[Birdtalk] Scott's Oriole in Tooele/Utah County

[Tim Avery]

This morning I was with a few friends nea Five Mile Pass on the north end of the Thorpe Hills, alon HWY 73.  Right after crossing into Tooele County there are two dirt/gravel roads heading south, one of which goes to Faust.  We were right around this area having lunch when I thought I heard a SCOTT'S ORIOLE singing up in the juniper.  I wandered off and heard the bird sing 2 more times, but I could not track it down.  I headed back to finish eating when I spotted a flash of yellow flying away about 40 feet away.  The bird quickly made its way furhter up the hill, into what I believe is Utah county (no exact markers...).  

In any event, for anyone interested in looking around you can reach this area by taking I believe EXIT 279, in Lehi.  Its Main Street/Hwy73.  Take this exit and head west till you pass Eagle Mountain, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield.  As you approach Five Mile Pass there will be a large parking area on the right that likely has lots of 4-wheelers (if you go on the weekend).  On the left is a restroom.  This would be a good place to park and walk south into the Thorpe Hills and the juniper where the bird was singing from.  Weekdays are probably better than weekends becuase of the high volume of off road traffic.  You can also continue west and the two roads heading south (Faust Road and Railroad Bed Road) are also a good place to park.  If you take the first road and go south a couple hundred yards there are restrooms where you can park as well.  This area was nearer where the bird was.

Also in this area the following were heard and/or seen:

Brewer's Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Horned Lark
Sage Thrasher
Tree Swallow
Mountain Bluebird

and a few others...

Also I had a singing WARBLING VIREO in Cottonwood Heights this afternoon, and several VIRGINIA'S WARBLER at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon last night.

Good Birding

Tim
Salt Lake City, Utah
tanager at timaverybirding.com
http://www.timaverybirding.com
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