RFI: Little Patuxent Oxbow
THBeal@aol.com
Tue, 14 Jul 1998 10:19:25 EDT
There is a large freshwater lake just northwest of the intersection of the BW
Parkway and MD 198. I believe it is an old oxbow of the Little Patuxent
river. It is great bird habitat. The location is very accessible from a
relatively new "Russett" housing development. Unfortunately, the habitat
itself it very inaccessible. There is a short trail to a viewing area, but the
view is obscured by trees. The slopes around the lake are very steep and there
is a lot of undergrowth. I managed to hike across a beaver damn in some boots
to an island and found some great birds, esp. a Least Bittern. Does anybody
know of access to other parts of the lake? It is surrounds by trees. Has
anyone birded it much? What is its conservation status? I went on a walk
with the Nature Conservancy several years ago, but I have forgotten what they
said about it.
Tom Beal
Glenn Dale, MD
THBeal@aol.com