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Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (WMA) is a large area of ponds and canals that is great for birding! In February you even have a good chance of seeing bald eagles. Located in Farmington it features thousand of birds to enjoy. We try to make it out here at least once in winter every year in hopes of seeing bald eagles and other interesting birds. Today we decided to walk down along the west side of Unit 2 after driving down the Dike Road.
Unit 2
Bald Eagle
Quick Details:
Length: We did about a 2 mile loop, but it does keep going. Plus a short 2 mile scenic drive.
Trail Type: Loop, out and back, or longer loop options.
Difficulty: DR3 for the trail DR1 for the drive.
Elevation Gain: NA it is pretty flat.
Restroom: There is a vault toilet near the north entrance, and this year they had several porta-potties scattered around.
Dogs? Seasonal. From September 25th to Feb 28th
Other Info: This particular trail is closed March 1st to July 31st. Also the unpaved Dike Road between Goose Egg Island and Turpin Unit is only open to cars From September 25th to Feb 28th, so if it is outside that window it will add about 2 miles each way on foot.
To Get Here:
This is located behind the Great Salt Lake Nature Center You will want to take exit 322 in Farmington. Immediate take the first right on to the frontage rd. Then take the first right onto Glovers Ln and head over i15. Go about 1.4 miles and turn left on 1325 west. If you hit the Nature Center you went too far.
The Drive in:
Lately I have been separating the drive in as a separate scenic drive post, and it really is. Just today wasn't as exciting as some other times.
All of the photos are from the telephoto lens. Birds typically do not hang around long enough to switch lenses. Since I was here for the birds, that’s what works for me.
The WMA sign (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)). Shortly after this sign the road goes from paved to dirt. It pretty well graded so most cars should be fine on it.
Our first stop was at Goose Egg Island, here is the view of the Dike Road from up here. Goose Egg Island was built during the 1983 flood as a way to dispose of excess mud and debris.
Farmington Creek below (PSP).
Back on the Dike Road (PSP). See? for the most part it is not so bad, but there are definitely some rough spots. So, take your time.
Marshes (PSP).
Northern Harrier (PSP).
Little closer (PSP).
I love watching these guys on the prowl (PSP).
Another one (PSP).
Great blue heron.
Better lighting on the other side.
I usually see more of these guys out here. But, not today.
Another northern harrier (PSP).
Before long we reached the Turpin parking lot.
Where we found this handsome northern harrier hanging out.
Pretty guy.
Looking away.
One of the few times one sat still for a while.
They often get mistaken for owls due to the facial disc they have.
Super handsome.
Head turned almost completely backwards haha.
An almost full moon.
Unit 1.
Another northern harrier.
The Trail:
This sign flipped over and covered the other one that explains that it is closed during nesting season, March 1 to July 31st.
Gate to keep cars out. I didn’t get a shot, but there is an opening on the other side to let people through.
Continuing down what google seems to think is called Levee Road, on foot. Unit 2 is to the left.
Culvert between Unit 2 and a canal.
Murkier water from Unit 2 entering the clearer canal.
Mountains above Unit 2. There is not any ice out on the pond today. The time that we saw the most eagles it was frozen and they were all hanging out on the ice, so I was not feeling terribly confident in seeing any today.
Ducks.
Continuing along.
More waterfowl. I am not sure if those are snow geese or tundra swans.
Little dock.
I wasn’t 100% certain here, but I was pretty sure that is a bald eagle on that dead tree.
Getting more sure.
The pelicans don’t seem to mind him.
More pelicans.
Yep. That is most certainly a bald eagle. Hooray! Mission accomplished.
Look at that huge beak!
Just chillin on a random dead branch in the middle of the pond.
No really, look at the freakin beak!
I love when we get a good bald eagle sighting.
Looking away.
Absolutely majestic.
He seems to be puffing out his feathers here. I forget the term for it but birds in general do this for warmth, and grooming purposes.
Again, in the middle of the pond. Last year we saw some herons hanging out here.
It’s not everyday that we see a bald eagle, in fact we generally only get a sighting or 2 a year so, sorry I went a little nuts.
Pelicans.
With the mountains.
Closer again.
Finally caught him looking generally this way. Yay!
With some attitude.
Still getting some side eye. I feel like a paparazzi that has been spotted by the celebrity.
With the full tree.
Lots of pelicans.
One last look as we continue to pass by.
American avocet.
Starting to see a little bit of ice on Unit 2.
Continuing along the dike.
Another dock.
Another northern harrier.
Terrible shot, but at about 8/10ths of a mile there s a connector trail to the other side of the canal. We ended up going back that way, but not before pushing on a little further.
Pelican.
Continuing along.
Some kind of hawks that appear to be bickering.
I went back and fourth as to whether I wanted to do 2 miles today, or 3. After this last bit of not much excitement, I decided on 2. So we turned back at a mile.
Heading back north, with a nice view of Ben Lomond.
The dead tree with the eagle again.
I believe this is a black-capped night-heron. We don’t see these very often so, yay!
Super neat.
Back to the split that will take us to the other side of the canal. We couldn’t decide between seeing the other side, and possibly more hawks, or staying on the main dike and seeing the eagle again. Ultimately we decided to go for the other side and make a short loop.
Well, we did get another look at the eagle.
The pelicans.
The canal, looking north.
South.
This dike is a little more overgrown, and a little more squishy. But still not bad.
American avocets. I was pretty sure they didn’t quite look like seagulls. I am glad I took a shot.
Digital crop.
Then came the crows. Last time we were here there was a huge murder of crows flying overhead too.
The bald eagle again.
One of several little ponds to the west.
Of course, since we decided to to do the west side dike, the hawks seem to have taken a break. haha. But, we have had a pretty good day so I can’t complain too much.
Bald eagle.
The canal.
Ben Lomond off in the distance.
Nice reflection in the canal.
Trail again.
Cormorant. I see these guys along the Jordan River Parkway pretty frequently during the warmer months.
Weird structure out west hat looks like a bridge, but it is awfully tall. I guess to allow boats underneath? Might have to head that way one day and get a closer look.
Canal to the right, Turpin Unit to the left.
I love watching ducks take off out of the water. The way they run across the surface is neat.
Continuing along.
Another northern harrier.
Culvert.
American coots.
The gate leading to the main Dike Road.
The area is closed March 1 to July 31st.
Crossing back over the canal on the Dike Road, heading back to the car..
Another northern harrier.
Heading back down the Dike Road (PSP). You can see Goose Egg Island on the left.
What’s this (PSP)? A random coyote. I have never seen one out here, or well, much in the way of wildlife other than birds. Fun.
Super fun, unexpected sighting. I never would have thought I'd see one out here.
Someone reported a coyote sighting here on iNaturalist yesterday so it’s probably the same one.
It was fun watching him hunt and scrounge.
We thought for a second it might have been a fox (they really look quite similar) but I decided that this guy is way bigger than a fox.
I don’t actually see coyotes very often. I hear them often, but don’t see them often. So naturally I went nuts taking pictures. I do wish I had better lighting though.
Again.
Aww, don’t leave!
So fun.
Not sure what he spotted, but it got me a nice side profile.
Coyote and northern harrier.
Northern harrier.
It decided to land on a nearby fence post.
The coyote is getting further and further away.
Better shot of the harrier.
Again.
I like the eye in this one.
One last look at the coyote. Bye!!!
Red-winged blackbird (PSP).
Ring-necked pheasant (PSP). Not the best shot.
Another red-winged blackbird (PSP).
After this we decided to pop over to the nearby Eccles Wildlife Center.
Well, that was quite the adventure today. We didn’t see as many birds as we normally do, but what we did see was worth the visit! It wasn’t super busy today either, seeing as it’s SuperbOwl Sunday. Sadly we did not see an owl for that though. Our walk was a bit on the shorter side, but I did enjoy it. 8 out of 10 squirrels.
As for difficulty, The Dike Road is see from your windows so DR1. Both dikes by Unit 2are flat and pretty easy going. The east one is more hard parked than the west one. DR3.
Dogs are allowed, leashed. September 25th to February 28th. They are not allowed outside of that window.
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