Links at Overlake from Google Maps User

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Description:
The Links at Overlake is a Scottish links style course featuring 11 water hazards, 79 sand bunkers and beautiful native grass measuring a total of 7,248 yards.  The links pond and lake habitat combined with grassland and shrubsteppe created an interesting mix of habitat that resembles native Utah valley habitat.  The fairways and greens of course are grass so things aren't quite perfect.  In terms of birdable golf courses, this is a great course to go birding while golfing at.  There are actually 14 ponds on the course  which is surrounded by grasslands, farms, and now some houses.

Birding:
I've only been to the links one time, but on a windy cold May morning I tallied 52 species while focusing on golf.  Some notable things were that there were at least 3 species of shorebirds nesting along the course edges: LONG-BILLED CURLEW, WILLET, and KILLDEER.  The birds were very approachable and seemed used to people being there.  All 6 regularly occurring species of SWALLOW in Utah might be seen here during migration and during poor weather, are easy to view low over the water.  The numerous ponds create lots of habitat for various waterbirds.  11 species of waterfowl were seen here including GREATER SCAUP--the water on some ponds is deep enough for divers, and more species of ducks probably pass through here.  CINNAMON TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, and LESSER SCAUP were all fairly common in May.  3 species of GREBES and as well as FORSTER'S TERNS can be found here using the water to fish.  Along the course expect to see RED-WINGED and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, SAY'S PHOEBE, and WESTERN KINGBIRD.  If you come here to go golfing, you'll end up doing a lot of birding--and I can't say that's a bad thing!

Directions:
From the Flying J off I-80 Exit 99 take UT-36 south for 6.8 miles. Turn right on to Cimmarron way and go 1 mile. Turn left onto 400 west and go .8 mile to the turn on your right to the golf course parking lot.

Callao from Bing Birds Eye View

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Description:
Callao is a small farming community in northern Snake Valley, along the border of Juab County (the best birding is in Juab County in the center of town) and Tooele County, Utah, United States. It was part of the original Pony Express overland route, and was first called Willow Springs in 1860. E. W. Tripp, his wife and son, were the first to establish residence there, in 1870. In 1895 it was decided that Willow Springs was too common a name, and a new name would be chosen. The name Callao was chosen because of a resemblance to Callao, Peru, suggested by an old prospector in the region who was working out of Gold Hill to the north.  Consisting of a few ranches, the mostly agricultural landscape is surrounded by vast and barren desert.  In town the large 100+ year old Cottonwood Trees, along with numerous shrubs ans smaller trees provide an excellent riparian habitat used by migrants--making Callao a prime migrant trap in the west desert often visited while birding Fish Springs NWR located nearby.

Birding:
Biridng is usually done here just during spring and fall migration after or before a visit to the refuge 20 or so miles away.  The main east-west street through town passes several homes with large trees where migrants tend to flock to as they fly across the open desert. There are also large patches of Russian Olive on the east end of town which make great trap habitat. Birding from the road is easy, just make sure not to trespass onto any private property here as the locals like their privacy.  During both spring and fall you can expected warblers, tanager, flycatchers, vireos, and other passerine species here.  YELLOW and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER are standards, while WILSON'S, MACGILLIVRAY'S and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER also show up regularly.  YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT seems to show up every so often, and with enough visits and diligence you might turn up an eastern vagrant like BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER which has been observed here.  All regularly occurring EMPIDONAX FLYCATCHERS in Utah have been observed here on either end of migration; while CASSIN'S VIREO may be seen during fall migration.  Not surprising there are also some oddball shorebirds and waterbirds that have been seen here with any small amount of water in canals, or from the watering of fields, birds like BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and WHIMBREL have been reported here.  The possibilities are endless for what might show up here.  Given the remote locations and true migrant trap qualities, it likely sees quite a few vagrants--it just doesn't see very many birders to find them!  Next time you visit Fish Springs in the spring or fall make the extra 50 mile round trip over to Callao and see what you can find.

Directions:
From the entrance to Fish Springs NWR, go north on the Pony Express-Overland Stage Trail.  Follow dirt road for 23 miles till you reach Callao.

Rest Stop  from Google Street View

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Description:
Interstate rest area with a decent sized tree, surrounded by the Bonneville Salt Flats.  There is also a rest stop on the south side (for east bound traffic) that has more trees and a decent view of some water.

Birding:
Although there have only been a few species recorded here as opposed to the rest stop south of the interstate, the majority of the birds here have all be migrants.  Desperate for food while migrating south, this is the first tree migrants heading south will see. WESTERN TANAGER, 3 species of warbler, and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE are the notable species observed her. IF you are headed towards Wendover, stop here and write down what you see.  Put the checklist into eBird and help build the data set for this atypical "hotspot".

Directions:
Heading west on I-80 towards Wendover take the exit on your right for the Rest Stop about 10 miles from the state line near around MM10 and MM11.

Rest Stop  from Google Street View

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Description:
Interstate rest area with several deciduous trees, surrounded by the Bonneville Salt Flats.  There is also a rest stop on the north side (for west bound traffic) that has even fewer trees.

Birding:
To the average person this looks like a barren rest stop.  But to a birder, it can be a very strange migrant trap.  A number of migrants have been reported here, struggling to find something to eat in the middle of the barren salt flats. WESTERN TANAGER, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, warblers, and the most surprising find a PACIFIC WREN have all been reported here.  There is also some water to the south where a number of waterbirds, including waterfowl, divers, and shorebirds have been seen--including 15 SNOWY PLOVERS in June once.

Directions:
Heading east on I-80 from Wendover take the exit on your right for the Rest Stop about 10 miles from the state line.