BIRD WALKS & FIELD TRIPS
Don’t miss out on our annual bird festival. Dozens of field trips and two nights of evening presentations.
Visit the festival website, www.RedCliffsBirdFest.com for more information and registration.
Evening presentations:
Thursday: Jerry Harris
Friday: Dr. Wenfei Tong
Location: St. James Park
Meeting Place:741 St James Ln, St George. Meet at the parking lot by the bathrooms.
About:Flat, mostly paved trails skirt the Virgin River, Fort Pierce Wash, and the St George Golf Course and ponds, attracting a variety of passerines and waterfowl.
Target Species:Bullock’s Oriole, roadrunner, migrating warblers, swallows, sparrows.
Leader: Greg Cannon
Location: Tonaquint Nature Park
Meeting Place:1851 South Dixie Dr, St George. Meet at the last parking lot by the tennis courts and bathrooms.
About:The Tonaquint Nature Park is one of the better places to find birds within our populated areas. Large, mature trees surrounding a pond attract both woodland birds and waterfowl, migrants and residents. Most anything can show up here. The paths are mostly dirt but level and maintained.
Leader:John Schijf
Birds and Blooms: Plant Walk at Snow Canyon State Park Sand Dunes/West Canyon Parking Lot
Location: West Canyon Road in Snow Canyon
Meeting Place: Turn left at the sign for the Sand Dunes/West Canyon Parking Lot, a mile north of the south Park Entrance Station. Meet at the picnic area. Bring your Park Pass or pay a daily admission fee per vehicle ($10 for Utah Residents or $5 for Senior Utah Residents).
About:We will see a diversity of plants that are native to this region, including trees, shrubs and seasonal wildflowers. These plants provide birds with shelter, protection and food. This is a mostly level gravel road with a gradual elevation gain in spots, passing through both the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts. We will walk about two miles round trip at a moderate pace. Public restrooms are available at the starting and ending points. Participants may head back at any time. A plant list and pencils will be provided.
Leaders: Marcie Eberwine
Location: Sullivan Virgin River Park
Meeting Place: 965 S Washington Fields Rd. Washington. Meet at the pavilion overlooking the pond as you enter the park.
About:Mostly paved level trails along the Virgin River. Bathrooms.
Target Species: Phainopepla, raptors, woodpeckers, meadowlark, wrens and kinglets, migrating warblers.
Leader: Paul Hicks
Location: Smith’s Deli 1216 S Bluff St. St George
About: A no-host social gathering after Boots-Cox Bird Walk.
About: A no-host social gathering after Sullivan Park Bird Walk.
Location: Sullivan Virgin River Park
Meeting Place: . Meet at the pavilion overlooking the pond as you enter the park.
About: Mostly paved level trails along the Virgin River. Bathrooms. We might take the up-canyon route.
Target species: Orioles, grosbeaks, kingbird, raptors, woodpeckers, wrens, chat, sparrows, warblers; Phainopepla is possible.
Leader:Paul Hicks
Location: Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm
Meeting Place: 2592 South 3000 East, St George. Meet at the parking lot. NOTE the 7:00am start time going forward for the summer walks.
About: A city park in an historic farm setting in the middle of Washington Fields. This area is surrounded by farm fields, marshes, and small ponds. Paths are unpaved and will be muddy after rains. Bathrooms
Target Species: Vermilion Flycatcher, Western Meadowlark, American Pipit, Mountain Bluebird, Marsh Wren, roadrunner, raptors, sparrows, etc.
Leader: Paul Jaussi
Location: Cottonwood Cove and Mathis Parks
Meeting Place: 11027 South Dixie Dr, St George. Meet in the parking lot by the bathrooms.
About: : We will walk the paved trails along the Santa Clara River, and then make our way a short drive to bird at Mathis Park.
Target Species: Summer breeding birds
Leader: RJ Hughes
Location: Sand Hollow Wash (Tuweap Drive Riparian Area)
Location: Sand Hollow Wash (Tuweap Drive Riparian Area) (map)
Meeting Place: Parking lot across Tuweap Dr from the Sierra Point Apartments, 1503 N 2100 W, St George. Meet at the trailhead at the south end of the parking lot.
About: Paved/unpaved paths on both sides of wash. The trickling water here is a magnet for a variety of both desert and riparian birds. Bathrooms across the wash near Snow Canyon HS.
Target species: Marsh Wren, BH Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, sparrows, quail; possibly rails, Green Heron.
Leader: John Schijf
Location: Royal Oaks Park
Meeting Place: 1250 N 1400 W, St George. Meet by the bathrooms.
About: 1250 N 1400 W, St George. Meet by the bathrooms.
Leader: Greg Hughes
Location: Royal Oaks Park
Meeting Place: 1250 N 1400 W, St George. Meet by the bathrooms.
About: Royal Oaks is a small park but has excellent habitat and always has good birds. There are paved trails but we will also use the dirt path along the wash behind the houses. Recently a family of Cooper’s Hawks resided here.
Leader:Paul Hicks
Location: Tonaquint Nature Park
Meeting Place: 1851 South Dixie Dr, St George. Meet at the last parking lot by the tennis courts and bathrooms.
About: The Tonaquint Nature Park is one of the better places to find birds within our populated areas. Large, mature trees surrounding a pond attract both woodland birds and waterfowl, migrants and residents. Most anything can show up here. The paths are mostly dirt but level and maintained.
Leader: Paul Hicks
Location:Liberty Cafe 1664 S Dixie Dr, Suite K102
About: A no-host social gathering after Tonaquint Nature Park Bird Walk.
Location: Forest Park
Meeting Place:1030 N 1800 E, St George. Meet in the parking lot near the bathrooms.
About:First we’ll cover the main park’s little pond surrounded by mature trees, then follow the paved path along the bottom of rock cliffs, and finally skirt Middleton Wash via a somewhat rough dirt trail. This small area offers multiple habitats and turns up some unique birds.
Target Species: Resident Cooper’s Hawk, roadrunner, gnatcatcher, wrens, Bell’s Vireo, orioles, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and a variety of migrating warblers and sparrows; Lazuli Bunting is possible.
Leader: Paul Hicks
Location: Tonaquint Nature Park
Meeting Place:1851 South Dixie Dr, St George. Meet at the last parking lot by the tennis courts and bathrooms.
About:The Tonaquint Nature Park is one of the better places to find birds within our populated areas. Large, mature trees surrounding a pond attract both woodland birds and waterfowl, migrants and residents. This is the best place to see Wood Ducks in winter. Most anything can show up here. The paths are mostly dirt but level and maintained.
Leader: Paul Hicks
Location: Beans & Brews-1216 S Bluff St. St George
About: A no-host social gathering after Boots-Cox Bird Walk.
Location: BootsBoots-Cox & Crosby Family Confluence Park
Meeting Place: 1080 South 900 East, St George
About: We will start at Boots-Cox Park and then move on to Crosby Family Confluence Park (2099 S. Convention Center Dr). Sidewalks and lawns are mostly level. Bathrooms at both sites
Target Species: : Vermilion Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, phoebes, pipit, roadrunner, Yellow Warbler, nesting Cliff Swallows.
Leader: Paul Jaussi
Location: La Verkin Confluence Park
Meeting Place: Take SR-9 north through LaVerkin to 900 N. Turn left onto 900N. Follow the road through the housing to the dirt road. Travel about a mile to trailhead parking. Meet at the metal gate across the roadway.
About: We will walk dirt-and-gravel pathways along the three converging streams: La Verkin Creek, Ash Creek and the Virgin River. The route is mostly level, up to 2 miles depending on how far participants want to go. Bathrooms at the parking lot.
Target Species: This amazing riparian area attracts a variety of migrating passerines and summer breeders. In addition to resident roadrunner, quail, turkey, and three dove species, we’d reasonably expect to find Phainopepla, Western Kingbird, Yellow Warblers, White-throated Swift and swallows, hummingbirds, woodpeckers. Up to 5 wren species and 10 sparrow types are possible!
Leader: TBA
Location: Cottonwood Cove & Mathis Parks
Meeting Place: 11027 South Dixie Dr, St George. Meet in the parking lot by the bathrooms.
About: We will walk the paved trails along the Santa Clara River, and then make our way a short drive to bird at Mathis Park.
Target Species: Great Blue Herons at the rookery, Western Kingbird, Bullock’s Oriole, Summer Tanager, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, warblers.
Leader: Greg Cannon
Location: Snow Canyon
Location: West Canyon Road in Snow Canyon (map)
Meeting Place: Turn left at the sign for the Sand Dunes/West Canyon Parking Lot, a mile north of the south Park Entrance Station. Meet at the picnic area by the bathrooms. Bring your Park Pass or pay a daily admission fee per vehicle ($10 for Utah Residents or $5 for Seniors).
About: The mostly gravel roadway gently rises through two habitat zones, from Mojave creosote to sage and juniper.
Target species: quail, roadrunner, raptors, woodpeckers, Crissal Thrasher, wrens, bushtit, and a variety of sparrows.
Leader:RJ Hughes
Location: Sullivan Virgin River Park
Meeting Place: 965 South Washington Fields Rd, Washington. Meet at the pavilion overlooking the pond as you enter the park.
About: Mostly paved level trails along the Virgin River. Bathrooms. We might take the up-canyon route.
Target species: Orioles, grosbeaks, kingbird, raptors, woodpeckers, wrens, chat, sparrows, warblers; Phainopepla is possible.
Leader:TBA
Location: Springs Park
Meeting Place: 2395 East Springs Dr, St George. Meet by the bathrooms.
About: A community park featuring a pond near a marsh of the Virgin River. Path is paved around the pond and along the river; uneven dirt into the marsh.
Target species: Waterfowl, herons, roadrunner, hummingbirds, Marsh Wren, phoebes, migrating warblers. Sora and Virginia Rail are possible.
Leader:Paul Hicks
Location: Village Baker
About: A no-host social gathering Springs Park & Seegmiler Marsh Bird Walk.
Location: Springs Park
Meeting Place: 2395 East Springs Dr, St George. Meet by the bathrooms.
About: A community park featuring a pond near a marsh of the Virgin River. Path is paved around the pond and along the river; uneven dirt into the marsh.
Target Species: Waterfowl, herons, roadrunner, hummingbirds, Marsh Wren, phoebes, migrating warblers. Sora and Virginia Rail are possible
Leader: Paul Hicks
Location: Forest Park
Meeting Place: 1030 N 1800 E, St George. Meet in the parking lot near the bathrooms
About: First we’ll cover the main park’s little pond surrounded by mature trees, then follow the paved trail along the bottom of rock cliffs, and finally skirt Middleton Wash via a somewhat rough dirt trail. This small area turns up some unique birds.
Target Species: Resident Cooper’s Hawk, roadrunner, Verdin, wrens, and a variety of migrating sparrows.
Leader: TBA
Location: Smith’s Marketplace 565 S Mall Dr, St George, in Starbucks next to the deli
About: A no-host social gathering after Hela Seegmiler Bird Walk.
Location: Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm
Meeting Place: 2592 South 3000 East, St George. Meet at the parking lot.
About: A city park in an historic farm setting in the middle of Washington Fields. This area is surrounded by farm fields, marshes, and small ponds. Paths are unpaved and will be muddy after rains. Bathrooms
Target Species: Vermilion Flycatcher, Western Meadowlark, American Pipit, Mountain Bluebird, Marsh Wren, roadrunner, raptors, sparrows, etc.
Leader: Paul Jaussi
February 8: We must CHANGE OUR SCHEDULE due to an emergency bridge closure at Veyo. Please check the website and your email before Saturday morning in case of any further last-minute changes.Please Note: Check the website the day before in case of cancellation due to weather conditions.
Below are a few details including carpooling, etc, to help things go smoothly. Carpools will be reconfigured at Enterprise to minimize the number of vehicles in the caravan. Fewer vehicles will maximize participants’ chances of getting onto the birds.
Time Frame: Timeframe
Carpools from St George:
7:15 - Meet up for carpooling at LDS church on N Bluff (1285 N. Bluff St)
7:30 - LEAVE no later in order to cross the bridge before 8:00. Carpools cannot wait for latecomers
Next: Carpools from Enterprise:
8:15 - Meet up in Enterprise (Sinclair gas station, 855 E Main St).
We will further CONSOLIDATE cars and riders in Enterprise before continuing. By reducing the number of vehicles in the caravan we increase the chances of everyone seeing the birds. We will split into two caravans if the group is large.
Return route:
1:00/1:30 - Approximate end-time in Enterprise
Return route: via Gunlock Rd & Old Hwy 91 from Veyo, 70 minutes back to Bluff Street
Meeting Place: We will be carpooling
In St George, meet at 7:15 am at the LDS church on N Bluff (1285 N. Bluff St).
In Enterprise, meet at 8:15 at the Sinclair gas station at the “T” (855 E Main St).
Note: We will further consolidate cars and riders in Enterprise before continuing.
Vehicles with higher clearance preferred due to possible soft/muddy roads.
About the Raptor Run:
The “RAPTOR RUN” to Enterprise & Beryl Junction is our most popular field trip.
Up to 10 raptor species are possible, plus winter specialties such as Northern & Loggerhead Shrike, Horned Lark, pipit, etc.
Bring/dress
Binoculars and scope to share if you have one. Some may wish to bring their camera.
Walkie-talkie if you have one. Leader Paul Jaussi will provide a limited number.
Appropriate clothes/boots for potentially cold, windy and muddy conditions.
( You might pack a garbage bag to put muddy boots into.)
Forecast
The most current forecast, which changes daily, is for 7 mph winds, 30-45 degrees. Ground conditions should be pretty dry.
Leader: Paul Jaussi
Location: Fire Lake Park (Ivin’s Reservoir)
Meeting Place: Old Hwy 91 past Santa Clara, west of the Kayenta turnoff. Meet on the sidewalk near the parking lot and public restrooms.
About: We’ll check for waterfowl, then walk to some of the neighborhoods for White-winged Doves, Cactus Wren, Crissal Thrasher, and other surprises. Trails are mostly level, both paved and unpaved.
Leader: John Schijf
Location: Sand Hollow Wash (Tuweap Drive Riparian Area)
Meeting Place: Parking lot across Tuweap Dr from the Sierra Point Apartments, 1503 N 2100 W, St George. Meet at the trailhead at the south end of the parking lot.
About: Paved/unpaved paths on both sides of wash. The trickling water here is a magnet for a variety of both desert and riparian birds. Bathrooms across the wash near Snow Canyon HS.
Target Species: Marsh Wren, Anna’s Hummingbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, sparrows, quail; possibly rails, Green Heron.
Leader: John Schijf
Location: St. James Park
Meeting Place: 741 St James Ln, St George. Meet at the parking lot by the bathrooms.
About: Flat, mostly paved trails skirt the Virgin River, Fort Pierce Wash, and the St George Golf Course and ponds, attracting a variety of passerines plus waterfowl in season.
Target Species: Roadrunner, migrating warblers and sparrows, swallows.
Leader: Greg Cannon
Location: Village Baker 1472 E. George Washington Blvd
About: A no-host social gathering after the Springs Park & Seegmiller Marsh Bird Walk
Location: Springs Park & Seegmiller Marsh
Meeting Place: Springs Park
About: 2395 East Springs Dr, St George. Meet by the bathrooms.
Target Species: Waterfowl, herons, roadrunner, hummingbirds, Marsh Wren, phoebes, migrating warblers. Sora and Virginia Rail are possible.
Leader: Paul Jaussi or Paul Hicks
Location: Grandpa’s Pond (also called Stratton Pond)
Meeting Place: 350 N 3700 W, Hurricane. Meet on the sidewalk by the bathrooms.
About: A large pond between Quail Creek Reservoir and the Virgin River. Attracts waterfowl in season and riparian species year-round. We will be almost entirely on flat, paved trails.
Leader: Paul Hicks
Location: Grandpa’s Pond ( also called Stratton Pond)
Meeting Place: 350 N 3700 W, Hurricane. Meet on the sidewalk by the bathrooms.
About: A large pond between Quail Creek Reservoir and the Virgin River. Attracts waterfowl in season and riparian species year-round. We will be almost entirely on flat, paved trails.
Leader: TBA
St. George CBC
We're on! This year's St. George CBC will be Saturday, December 28, 2023. For more
information and to register, please contact the lead compiler, Ken Hinton,
(kahinton54@gmail.com, 435-772-1019), or the co-compiler, Bryan Dixon,
(bdixon@xmission.com, 435-760-0691). And we’re looking for eyeballs, especially ones
looking for birds. No experience necessary; we love showing new participants around!
Silver Reef CBC:
We're on! This year's Silver Reef CBC will be Saturday, December 21, 2021. For more
information, please contact the lead compiler, Marshall Topham,
(marshalltopham@gmail.com, 435-632-7841), with your name, contact information, and
whether you’re familiar with the area, or the co-compiler, Bryan Dixon,
(bdixon@xmission.com, 435-760-0691). And we’re looking for eyeballs, especially ones
looking for birds. No experience necessary; we love showing new participants around!
Glen Canyon (Page, AZ) CBC
Wednesday, December 18
The Glen Canyon CBC is split up into 3 sections, the river, lake, and land. If on the lake, the boat is an NPS boat that has an enclosed compartment to get out of the cold as needed. We need a lot of people to help cover this beautiful area!
Contact Gerry Nealon gerry.nealon.pga@gmail.com.
Location: Confluence Park in LaVerkin
Meeting Place: Take SR-9 north through LaVerkin to 900 N. Turn left onto 900N. Follow the road through the housing to the dirt road. Travel about a mile to trailhead parking. Meet at the metal gate across the roadway.
About: We will walk dirt-and-gravel pathways along the three converging streams: La Verkin Creek, Ash Creek and the Virgin River. The route is mostly level, up to 2 miles depending on how far participants want to go. Bathrooms at the parking lot.
Target Species: This amazing riparian area attracts a variety of overwintering passerines such as sparrows, wrens, kinglets, bluebirds and woodpeckers. Roadrunner, quail, and three dove species are resident. Rufous-crowned Sparrow is possible.
Leader: Paul Hicks
Location: Cottonwood Cove Park & Stonebridge Pond
Meeting Place: 11027 South Dixie Dr, St George. Meet in the parking lot by the bathrooms.
About: We will walk the paved trails along the Santa Clara River, and then make our way a short drive to bird at Stonebridge Pond.
Target Species: Wintering sparrows, kinglets, finches, and the occasional Cedar Waxwing flock. Waterfowl in the pond.
Leader: Paul Hicks
Location: Fire Lake Park (Ivins Reservoir)
Meeting Place: Old Hwy 91 past Santa Clara, west of the Kayenta turnoff. Meet on the sidewalk near the parking lot and public restrooms.
About: We’ll check for waterfowl, then walk to some of the neighborhoods for White-winged Doves, Cactus Wren, Crissal Thrasher, and other surprises. Trails are mostly level, both paved and unpaved.
Leader: John Schijf
Location: Sand Hollow Wash (Tuweap Drive Riparian Area)
Meeting Place: : Parking lot across Tuweap Dr from the Sierra Point Apartments, 1503 N 2100 W, St George. Meet at the trailhead at the south end of the parking lot.
About:: Paved/unpaved paths on both sides of wash. The trickling water here is a magnet for a variety of both desert and riparian birds. Bathrooms across the wash near Snow Canyon HS.
Target Species: : Marsh Wren, Anna’s Hummingbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, sparrows, quail; possibly rails, Green Heron.
Leader: John Schijf
Location: Boots Cox Park
Meeting Place: 1080 South 900 East, St George
About: We will start at Boots-Cox Park and then move on to Crosby Family Confluence Park (2099 S. Convention Center Dr). Sidewalks and lawns are mostly level. Bathrooms at both sites.
Target species: Vermilion Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, phoebes, pipit, roadrunner, Yellow Warbler, nesting Cliff Swallows.
Leader :TBA
