing the Moon House ruin) and Road Canyon. Scattered throughout these canyons are cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans.  State Route 95 crosses the northern part of Comb Wash, while U.S. Route 163 crosses further south. Running along the wash is a primitive road, often impassable after floods. Nearby are the Natural Bridges National Monument, the Grand Gulch Primitive Area, the Valley of the Gods scenic area, and Goosenecks State Park.   Tha habitat in the wash bottoms is desert riparian dominated by Fremont Cottonwood and and understory of willows.  Shrubsteppe borders the floodplain which leads to some juniper woodlands and then the cliffs.

Birding:
Comb Wash is another area that could be considered the Beaver Dam Wash of southeast Utah.  It's remote, and few birders go there, so the species list is still relatively small.  But the potential for major rarities during migration seems high.  The desert habitat makes the tree line in the wash a bit of a migrant trap, and the whole area somewhat of a migrant highway. Birders that have visited generally are between April and October when the tourist season is at its height here.  If you are passing between Natural Bridges and parts east you pass through the wash so its worth even a quick stop. As with most riparian strips in southeast Utah this is a good and reliable location for LUCY'S WARBLER. Two other warblers are also rather common with YELLOW WARBLER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT being found on most summer visits.  BLACK-THROATED SPARROW inhabit the river bottom here and can often be heard singing along the road.  BLUE GROSBEAK and LAZULI BUNTING can both be found usually, and I suspect there might be localized Indigo Buntings here given their prevalence at such sites in southern Utah.  Other common breeders include: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS VIREO, and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.  ROCK, CANYON, and BEWICK'S WREN are all found here year round.  Occasionally things like BUSHTIT, PINYON JAY, and CASSIN'S KIGBIRD are reported. Fall migration definitely brings migrants through with early to mid September looking like a real good time to visit.  Some migrants recorded here include: ORANGE-CROWNED, MACGILLIVRAY'S, and WILSON'S WARBLER; BREWER'S, VESPER, LINCOLN'S, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW; WESTERN TANAGER and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.  During the summer at night you can find COMMON POORWILL, and possibly COMMON NIGHTHAWK which are occasionally seen during migration.  WESTERN SCREECH-OWL are year round residents of the wash as well.  I like birding south of the highway where some very thick patches of cottonwood can be found.  There are also great sites to the north though.  You could spend days here and not cover all the great spots as there is lots to discover.  Birding can be done form the road, or by walking int he river bed; or a combination of both.  The road can become impassable after flash floods, so keep that in mind when visiting.

Directions:
From the intersection of Center and Main Streets in Blanding head south on Main Street for 4 miles.  Turn right onto SR-95 and go 14.1 miles dropping into the wash.  Here you can turn left and follow a dirt road south through the wash.  Alternatively you can continue .1 mile west then turn right and take a dirt road north in the wash.

No Photo At This Time photo by Utah Birders

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Description:
Managed by the BLM, Montezuma Canyon is situated in San Juan County about 6 miles east of Monticello, and 13 miles east of Blanding.  There are no officially established trails, campsites, or other facilities in Montezuma Canyon. For the most part, the graded dirt road is suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles however, after a rain or snow storm it can become impassable in some locations. The canyon is about 38 miles long from north to south, and the Montezuma Creek drainage eventually flows into the San Juan River near Aneth.  The creek is intermittent and lacks water most of the year outside of spring run off and during flash floods.  The canyon is dry desert and cliffs, with a wide flat bottom in most places desert scrub covers most open spaces.  Greasewood and Rabbitbrush are common, while along the creek huge Fremont Cottonwood follow the canyon bottom for its entire length.  In some places the trees are very thick while in others they can be sparse.  Willows and other understory can be found in may places--there are seeps and springs that produce water at a number of places in the canyon year round--even when the creek isn't flowing.  Numerous side canyon jut off the main canyon and any can be worth exploring.  The are also several large ponds and dams creating small bodies of water at various points in the canyon--some are large enough that wetland and marsh habitat is present.  Various small ranches and farms dot the landscape and oil pumpjacks can be found randomly throughout the area.  Notably the area is home to numerous rock art sites, cave dwellings, and native artifact dumps.  This varied location is currently split into 4 hotspots:

Montezuma Creek Rd -- Lower
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Middle
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Upper
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Ranch & Pond

Remember to take plenty of water. Watch the weather and stay on the designated roads if you visit in the summer months.  Spare tires, and emergency supplies are always a good idea in remote locations like this where you may potentially not see another person for several days if you end up on a back road or deep in a side canyon.

Birding:
In working to create more valuable data by splitting the canyon into sections we can have more specific data.  The lower stretch of the canyon is more open, has fewer trees, and is by far the driest section. This means the species found here are going to differ slightly than what's up canyon--mainly in respect to the riparian species.  I need to go break some older lists out, but I know BLACK-THROATED SPARROW and both ROCK and CANYON WREN are easy finds here.  HORNED LARK are often seen along the road, while RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, and other raptors can often be seen hunting the open areas.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Blanding head south on Main Street for 1.8 miles.  Turn left onto 1800 South/Browns Canyon Road. After 1.1 miles turn right onto Perkins Rd/Rte 2416/Universe Road. Follow this for 4.2 miles then keep right at the split on CR-206/Around the World Road for 14.3 miles till you reach Montezuma Creek Road. The lower section is everything south from here to Hatch Trading Post for for 9 miles.

No Photo At This Time photo by Utah Birders

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Description:
Managed by the BLM, Montezuma Canyon is situated in San Juan County about 6 miles east of Monticello, and 13 miles east of Blanding.  There are no officially established trails, campsites, or other facilities in Montezuma Canyon. For the most part, the graded dirt road is suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles however, after a rain or snow storm it can become impassable in some locations. The canyon is about 38 miles long from north to south, and the Montezuma Creek drainage eventually flows into the San Juan River near Aneth.  The creek is intermittent and lacks water most of the year outside of spring run off and during flash floods.  The canyon is dry desert and cliffs, with a wide flat bottom in most places desert scrub covers most open spaces.  Greasewood and Rabbitbrush are common, while along the creek huge Fremont Cottonwood follow the canyon bottom for its entire length.  In some places the trees are very thick while in others they can be sparse.  Willows and other understory can be found in may places--there are seeps and springs that produce water at a number of places in the canyon year round--even when the creek isn't flowing.  Numerous side canyon jut off the main canyon and any can be worth exploring.  The are also several large ponds and dams creating small bodies of water at various points in the canyon--some are large enough that wetland and marsh habitat is present.  Various small ranches and farms dot the landscape and oil pumpjacks can be found randomly throughout the area.  Notably the area is home to numerous rock art sites, cave dwellings, and native artifact dumps.  This varied location is currently split into 4 hotspots:

Montezuma Creek Rd -- Lower
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Middle
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Upper
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Ranch & Pond

Remember to take plenty of water. Watch the weather and stay on the designated roads if you visit in the summer months.  Spare tires, and emergency supplies are always a good idea in remote locations like this where you may potentially not see another person for several days if you end up on a back road or deep in a side canyon.

Birding:
The middle section of Montezuma Creek Canyon is in the heart of the best habitat here.  It is also the area that has been most visited by birders.  It's a shame that more birders don't trek out here to the desert--some good finds would inevitably happen in this riparian stretch, that I liken to the Beaver Dam Wash--just in the southeast corner of the state!  In January 2007 a handful of SCALED QUAIL were reported in this section of the canyon and many Utah birders traveled here and saw the birds.  I made several trips for this species and to conduct riparian counts here--and never found the quail; making it a Utah nemesis!  But the other birding here is fantastic.  BLACK-THROATED SPARROW are easy to track down along with both CANYON and ROCK WREN. I have flushed GAMBEL'S QUAIL on several occasions here, while WILD TURKEY are seen along the river form time to time.  GREAT HORNED and BARN OWL have both been seen, and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL are almost certainly present year round.  PRAIRIE FALCON is reported with some frequency while PEREGRINE have also been seen soaring over the cliffs.  Lots of flycatchers call the canyon home.  BLACK PHOEBE can be found here at various points along the river.  GRAY and DUSKY FLYCATCHER inhabit the juniper areas of the canyon, while ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER are common along the creek in the summer.  CASSIN'S KINGBIRD are also found here in small numbers.  PLUMBEOUS and GRAY VIREO have both been reported from the canyon. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, LUCY'S and YELLOW WARBLER nest along the creek, while BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER can be found on the edges where juniper meets riparian.  COMMON YELLOWTHROAT have been observed--there are several ponds and springs in the canyon where this species is easily found in the marsh edges.There are no shortage of sparrows with CHIPPING, BREWER'S, LARK, and VESPER SPARROW all in habitat various parts of the canyon and flats.  During the summer there can be some great color i the trees with both INDIGO and LAZULI BUNTING nesting here, and BLUE GROSBEAK being reported occasionally.  BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK are usually easy finds as well.  I have a feeling that SUMMER TANAGER probably nests here and would imagine the species list would be well over 100 given more attention from birders.  You can get here form the north via the directions below, or from the south via the directions on the Ranch & Pond page.  Either way the birding is easy and can be done from the road stopping at various points that look good for birding.  You can wander up side draws and canyons as well to explore a little bit.  No matter where you go here you will see something!

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Street in Monticello head south on US-191/Main Street for 5.1 miles.  Turn Left on to Montezuma Creek Road.  From here is is 5.3 miles till you reach the creek and are down in the canyon. From here the road continues 10.6 miles south in the "upper section" of the canyon.  At 10.6 miles you reach a small ranch on the west side of the road--this is the end of the upper section of the canyon.  If you continue south the next 18.1 miles are the "middle section" until you reach Around the World Road.

No Photo At This Time photo by Utah Birders

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Description:
Managed by the BLM, Montezuma Canyon is situated in San Juan County about 6 miles east of Monticello, and 13 miles east of Blanding.  There are no officially established trails, campsites, or other facilities in Montezuma Canyon. For the most part, the graded dirt road is suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles however, after a rain or snow storm it can become impassable in some locations. The canyon is about 38 miles long from north to south, and the Montezuma Creek drainage eventually flows into the San Juan River near Aneth.  The creek is intermittent and lacks water most of the year outside of spring run off and during flash floods.  The canyon is dry desert and cliffs, with a wide flat bottom in most places desert scrub covers most open spaces.  Greasewood and Rabbitbrush are common, while along the creek huge Fremont Cottonwood follow the canyon bottom for its entire length.  In some places the trees are very thick while in others they can be sparse.  Willows and other understory can be found in may places--there are seeps and springs that produce water at a number of places in the canyon year round--even when the creek isn't flowing.  Numerous side canyon jut off the main canyon and any can be worth exploring.  The are also several large ponds and dams creating small bodies of water at various points in the canyon--some are large enough that wetland and marsh habitat is present.  Various small ranches and farms dot the landscape and oil pumpjacks can be found randomly throughout the area.  Notably the area is home to numerous rock art sites, cave dwellings, and native artifact dumps.  This varied location is currently split into 4 hotspots, but there will likely be more i the near future:

Montezuma Creek Rd -- Lower
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Middle
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Upper
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Ranch & Pond

Remember to take plenty of water. Watch the weather and stay on the designated roads if you visit in the summer months.  Spare tires, and emergency supplies are always a good idea in remote locations like this where you may potentially not see another person for several days if you end up on a back road or deep in a side canyon.

Birding:
Although I've never actually birded the upper section of the canyon, the species list appears to have many of the same species found further south in the area.  BLACK-THROTED SPARROW, LUCY'S WARBLER, CANYON and ROCK WREN, and WHITE-THROATED SWIFT are all species you would expect to find birding here in the spring and summer.  BLACK PHOEBE, BUSHTIT, and BEWICK'S WREN have all been reported in the upper section as well.  The riparian habitat in the upper section isn't nearly as thick as further south, but there is still plenty.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Street in Monticello head south on US-191/Main Street for 5.1 miles.  Turn Left on to Montezuma Creek Road.  From here is is 5.3 miles till you reach the creek and are down in the canyon. From here the road continues 10.6 miles south in the "upper section" of the canyon. At 10.6 miles you reach a small ranch on the west side of the road--this is the end of the upper section of the canyon.

No Photo At This Time photo by Utah Birders

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Description:
The Ranch and Pond hotspot in Montezuma Creek Canyon is just one of several private properties located in the canyon that provide excellent birding.  This notable location is just 1.6 miles north of Around the World Road on Montezuma Creek Road.  On the west side of the wash, a small abandoned home, with several out buildings sit on the west side of the road. Surrounded by cottonwoods and other trees and shrubs, the house is backed by cliffs and desert scrub.  On the north end of the property is a stable and old water tank.  On the east side of the road is a large pond lined with cottonwoods, russian olives, and various other shrubs and plants.  A thick marsh habitat often blankets part or most of the pond, depending on how low or high the water is.  The entire area is surrounded by dry desert making this a tiny oasis about 300 yards west of the creek and main treeline in the canyon.

Birding:
The ranch pond in Montezuma Creek Canyon has been a reliable spot for BLACK PHOEBE for a number of  years now.  Although this species occurs in the eastern part of the state, it is still sparsely reported.  I have seen pairs here on almost every trip hanging around the pond.  A small variety of waterfowl have been observed, notably HOODED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and RING-NECKED DUCK.  Looking to the sky WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, VIOLET-GREEN, CLIFF, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS might be present.  There has been a GREAT HORNED OWL here in the past, and occasionally WILD TURKEY are seen in the vicinity.  BLACK-THROATED SPARROW are a permanent resident, as well as ROCK and CANYON WREN on the nearby cliffs.  Various other songbirds have been recorded here including LINCOLN'S SPARROW, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE.  Birding is best here between April and June, and then probably not to shabby during fall migration.  I like to park along the road and just walk the entire length of the property checking out the trees and shrubs, and giving the pond a good look.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Blanding head south on Main Street for 1.8 miles.  Turn left onto 1800 South/Browns Canyon Road. After 1.1 miles turn right onto Perkins Rd/Rte 2416/Universe Road. Follow this for 4.2 miles then keep right at the split on CR-206/Around the World Road for 14.3 miles till you reach Montezuma Creek Road.  Hand a left and continue north 1.5 miles to the ranch and pond.

The Western Abajos from Google Maps User

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Description:
The west half of the Abajo or "Blue" Mountains is definitely an under-birded location.  The east half which has easy access form Monticello rarely sees much in terms of birds, so the west end which is only accessible via dirt road really has a lot to be discovered.  In terms of what the area consists of--it is generally everything west of the main spine or "east group" of peaks which consists of Twin Peaks East, Abajo Peak and West Mountain.  From here the mountains level out  a bit and various canyons dot the landscape for 6-10 miles going west. Then the "west group" of peaks including Horse Mountain, Seven Sisters Buttes South, and Mormon Pasture Mountain can be found.  This area has commonly been referred to as "The Gooseberry".  The mountains/buttes/mesas continue to the west and include a number of smaller notable "peaks" as the mountains turn into canyon lands and desert.  You could literally create dozens of hot spots in the area if trying to come up with a solid list of what is in the area--but birders generally don't visit so there are a lot of unknowns here.  The habitat in the lower reaches of the mountains are mostly juniper woodlands with some oak as well.  Various shrubsteppe covered hills can be found, while small riparian lined creeks are not uncommon i the draws and canyons.  As you travel higher mixed aspen and coniferous woodland can be found.  I am keeping this very general in hopes that others will stop in and create various points in the area in the future, and hopefully help build a better data set.

Birding:
We can assume the birding here is very similar to that on the east end of the Abajos--except with more range in habitats, likely meaning more possible species.  For the little amount of access to the east side, the west is even more isolated, and generally roads in the area are only open in the summer and fall, meaning birding is best here in June and July.  Passing through various habitats means you could see a lot of different species.  The small amount of checklists submitted to eBird show the range with species such as GRAY VIREO, GRACE'S WARBLER, WESTERN TANAGER, PYGMY NUTHATCH, BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, and WESTERN BLUEBIRD being reported.  These high elevation sites could potentially hold some very interesting birds given their remoteness, birders just don't make it to them.  Do Hermit Warbler and Hepatic Tanager creep into southern Utah here?  How many pairs of Spotted Owls breed here?  Are there Rosy-Finches above the tree line?  Could Brown-capped nest here?  What is the status of Pine Grosbeak? Northern Goshawk? American Three-toed Woodpecker?  These are questions that birders can answer by visiting areas like this and submitting a checklist to eBird!

Directions:
Here are the directons into "The Gooseberry". From the intersection of Main and Center Street in Blanding head south on Main Street for 3.9 miles.  Turn right onto SR-95 and travel 6.3 miles west. At this point you will turn right on to Cottonwood Road and go 5.3 miles before taking a slight left onto Elk Mountain Road for another 2.7 miles.  Here turn right onto North Cottonwood Road and continue 17.5 miles into the hear of the mountains. From here you can travel east of west on Gooseberry Road.  If you go west you end up in the Horse Mountain area eventually.  If you go east there are a number of small canyons, ridges, peaks, and other high elevation sites accessible via various roads.  The area is there for your exploring!

Monticello WWTP photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Clay Hill Road is a side road in the town of Monticello that leads form down town through a rural sub division dotted with oak and juniper, several family farms, and mostly private property, until you reach the towns waste water treatment ponds on the east end.  The drive is less than 2 miles from end to end and can be done in a couple minutes--the ponds are the main reason to visit this area for birds.

Birding:
If you look in eBird you'll notice the month of April has a pretty good data set from this location--I have been here almost every week of the month over the years and never leave town without driving this road to see whats at the ponds on the east end.  I have never found anything really noteworthy, but there are some usual suspects.  Waterfowl are usually a target here, and amongst the CANADA GEESE and MALLARD there have been GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, CINAMON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP and RUDDY DUCK here.  EARED GREBE round out the waterbirds.  TURKEY VULTURE are almost always seen in the ravine leading out of town here, while GOLDEN EAGLE and COOPER'S HAWK have been observed too.  SAY'S PHOEBE are typically present, while HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKER have both been found.  WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BEWICK'S WREN and WESTERN BLUEBIRD are worth mentioning. And both COMMON RAVEN and AMERICAN CROW are often seen here. Over 50 species have been seen here in just a handful of trips by various birders.  It's one of those easy to make side stops when birding in the area, and I highly recommend it.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center in Monticello head south on Main Street for .3 miles. Turn left onto 300 South and go .4 miles. Take the slight right and you are on Clay Hill Road which continues 1.3 miles where you can stay left and drive 100 yards to the water treatment ponds.

Ucolo Road from Google Street View

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Description:
Ucolo Road almost straddles the Utah-Colorado border, but it's about a 1/4 mile into Utah.  For 10 miles south to north the road passes through mostly shrubsteppe, disturbed grasslands, farms, and some patches of juniper.  The windswept landscape is usually birded in conjunction with a loop starting on Hickman Flats,coming down Ucolo Road, then driving back to Monticello via Old Highway. You can pull off the road in various spots to scan trees and fields for birds, as well as just look for birds as you drive.  Very few cars use the road except for locals, so you might be the only people in the area.

Birding:
Making the loop back towards Old Highway from Hickman Flats, Ucolo Road will give you more shots at species typical of the juniper in the area, like: JUNIPER TITMOUSE, BEWICK'S WREN, and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD.  The patches of sagebrush in between are good for LARK, VESPER, and BREWER'S SPARROW, while keeping an eye to the sky you might see SHARP-SHINNED, COOPER'S, or RED-TAILED HAWK.  Much like Old Highway this area is rarely visited by birders so the information on status and distribution of species here is quite limited.

Directions:
From the intersection Main and Center Streets in Monticello, head east on Center Street for 5.3 miles.  Turn left onto Hallers for .3 miles at which point you will turn right onto Old Highway.  Go 9.8 miles and the road will turn to the north into Ucolo Road, which continues north for 10.7 miles.

Old Highway from Google Street View

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Description:
From Ucolo Road, driving back to Monticello on the loop from Hickman Flats you will take Old Highway which parallels US-491 just to the south for about 10 miles east to west.  Old Highway goes through shrubsteppe, disturbed grassland, farmland, and fragmented mixed juniper and oak woodlands.  This road seldom sees traffic except for locals, and you will probably have the drive to yourself.  You can stop and go as you'd like, making sure not to wander off the road as most of the land around is private property.  Luckily the birding form the road is fantastic.

Birding:
The Old Highway drive back to Monticello from Ucolo Road makes for some nice late morning birding after spending a morning on Hickman Flats.  In the past LEWIS'S WOODPECKER have been seen along this route amongst the more common NORTHERN FLICKER.  A real surprise find here in April 2013 was a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER.  The patches of juniper ware excellent for finding JUNIPER TITMOUSE, and in the spring DUSKY FLYCATCHER are usually present.  BEWICK'S WREN, CHIPPING SPARROW, and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD can be seen while a couple more unexpected finds include: RED CROSSBILL, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE.  Since this location doesn't get really any birders, its worth checking out to see what you might find.


Directions:
From the intersection Main and Center Streets in Monticello, head east on Center Street for 5.3 miles.  Turn left onto Hallers for .3 miles at which point you will turn right onto Old Highway.  From here Old Highway continues 9.8 miles till it turns north into Ucolo Road.

Hole N" The Rock from Google Street View

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Description:
Driving south out of Moab it's not long before you find yourself at the Hole N" The Rock shop and rest stop on the side of Hwy 191. This historic 5,000 square foot home which began taking shape almost a century ago by the Christensen family as a small alcove for the young Christensen boys to sleep in at night grew into a man-made engineering marvel 20 years in the making.  You can actually take a tour for $6 if you care too.  Birding wise this isn't where the best birding in the area takes place--if you are here for birds there are two locations to check.  First is the Kane Springs Picnic Area just to the north on the east side of the highway.  This is a popular stop for truckers, day trippers, and folks just looking for a break form the hot desert.  Hug cottonwoods make a great riparian habitat here--birding wise it can be very productive early in the morning.  From May through October it is often busy with mid day tourists breaking.  The other location and the one I like to bird is on the est side of the highway directly across from the picnic area.  A large gravel pullout here with a tiny dirt road leads into the wash.  From here you can hike down stream several miles in lush riparian habitat and usually with the place to yourself.  The small creek helps cool things a little bit, and the habitat is really great.

Birding:
Although it is taking some warming up to, birders are starting to stop here between Moab and parts further south.  Most don't take advantage of the great birding west of the road, and just stop at the picnic area.  This is a mistake.  If you are passing through between April and September, its worth taking some time here to bird along the creek.  The first time I stopped here I immediately headed to the creek and the sound of LUCY'S WARBLERS singing like crazy.  This led to great looks at PLUMBEOUS VIREOS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, and BLUE GROSBEAKS. WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER are both common here and can usually be heard calling. Overhead WHITE-THROATED SWIFT and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW flutter about.  BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, and LESSER GOLDFINCH are also usually seen.  Looking back at notes I can't seem to find my report, but in 2007 I know I had a SUMMER TANAGER here as well.  I also had one just a few miles away at Newspaper Rock.  I also recall having BLACK PHOEBE here but my checklist doesn't seem to show it.  Regardless, this tiny riparian strip is a very productive and under-birded site worth checking out.

Directions:
From the intersection of Center Street and Main Street/Hwy 191 in Moab Head south along the highway for 15.2 miles.  Here the pullout to the gravel area leading to the riparian habitat is on you right.  About 100 feet south on the left side of the road is the turn into the picnic area. Another .25 miles south on your left is the Hole N" The Rock.

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.

Blanding WWTP from Google Street View

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Description:
The Blanding Wastewater Treatment Ponds (WWTP for short) are 4 ponds used for treating the waste water from the town of Blanding, Utah.  Situated on the south end of town the ponds are the only notable bodies of water and marshland in Blanding creating an oasis in the otherwise barren desert here on the Colorado Plateau.  The ponds have rock banks with some exposed mud flats as well as cattails and other reeds and cover creating a great habitat for migrating waterbirds.  The ponds are private property and must be viewed from public roads around them on the north and east sides.  Some sparse farm land is also nearby but for the most part the surrounding area is arid desert.

Birding:
Sewage ponds + barren desert = some of the best birding in the area.  This equation holds true throughout the desert southwest and in Blanding it is no different.  These ponds get birds that would otherwise not be seen very often in San Juan County.  Given that there is no one regularly reporting birds from Blanding the actual productivity and true status of many of the birds that use these ponds is really unknown.  If you are passing through Blanding this is a must stop for birds--after all it may be the only location away from Lake Powell that gets a decent variety of waterbirds in the desert here.  For started the waterfowl list is very impressive with 17 species including WOOD DUCK, CANVASBACK, HOODED MERGANSER, and BLUE-WINGED TEAL all being recorded.  EARED, WESTERN, and CLARK'S GREBE in addition to PIED-BILLED GREBE have been found here.  GREAT and SNOWY EGRET along with BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON have been observed while WHITE-FACED IBIS use this location in good numbers throughout spring migration.  This oasis is a saving grace for shorebirds and during spring migration GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WILLET, LONG-BILLED CURLEW, MARBLED GODWIT, and WILSON'S PHALAROPE have been observed here among others.  Both BONAPARTE'S and FRANKLIN'S GULL have been recorded during spring migration as well as CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULLS. Passerine species are drawn to the green surrounding the water during migration and various warblers and sparrows have been seen here.  COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, LARK SPARROW, SAGE THRASHER, and SAY'S PHOEBE are all expected during the breeding season.  Currently there are no checklists for the winter and early spring here.  Winter and fall migration really might turn up some great birds, so don;t hesitate to scope things here if you are passing through.  I consider this the best birding location in Blanding.

Directions:
From the corner of Center and Main Streets in Blanding head south on Main Street/US-191 for 3.6 miles.  Turn left onto Shirt Tail Corner and go 200' til you reach the ponds.

Dalton Springs from Bing Birds Eye View

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Description:
Sitting at 8,200' Dalton Springs  provides the closest direct access to mid elevation conifer and mixed aspen forest outside Monticello, Utah.  The best birding can be done form the road here where a pull out provides parking and a wide berth to scan the forest edges form and proceed into the forest via game trails.  The habitat is very mixed between conifer and aspen, with a heavy Gambel's Oak component,  creating a great habitat for all montane species.  A National Forest Service campground lies to the south of the road here and has 16 spaces that can be used for $10 a night.  There is in fact a spring here and some very wet riparian habitat. Continuing up the road into the mountains the habitat remains the same and provides more birding opportunities along the road and in the forest.

Birding:
The birding here is vastly different from the birding just 5 miles east on the high desert plains of the Hickman Flats.  When you're in Monticello and need a fix for montane birding this is the quickest way to fill your needs.  Birding just from the parking area on the side of the road across from the campground you can easily see 15 to 20 species in a short period of time.  Birding is best here form late spring through fall when there is no snow.  Often late April is when things start to pick up. CASSIN'S FINCH, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, STELLER'S JAY, and PINE SISKIN are all common here. Both WHITE-BREASTED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH can usually be added in a short period of time, while its not uncommon to come across WILD TURKEY here as well.  Keep an eye to the sky for accipiters and other hawks that are often seen cruising here. Other montane species you might pick up include RED CROSSBILL, BROWN CREEPER, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE.  The breeding season will bring warblers, vireos, and flycatchers to the higher elevations here and the relative lack of exploration form birders really leaves this location open to some discovery.  The actual distribution of species in this area is poorly known so any visit to the area is worth a quick stop to see what you might find!

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Monticello head west on Center Street .2 miles taking a left onto 200 West. Go . 2 miles before turning right onto 200 south. After about 250' take the flight left onto Abajo Drive. Abajo will turn into N Creek Road (route 101). Follow this for 4.8 miles till you reach the pullout on your right. Park here.

Hite Crossing at Lake Powell photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona. It is the second largest man-made reservoir, by maximum water capacity, in the United States behind Lake Mead, storing 24,322,000 acre feet of water when full. Lake Powell was created by the flooding of Glen Canyon by the controversial Glen Canyon Dam, which also led to the creation of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It lies in parts of Garfield, Kane, and San Juan counties. The northern limits of the lake extend at least as far as the Hite Crossing Bridge. A map centered at the confluence of the Escalante River with the Colorado River gives a good view of the extent of the lake. Besides the Colorado, several smaller rivers flow into the reservoir, including the Escalante, the Dirty Devil, and the San Juan river.  There are 100's of canyons with smaller springs and water sources.  The reservoirs is surrounded by red rock and desert, and trees and other brush are scarce.  Where springs and rivers are present there are usually Fremont Cottonwoods, willows, and other deciduous brush and trees.  In some area Salt Cedar is quite prevalent providing food and cover for migrating songbirds.  There are numerous access points and birding location at the reservoir including:

Birding:
Various waterbirds use the lake year round.  Migration sees an influx in the number of species and total amount of birds.  The overall species list for the reservoir isn't very big, and as a birding destination it isn't very popular.  This is unfortunate, as the reservoir is likely one of the major catchalls in the southwest ofr vagrant waterbirds, including pelagic species not normally found inland.  Other reservoirs in the Colorado River drainage are proof of this, but unfortunately the distance from most people and sheer size make it an underbirded location.  Some of the notable birds to show up here include: ROSEATE SPOONBILL, GLOSSY IBIS, YELLOW-FOOTED GULL, RED-THROATED LOON, the majority of Utah's YELLOW-BILLED LOON sightings, BROWN PELICAN, and LITTLE BLUE HERON.  Aside from the rarities the birding is very typical of southeast Utah and the Colorado Plateau deserts.  CANYON and ROCK WREN, BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, and HOUSE FINCH are all common here.  The various rivers, canyons, and small migrant traps here could turn up just about any songbirds during migration.

Directions:
There are various access points on the lake.  The major ones include Hite Crossing, Bullfrog Marina, Halls Crossing, and Wahweap Marina.  Aside from these, there are dozens of small dirt roads that access various side canyons, bays, and out of the way spots.  The reservoir can be accessed from the north, south, east and west via various roads.  Please consult Google maps for the best directions to the area you are interested in birding.

Hickman Flats with the Abajos photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Hickman Flats is a shrubsteppe and agricultural area that is best known for housing the remaining Gunnison Sage-Grouse population in Utah.  There are various public roads cutting across the entirely private and/or protected land that can be birded.  There are several small ponds and creeks as well as patches of juniper that provide additional habitat as well.

Birding:
Hickman Flats is known to most birders for being the only place in Utah to see GUNNISON SAGE-GROUSE.  There are several leks located here, that are protected by the government on private land.  The active leks are not visible from public roads, and viewing of the grouse can only be arranged through the DNR.  If you visit to look for these species, DO NO trespass, or do anything to put birders in bad light with the state, or more importantly could be harmful to the grouse.  However the shrubsteppe habitat here is ideal for local specialties like SAGEBRUSH SPARROW, SAGE THRASHER, and VESPER SPARROW.  Juniper habitat provides home to JUNIPER TITMOUSE and in recent years LEWIS'S WOODPECKER have been in the area.  The prairie habitat attracts numerous raptors including GOLDEN EAGLE, PRAIRIE FALCON, and NORTHERN HARRIER.  Several small "lakes" or ponds attract a variety of waterfowl and have had TUNDRA SWAN at them during migration in the past.  Birding is typically best her in the late spring into early summer.  The location in the state gives it the opportunity to play stop-over grounds for a number of prairie species that otherwise are rarely or never seen in Utah.  Longspurs, Mountain Plover, Sprague's Pipit, Baird's Sparrow, and other birds that breed in the far west plains potentially could show up here.

Directions:
From the intersection of Center Street and Main Street/Hwy 191 follow Hwy 191 north 5.3 miles then turn right onto Hickman Flat Roads.  From here you can drive east almost to the Colorado border and drive the various roads east and west, and north and south in the area.