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Upcoming Tour Date(s)
Friday, May 16, 2025 During the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival.
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Tim also came through showing us Cassia Crossbills in Idaho... He knows the area, knows the birds and is a fun travel companion.
Paul K. Most Wanted, 2018
Tour Details
Mountains in May Birding Tour Great Salt Lake Bird Fesitval
The second half of May is one of the best times to visit Utah for birding. The tail end of migration and the start of mountian breeding means there are a lot of birds to see. This tour will take you on an adventure through the Utah mountains just outside Salt Lake City to track down some of the beautiful breeding birds found here. With a variety of habitats, and a number of fantastic birding hot spots, we will put together a memorable day of birding the mountains in May with Pitta Tours!
Leader: Quinn Diaz
Itinerary
Itinerary subject to change due to weather, birding conditions, and other factors out of our control.
Overview 8-10 Hour Birding Adventure in the Utah Mountains!
Join us for a day exploring the Wasatch Mountains and the incredible birds that inhabit the west fringe of the Rocky Mountains. This brand new tour for 2024 will take us to a variety of montane locations and habitats to show not only the incredible variety of birds these mountains call home, but also the diversity in habitats from 4,500' in the foothills to over 10,000' at the tree line. Depending on snow pack conditions, and recent scouting trips, the actual itinerary for the day will be determined by the guides in the days leading up the event. Birding in mixed-oak woodlands, along montane riparian corridors, working our way to mid-elevations, and eventually mixed aspen and pine forests each unique ecosystem has a variety of birds tied to the habitats and in many cases elevations.
2025 Pricing
Special Pricing for the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
What's Included & What to Expect
What to Expect on Your Tour
On the day our tour begins we will provide pickup from our set departure location (TBD) by 6:00 AM. At the end of the tour, we will drop you off where we picked you up between 2-4pm.
Transportation
During the tour, we will travel in our comfortable 12-person Transit Van (aptly named Otus). Since this tour caps at 7-people, that means each of our 3-rows in the back has just 2-people, with the 7th passenger riding shotgun. Lots of room to stretch out with your gear and not feel like a sardine in a tin.
We provide a step stool for easy access in and out of the van and ice-cold water is available whenever you need from the back of the van with a custom tour water bottle provided for you to keep at the beginning of the tour.
Meals
No meals are provided on this tour. Please plan on eating breakfast before you arrive, and pack a sack lunch. We will provide a cooler to keep meals chilled during the morning.
Pace
The pace of the tour is generally pretty fast. No matter which version you choose we will try to pack as much birding into our time as possible.
Difficulty
This tour is not physically demanding. We will do numerous short outings, under 1-mile (usually much shorter), on even terrain.
Weather and Temperature
This tour provides for interesting mix of temperatures as we move between high elevation sites in the mountains and low elevations sites in the Great Basin. It is not uncommon for daytime temperatures at lower elevations to reach into the high 90’s. While in the mountains daytime temps range from the 50’s to 70’s. I recommend bring a variety of clothing, that is easily layered.
Insects, Snakes, and Predators
Oh my! Mosquitoes can be found at most places we will be visiting, so protective clothing or repellent is highly recommended. While there are other biting bugs, most are not very active this time of year. There is one species of rattlesnake in the Great Basin, but we have not encountered them on any tours. With that being said, please be aware it is possible to encounter them. And lastly, there are both Black Bear and Cougar in the Mountain West, but in 13 years of guiding I have never encountered either during a tour!
Possible Non-bird Highlights
- Stunning Montane Canyons
- Majestic Granite Peaks
- Beautiful Mountain Creeks
- Up to 10 Possible Mammal Species
What's Included
- Professional Guide Service
- Transportation from SLC
- Spotting Scope while Birding
- Water for Refreshment
- Birds—we’ll find some birds
- Some Flammtastic Tour Swag
- Delightful Conversation about Birds
- A Thoroughly Enjoyable Time!
We also include SFW dad jokes, witty bird puns, and the occasional commentary on things non-bird related!
What's Not Included
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Binoculars
- Cameras and Lenses
- Bug Spray
- Jackets or Sweaters
- Shoes and Socks
- Flights or Transportation to Utah
We highly recommend all of the above ;)
Still have questions? Ready to book a tour? Either way tapping the buttons below will put you in touch with us!
Past Mountains in May Birding Tours
May 19, 2024
Mountains in May Birding Tour
View Trip Report
94 Reviews
2020, '22, & '23 Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Award Consistently earning great reviews from birders!
Top Rated Wildlife Tour
in Salt Lake City
Tim took three of us out birding for target species over two days. He is knowledgeable, friendly and has a tremendous amount of energy! If you want to see Flammulated Owls he is the man!
David D Custom Tour , 2018
Recent Photos from this Tour
Check out more photos from this tour on Flickr
Still have questions? Ready to book a tour? Either way tapping the buttons below will put you in touch with us!