Beryl Juncton from Google Street View

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Description:
Beryl Junction sits in the middle of agricultural land miles form anything resembling modern day America.  The area is a throwback to times of the past, and its refreshing to spend some time here in the middle of nowhere. Recently a nice school has been built here, but there are only a a few other private homes, and a small community housing project here right at the intersection of SR-56 and SR-18 which is the Beryl Highway leading to the ghost town of Beryl.  There are various tree lines and small groves in the area that provide some migrant habitat--particularly to the southwest of the intersection there is one large property which you can drive the perimeter of. The same for the property just to the northwest of the intersection--this property is larger, so many more trees are here. But the farms are the main "habitat"  pastures, hay--huge circles of crop seen form space if you look on Google Maps.  Outside of that, poor grassland habitat, shrubsteppe and desert surround the area.

Birding:
Beryl Junction is a great mid-winter birding spot, mostly know for the number of raptors that over winter there.  Between November and March the birding and photo opportunities for hawks, eagles, and falcons can be great here.  NORTHERN HARRIER, BALD EAGLE, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, and PRAIRIE FALCON can all be found here during the winter months, and sometimes in decent enough numbers to make this a raptor hot spot in Utah.  In the summer SWAINSON'S HAWKS replace the roughies and there aren't nearly as many birders visiting the area.  I like to leave ST. George, and head north on back roads to get here, then cut over to Cedar City to head back north if I have time.  It's an extra couple hours if you plan on birding, but you might see lots of hawks.  I tend to drive the Beryl Highway north a few miles from town, and then crisscross any roads along the way, and back down south of town.

Directions:
From I-15 Exit 59 in Cedar City head west on SR-56 for 35.3 miles to Beryl Junction.

Powder Mountain photo by Mike Hearell

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Description:
Powder Mountain Ski Resort is located in the Wasatch Back along the Weber/Cache county line near Eden. It is accessible year round via county roads, but the resort is only open during ski season. There are multiple condos and cabins that dot the landscape. You can bird open brush, conifer, aspen, and mountain mohogany covered hillsides.

Birding:
Wasatch Audubon helps in maintaining a feeder located by the Powder Ridge Condos that makes this Utah's premiere location for viewing ROSY-FINCHES during Winter months. Both Black and Gray-crowned can be located here during this time, as well as STELLER'S JAY, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, MTN CHICKADEE, and HAIRY WOODPECKER. Other high elevation birds can be found here as well, but with a little less regularity. These include CASSIN'S FINCH, PINE SISKIN, RED CROSSBILL, and PINE GROSBEAK. During the warmer months SAPSUCKERS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS use the area for nesting, and DUSKY GROUSE are found here regularly. Nocturnal birding is good for NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL during the Spring and Fall, COMMON POORWILL is easily located during the Summer.

Directions:
As you approach the dam at Pineview Reservoir from the west along SR-39 turn left onto UT-158 and go 11.6 miles until you reach the resort.

Thanks to Mike Hearell for this location submission.

Bluffdale Ponds from Bing Birds Eye View

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Description:
Originally the hot spot was made to encompass two ponds in the area--one south of UT-140 and the larger main pond north of it.  There are actually a couple small springs here north of 140 but only the large one is viewable.  The locations south is rarely visited and often the pond is dry, but a great riparian habitat is here creating an interesting migrant trap.  With current construction in the area these ponds and their access may become more and more difficult.

Birding:
The large north pond is an easy scan and open year round due to the warm springs that actually fill it.  During the winter months diving ducks are a common sight, usually anchored by a decent number of RING-NECKED DUCKS.  COMMON GOLDENEYE, RUDDY DUCK, and LESSER SCAUP are often present as well.  Both GREATER SCAUP and HOODED MERGANSER have been observed as well.  With a limited number of checklists the waterfowl species found here are probably much greater. During spring and summer the riparian habitats at both locations is good for BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and WESTERN KINGBIRD.  A short stop off the freeway and with a little coverage I suspect some good birds might turn up here. Currently this is one of many under-birded locations in the state.

Directions:
From I-15 exit 288 (14600 South) go west/northwest on 14600 South/UT-140 for .7 miles. Turn right onto 790 West between the two businesses and follow the road till it dead ends behind the buildings.  The ponds are to your right and can be scoped from the edge of the no trespassing signs. To reach the south pond go back to 14600 and turn right going .3 miles taking a slight left onto 1000 West going south for .3 miles.  The pond will be on your left as the road dead ends at the East Jordan Canal.

Sandy Pond from Bing Birds Eye View

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Description:
The Sandy Urban Fishery (or Sandy Pond) is a man made fishing pond that was built along the Jordan River to provide fishing opportunities for locals in the city.  The small pond is only 3 acres but it is one of only a handful of substantial bodies of water found in Sandy.  There are few large native trees, but Russian Olives dominate the landscape to the south. The Jordan River borders the pond on the west, and River Oaks Golf Course borders it on the north and east.  The pond is open year round from sunrise till 10:00pm and is often inundated with fisherman.

Birding:
The Sandy Pond has been a breath of life for water birding in Sandy.  Already boasting 120 + species the pond has no shortage of waterfowl during the winter months, and other waterbirds year round. At the time of writing 23 species of waterfowl have been observed here, most notably GREATER SCAUP have been observed here for 3 winters from 2013-2015. WOOD DUCK, MANDARIN DUCK, and CACKLING GOOSE have all been observed here while diving ducks are often found on the north half of the pond. RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, and LESSER SCAUP are usually staple during the winter. NEOTROPIC CORMORANT and HORNED GREBE have both been recorded here, making for great close views on the small pond. The proximity to the parkway and the river provide some great habitat for migrants, and various warblers, sparrows, flycatchers, and other neotropical migrants have been seen here. During irruption winters EVENING GROSBEAK can sometimes be found in the Russian Olives along the river.

Directions:
From State Street at 10000 South/Sego Lily Drive go west 1.3 miles till you reach the run off on your right to the Pond.  10000 South becomes Shields Lane after you go under I-15.  Also from 1300 West you can take Shields Lane east .8 miles till the turn off to the pond is on your left.  Drive north on the road form here till you reach the parking are on your right.

Rainbow Unit Trailhead photo by Mike Hearell

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Description:
This eBird Hotspot is located in NW Weber County approximately 20 minutes west of I-15. From the parking area you have year round access (walk-in, horseback and bicycle only) to the west end of the Rail Trail and access to Harold S. Crane from September 1 - March 1. The area is mostly playa and mudflats with some brackish sloughs mixed in. The Harold S. Crane portion (Sep-Mar) allows motorized traffic to the west and walk-in only traffic to the north.

Birding:
The best time of year to bird this eBird hotspot is during the Winter months. Locally this location is known best for the three MOUNTAIN PLOVERS found on Christmas Day 2012. Birds more likely to be found during the Winter are SNOW BUNTINGS, LAPLAND LONGSPURS and SHORT-EARED OWLS. This is also a very reliable spot for Horned Larks, American Tree Sparrow, Barn Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Merlin, Prairie Falcon and Peregrine Falcon.

Directions:
Take the 12th Street exit off of I-15 and head West on 12th. Head west on 12th Street for 6.7 miles where you will turn North on 6700 W. Take 6700 W 4.1 miles to the North where it dead ends in the parking area.

Thanks to Mike Hearell for this location submission.

Alta By-Pass Road photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Includes the Alta Ski Resort, town of Alta and the by-pass road. After 3/4 of a mile drive through Snowbird Resort, a 1/2 mile of road loops back to the main canyon road.  The entire stretch has houses and condos and various side streets.  There are feeders all along here, but you have to do a little looking. Powder Ridge Drive off of the by-pass road is often a good street to check.  Mixed Conifer and Aspen forest dominate the mountains around the building here.  Be mindful of where you park--the entire area is private property and we don't want to upset any owners and residents. In the winter of 2014-15 feederswere added at the Alta Town Offices off the main road next to Our Lady of the Snow Church.  The feeders have been very productive for rosy-finches.

Birding:
The by-pass road has long been known as a spot to look for Rosy-Finches during the winter months until the addition of the feeders at the town offices.  Historically a home along the road called the Ben Hame Home had been the go to spot.  But in recent years the feeders here have been left empty, and this hasn't been reliable--but check when you visit as in 2015 the feeders were stocked nicely.  Other houses in the area have feeders, as do some of the large condos.  Finding birds here takes some luck, but days following storms are often a good time to look.    You can drive the road slowly or find a place to park out of the way and walk looking for activity.  aside form both BLACK ROSY-FINCH and GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH, you can also see PINE GROSBEAK, RED CROSSBILL, siskins, finches, jays, chickadees, and other mountain birds here most of the winter.

Screen Grab form Feeder Cam on 1/29/15 showing Rosy-Finch Flock

In the winter of 2014-15 at least 2 BROWN-CAPPED ROSY-FINCHES were found here, representing the furthest west this species has been recorded, and only the 2nd and 3rd sightings for Utah. The by-pass road doesn't get mentioned much during other times of year, but the birding is probably similar to nearby mountain locations.  At the town offices there are several feeders that can be watched from a few feet away.  A live cam was put in place in January 2015 and can be viewed below:



Directions:
From exit 295 on I-15 head east along 9000 South.  9000 south turns into 9400 south and continues all the way into Little Cottonwood Canyon.  From I-215 east side belt route, take Exit 6 east onto Wasatch Blvd heading south.  Follow Wasatch Blvd till it Y's.  At the Y go left to head up the canyon.  Once in the canyon, from either direction continue east.  From the parking lot at the bottom of the canyon it is 6.8 miles to Snowbird Resort, and the Alta By-Pass Road.  For the by-pass road,take a right onto the by-pass road and follow it as it loops for 1.25 miles back to the main canyon road. You can also continue straight 1.2 miles and will hit the town offices on your right slightly up hill to the right of the church.