The Big Fill from Bing Birds Eye View

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Description:
The Big Fill was an engineering project on the First Transcontinental Railroad now located in Golden Spike NHS. To avoid a costly 800 feet tunnel through mountainous terrain east of Promontory Summit, Central Pacific engineers mapped an alternate route that still needed to span a deep ravine. In February 1869, the construction firm of Benson, Farr, & West began construction on a raised bed across the ravine. Over two months, 500 workers hauled more than 10,000 cubic yards of material to build the rail bed. At its extent, the fill extended for 500 feet and up to a depth of 70 feet. A walking trail allows visitors to see the Big Fill via an easy hike.  The habitat is mostly shrubsteppe set in a rocky canyon/ravine.

Birding:
The Big Fill doesn't get a lot of birders.  As mentioned on the Golden Spike NHS birding page, most birding is centered around the visitors center and the west grade loop.  But a hot spot was created for this specific location which is small and has a very distinct habitat. ROCK WREN are a staple here, and the habitat probably is suitable for CANYON WREN.  CHUKAR can be found on the slopes while BURROWING OWL are known to nest here.  Other species typical of the area year round include GOLDEN EAGLE, PRAIRIE FALCON, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and COMMON RAVEN.  In the summer months look for LARK SPARROW and SAGE THRASHER here as well.  The bird list is small, but its super easy to make a quick stop here on your way into or out of the park.

Directions:
From I-15 exit 365 head west on UT-13 for 2.5 miles to Corinne.  Continue straight onto UT-83 for another 17.4 miles. Turn left following signs onto 7200 North for 2 miles.  Follow the slight right as the road turns into 18400 West/Golden Spike Drive for 1.6 miles till you reach the fill on your right.

Golden Spike photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Golden Spike is a U.S. National Historic Site located at Promontory Summit, north of the Great Salt Lake that  encompasses 2,735 acres.  It commemorates the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad where the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad met on May 10, 1869. The final joining of the rails spanning the continent was signified by the driving of the ceremonial Golden Spike.  The park is a fee area and a 7 day pass in the summer is $7 while it costs $5 in the winter.  The park opens at 9:00am daily.

Birding:
Golden Spike mostly gets birders passing through to other nearby sites.  The species list of over 100 is a little confusing given the range of habitat in the site.  I would guess some of the additional waterbirds that have been reported weren't actually from within the park limits--possibly from nearby Blue Creek which has recently been added as a hot spot. There does appear to be some water along the west grade though, so this might be where some of the water birds are being reported.  There are several tour routes one can drive through the area which consists mostly of shrubsteppe, grasslands, farms, and some rocky out croppings.  In general this is the extent of the habitat here.  My birding exploits here have only taken me to the area around the visitor center, the Big Fill, and the East Grade Auto Tour Loop--so I can't lend a ton of info.  Three specialty game birds are located in the park limits though with SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, GRAY PARTRIDGE, and CHUKAR all possible.  A Sharp-tailed Grouse lek location was recently shared about a mile southwest of the visitor center on the north side of the road and can be scoped from the road here.  Other birds typical of the area year round include NORTHERN HARRIER, GOLDEN EAGLE, HORNED LARK, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK.  In the summer SAGE THRASHER, BREWER'S and LARK SPARROW, BURROWING OWL, and WESTERN KINGBIRD are a common sight.  SHORT-EARED and BARN OWL are found year round with a little luck as well.

Directions:
From I-15 exit 365 head west on UT-13 for 2.5 miles to Corinne.  Continue straight onto UT-83 for another 17.4 miles. Turn left following signs onto 7200 North for 2 miles.  Follow the slight right as the road turns into 18400 West/Golden Spike Drive for 4.6 miles. Turn left here and go south for 1.1 miles passing the welcome sign for the park to the Visitor's Center on your right.

Henefer Lek from Google Street View

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Description:
The Henefer Lek is a well known Greater Sage-Grouse Lek on the Morgan and Summit County line.  The lek site has historically been right on SR-65 and this has caused mortality among the birds each breeding season.  In recent years special fencing has been put up along the highway and the birds are generally now seen in the fields to the west of the road.  The habitat is shrubsteppe on both sides of the highway and county lines.

Birding:
The reason people go to the Henefer Lek is to view strutting GREATER SAGE-GROUSE typically between March and May every year.  This lek site is the most well known and most visited in Utah and very accessible form Salt Lake City.  Other birds are also present but not the focus.  Birds typical of shrubsteppe like WESTERN MEADOWLARK, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, COMMON RAVEN, BREWER'S SPARROW, LARK SPARROW,and HORNED LARK may be present depending on what point in the season you visit.

Lek Etiquette:
by Mark Stackhouse, Westwings, Inc.

1. Arrive early—preferably while it’s still dark, or at very low light.

2.  Drive up slowly, park, and turn off your motor and lights.

3.  Stay in your car. This is probably the most important! —until the birds have finished displaying and left the lek. Even if you need to leave before the display is ended (it’s better to stay in a parked car throughout), don’t leave your vehicle, but simply drive off slowly.

4.  If you open your windows, keep your voices low, and movements slow.

5.  Avoid driving too close to any birds next to the road.  Grouse in the throws of their mating displays often seem oblivious to everything around them, and it’s easy to imagine that what we’re doing isn’t even noticed. However, perhaps because they are so pre-occupied, the choice of a safe lek-site is very important, and the birds do notice if there are things around which make them uneasy. If this disturbance is frequent, then the lek is likely to be abandoned.

Directions:
From Salt Lake take I-80 east bound past Park City towards Cheyenne.  Take exit 168 for I-84 towards Ogden.  Go 3.7 miles to exit 115.  At the end of the on ramp turn left onto SR-65. Follow the road through town and take the left to stay onto SR-65 into East Canyon.  Go approximately 6 miles to the Summit/Morgan County line and the lek.  Drive slowly as you approach in case any birds are in the road.  Historically parking on the east side of the road was a best practice, but with the birds in the fields to the west, most observers, now park on the west side of the road.  I'm not sure if this is effecting the birds or not, so please be mindful when you visit.