Monday, 18 May 2009
Burraston Ponds
Juab County, Utah

(Emails from Dennis Shirley,  18 May 2009)

Hi All,
Just got in from the 11th Annual Utah County Hotspots Field Trip, for the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival. We ended up with 92 species for the day, with 21 participants. Best birds included the target species: Bobolink, P/J species - Juniper Titmouse, Black-throated Gray and Virginia's Warbler, Dusky and Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, and six warblers, including
the find of the day -- Northern Parula.

The Parula was seen at Burraston Ponds Wildlife Management Area near Mona. If interested the BPWMA is located just outside [SW] of Mona, in north Juab  County. If traveling from north/central parts of the state down I-15, take the Mona exit, go west into Mona, and turn left onto the north/south main street in town. Just past the last new homes at the south end of town, turn right, and go down to the valley bottom. You can see the ponds and surrounding cottonwoods/Russian Olive trees from the highway before you turn. After entering the area and passing the "Burraston Ponds" sign, continue going through the area staying to the right along the eastern boundary. Continue until the gravel road turns sharply to the left and enters a grove of thick trees, which overhang the road. Park and listen in this area. The bird was singing constantly and was easily observed. We watched it for as long as we cared too, then moved on. Burraston Ponds is one of those migrant magnant spots which doesn't get birded enough, and even if you can't make it down there for this rarity, you should put it on your list of places to bird in the future.

Good Luck and Good Birding,
Dennis Shirley

         Photos by Alan Jensen