Mosquito Cove from Google Street View

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Description:
In 2007 while looking for a place to camp while doing field work near Zion National Park I came across notes in a field notebook about "Mosquito Cove".  It appeared to be either BLM land or private land that was open to the public for camping.  Nestled against SR-9 on the north along the Virgin River on the south and between Virgin and Sprigndale, the flats were in the floodplain, surrounded by cottonwood and willow the riparian habitat was amazing.  The sand washed clearing here made for great camping, and there could easily be 50 to 100 campers here on busy weekends--especially holidays.  I've camped here at various times of the year and always found it to be dead during the weeks.  But in 2011 a large flood came through the area and ever since the gate has been closed the unofficial "campground" here is closed now.  I think a combination of people treating the land terribly (litter and refuse), and the danger presented from being i the flood plain weren't worth the risk so the state decided to lock it down.  Which is a shame because it really was some great camping--and birding.

Birding:
Although I've only submitted 6 checklists from Mosquito Cove, I probably camped here 10 to 15 times over 3 to 4 years. Exactly 34 species have been reported, and I've managed to see all of them in my combined trips--it helps that all the lists form others happened to be there with me ;)  There are several species found here regularly during the breeding season that were fairly easy to find. Notably SUMMER TANAGER was a sure thing.  BLUE GROSBEAK, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, LUCY'S WARBLER, CASSIN'S KIGBIRD, and HOODED ORIOLE were all found as well, along with a throng of other riparian migrants and breeders. PLUMBEOUS VIREO, LESSER GOLDFINCH, and SPOTTED TOWHEE are often present and easy to track down.  Migrant wise WESTERN TANAGER, WILSON'S WARBLER, and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE can all be found.  Occasionally BUSHTIT make their way through the area, while various waterfowl might be seen flying past on the river--notably COMMON MERGANSER.  You can still bird the area from the road, but I don't know how much luck you will have.

Directions:
From La Verkin, take SR-9 east bound  11.4 miles till you reach the road on your right that dead ends at the fence..

Salt Lake County Side from Google Photo Sphere

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Description:
Big Mountain Pass is located on the Salt Lake and Morgan County lines along SR-65.  At 7,420' it sits right in a belt where numerous habitats meet.  Among Utahns it is known for two things. It is on the original route of the Mormon pioneers who crossed it in 1847 on their way to the Salt Lake Valley; and it is a great place to watch the sunset over a sliver of Salt Lake visible from the area.  Where the highway tops out there is a large gravel parking area on the south side of the road.  The Great Western Trail coming from the north crosses the road here, and continues to southeast from the east side of the parking area.  There are restrooms and several benches here.  Aside from the trail heading southeast, there is also one that follows the southwest slope down into Mountain Dell Canyon, and another going northeast into Upper East Canyon.  Down the west side and on the hills to the north the habitat is generally mixed oak woodland; some aspen and conifer can be found as well.  To the south and southwest is a huge patch of aspen that stretches for miles both directions. On the northeast and east sides are mid elevation coniferous forest.  Some willow and riparian like habitat exists here minimally.  There is also shrubsteppe on the west slope leading down the canyon.  The county line splits the parking area in half and is marked along the road.  For a while this was one spot but in order to accurately split the data there are not spots on both side of the county line--this matters because generally you are birding on one side or the other.  The details for the the Salt Lake County side are below--the MorganCounty birding information can be found here.

Birding:
Big Mountain is one of my favorite birding locations in Salt Lake County.  The birding on the way up, while there and down the other side into East Canyon makes for a great span of habitats and locations and although nothing terribly out of the common really shows up here, the resident breeding birds are easy gets on almost any trip.  Form mid May through July early in the day or in the evening SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSH can both be heard singing in the woods here.  WESTERN TANAGER, LAZULI BUNTING, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK add some bright color to the trees.  MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD are often heard calling overhead, or seen on the north side of the road.  HOUSE WREN chatter is a constant, while DUSKY FLYCATCHER can usually be found calling in the woods.  MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER can be found in the dense thickets on the slopes here.  Both GREEN-TAILED and SPOTTED TOWHEE are present at the pass as well. Overhead VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW are usually seen as well.  Hiking the trails into the hills you can access other habitat and species typical of the conifer.  Both species of KINGLET, AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, PINE GROSBEAK, and STELLER'S JAY have all been observed.  The pass is often used for owling and 5 species have been found between both sides of the pass.  FLAMMULATED OWL is a common breeder here, while NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL is occasionally found.  NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL show up from time to time, and are encountered more often south of here on the Great Western Trail.  Finally, COMMON POORWILL can usually be heard on the west slopes here after dark.  The pass can be a busy location with city slickers coming up for a quick drive away from the city; bikers taking a break; or various other people that show up here.  I like to hike the trails even just a few hundred yards to get away from the pass if there are people around. Most of the birds mentioned above are easy get on any trip here.

Directions:
From I-80 exit 134 in Parley's Canyon head north onto SR-65 and follow this 8.2 miles past Mountain Dell and Little Dell Reservoir through Mountain Dell Canyon.  The road switchbacks and has a couple sharp turns before eventually reaching the pass with a parking area on your right.

Morgan County Side from Google Street View

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Description:
Big Mountain Pass is located on the Salt Lake and Morgan County lines along SR-65.  At 7,420' it sits right in a belt where numerous habitats meet.  Among Utahns it is known for two things. It is on the original route of the Mormon pioneers who crossed it in 1847 on their way to the Salt Lake Valley; and it is a great place to watch the sunset over a sliver of Salt Lake visible from the area.  Where the highway tops out there is a large gravel parking area on the south side of the road.  The Great Western Trail coming from the north crosses the road here, and continues to southeast from the east side of the parking area.  There are restrooms and several benches here.  Aside from the trail heading southeast, there is also one that follows the southwest slope down into Mountain Dell Canyon, and another going northeast into Upper East Canyon.  Down the west side and on the hills to the north the habitat is generally mixed oak woodland; some aspen and conifer can be found as well.  To the south and southwest is a huge patch of aspen that stretches for miles both directions. On the northeast and east sides are mid elevation coniferous forest.  Some willow and riparian like habitat exists here minimally.  There is also shrubsteppe on the west slope leading down the canyon.  The county line splits the parking area in half and is marked along the road.  For a while this was one spot but in order to accurately split the data there are not spots on both side of the county line--this matters because generally you are birding on one side or the other.  The details for the the Morgan County side are below--the Salt Lake County birding information can be found here.

Birding:
Big Mountain is one of my favorite birding locations in Morgan County.  The birding on the way up, while there and down the other side into East Canyon makes for a great span of habitats and locations and although nothing terribly out of the common really shows up here, the resident breeding birds are easy gets on almost any trip.  Form mid May through July early in the day or in the evening SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSH can both be heard singing in the woods here.  WESTERN TANAGER, LAZULI BUNTING, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK add some bright color to the trees.  MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD are often heard calling overhead, or seen on the north side of the road.  HOUSE WREN chatter is a constant, while DUSKY FLYCATCHER can usually be found calling in the woods.  MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER can be found in the dense thickets on the slopes here.  Both GREEN-TAILED and SPOTTED TOWHEE are present at the pass as well. Overhead VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW are usually seen as well.  Hiking the trails into the hills you can access other habitat and species typical of the conifer.  From the east/northeast side of the parking lot I like to stand and listen and watch down the gulley here.  I will also often head up the Great Western Trail going southeast.  100 yards up the trail you are in forest away form the parking area noise.  At the radio tower here is a great spot to look for most of the species mentioned above as well.  RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER are often in the trees here, while WARBLING VIREO make a racked in the woods. At night FLAMMULATED, LONG-EARED, and NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL have been heard here.

Directions:
From I-80 exit 134 in Parley's Canyon head north onto SR-65 and follow this 8.2 miles past Mountain Dell and Little Dell Reservoir through Mountain Dell Canyon.  The road switchbacks and has a couple sharp turns before eventually reaching the pass with a parking area on your right.

River Lane from Google Street 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.  The first mile of road passes through agricultural and private land. Some grassland  along with riparian habitat along road edges creates an interesting mix of habitats.  Once you reach the end of the pavement and hit dirt road you will drive right on the rivers edge for about a mile to the lake.  The river is on the southside of the road with thick riparian habitat on both sides of the river, as well as on the north side of the road.  Aside from the cottonwood and other deciduous tree canopy there is a large russian olive component, as well as willow, and various other deciduous bushes and shrubs creating a thick understory.  The habitat is truly unique and everything to the south and northeast is primarily agricultural land, lake shore, or marsh.  At the end of the road, the river mouth open up and an old road follows the lake shore north.  Following this you can continue in riparian habitat as well.  Views of the lake form here add an open water habitat.  Someone created a separate hot spot for this location called River Lane -- Sandy Beach.  This is probably a good thing to take note of birds just at the end of the road.  This area is heavily used by the public for fishing, and various other activities.  Unfortunately, some people that visit don't have any respect for the area leaving their garbage, and in some instances dumping large amounts of trash here.  There have also been incidents of poaching various birds here, and dead migrants found on several occasions with obvious trauma. But the birding is incredible, and these sorts of things are the exception to what is an otherwise amazing place.

Birding:
River Lane has long been a popular migrant trap amongst Utah Birders.  From late April through May and again in August through October passerine migrants can be found in decent numbers in the riparian habitat along the road.  It has had major fallout in the past--and has had some great rarities.  There is no such thing as a bad day of birding here--some just are slower than others.  In reality you can park at one end of the road and walk the entire length and back to bird it; but usually the best method is to pick a spot, park and walk around until you feel you've birded the area good, then driving further down the road and repeating.  Usually you can make 4 or 5 stops by the time you hit the end of the road. So lets talk about the birding here.  Common residents here include RING-NECKED PHEASANT, NORTHERN HARRIER, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, and SONG SPARROW.  During spring migration things seem to come in waves here with a nice mix of ORANGE-CROWNED and VIRGINIA'S WARBLERS, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in late April.  May is by far the time of year that most birders visit.  On May 30, 2011 an incredible fallout occurred across parts of central and northern Utah, and River Lane saw its fair share of incredible sightings.  An estimated 200 WESTERN TANAGERS painted the trees, while dozens of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS mingled with various empids, dozens of warblers, grosbeaks, and buntings.  Species that usually show up in minimal numbers were everywhere.  Notable spring migrants here include SAGEBRUSH SPARROW, LARK BUNTING, INDIGO BUNTING, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and LONG-EARED OWL.

The breeding season although hot and muggy along the river can turn up some birds that aren't all that common elsewhere in the county or northern part of the state. GRAY CATBIRD and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT are both found here fairly easily.  Historically YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO were reported here infrequently in the summer leading some to believe they may have nested in the area.  But in recent years they have been a no show. Another interesting bird that shows up here on the tail end of migration through the middle of June are PURPLE MARTIN.  BLUE GROSBEAK and EASTERN KINGBIRD also tend to get noticed here during the summer as well as the early fall. The summer can be a real slow time here, and birders usually stay away until August and September when things pick up again.

Fall brings all kinds of great birds--potentially even greater diversity than in the spring.  CASSIN'S VIREO, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and various sparrows pop up here during fall migration. Interesting note, there are no spring records for SAVANNAH SPARROW here--only fall.  The fall rarity pool is impressive as well.  ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, BLACK-AND-WHITE-WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, and TENNESSEE WARBLER are some of the very noteworthy species that have been observed.  It's not uncommon in spring and fall to be able to see all 6 regularly occurring swallows here in one day--and if you're lucky you can tack on the martin.  Fall also brings COMMMON NIGHTHAWKS, which are often flushed form perches while you walk the side roads in search of migrants.  The list goes on and on. A typical day here in the fall could turn up 40-50 species in just a couple hours.

The winter doesn't get quite the attention as migration, but sparrow flocks can be found along the road.  While predominantly WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and DARK-EYED JUNCO are found AMERICAN TREE, WHITE-THROATED, and HARRIS'S SPARROW have all been observed here.  MERLIN are also seen with some regularity in the winter months; while NORTHERN SHRIKE are rare here but fairly regular nearby on Swede Lane.

River Lane is a premier Utah birding destination.  With a location list of over 200 species this trap is the kind of place where just about any bird might show up in Utah.  Any time you pass through Springville, take an hour and swing out and bird River Lane--you might just find something great!

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 the best birding until you reach the lake.