Went over this morning to see how the recently completed man-made wetlands
off Brink and Huntmaster Rds were doing. These wetlands were built from ICC
(MD 200) mitigation money. A similar project was done on the upstream side
of Huntmaster Rd by MD DOT back in the 90s. This is location where Jared
Fisher found a Northern Shrike back in fall of '11.
I viewed part of the wetlands from a small pull-off along Brink Rd just
before intersection with Goshen Rd and then went over and parked along
Huntmaster Rd where the construction trailer use to be, just a little ways
from Goshen Park Pl. I was able to access both sides of wetlands from here.
Best bird was probably an American Bittern in the largest pond on the
upstream side of Huntmaster. In the pools and puddles below Huntmaster
there was a Lesser Yellowlegs, a few Solitary SPs and Killdeer. Go far
enough (about .5 miles) SW to end of wetland construction area and you can
pick up a nice trail that takes you down along the Goshen Branch to its
confluence with Great Seneca Crk. Had my FOS American Redstart, Baltimore
Oriole, Yellow- throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo in the wooded stream valley
past the wetlands. Found 2 different Blue-gray Gnatcatchers sitting on
nests. Their nests are always amazing to me.
Will be interesting to see how this area evolves over next few years. Could
become good but don't think human accessibility was thought of (in term of
trails) in the design. Not hard to get around in there at moment but may
involve some bushwacking in years to come.
Andy Martin
Gaithersburg
Full eBird list below:
Goshen Branch SVP/Green Hills Farm Wetlands, Montgomery, US-MD
Apr 27, 2013 9:35 AM - 1:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
59 species
Canada Goose 34
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 5
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 8
Cooper's Hawk 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Killdeer 2
Solitary Sandpiper 6
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 1
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 5
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 110
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Tree Swallow 18
Barn Swallow 10
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
House Wren 9
Carolina Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 13 - 2 seen sitting on nests
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 5
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 4
European Starling 3
Common Yellowthroat 11
American Redstart 1
Northern Parula 5
Eastern Towhee 14
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 14
White-throated Sparrow 9
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 21
Brown-headed Cowbird 16
Orchard Oriole 1
Baltimore Oriole 2
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 45
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