Just a heads-up to anyone who plans to bird at Bethel:  you need a
permit to park and enter, available from DNR's Bel Air office.  The
permits are free and are called "permit to trespass on Canal Lands."  No
kidding.  Such permits are required to enter all the hunting areas on
C&D canal lands in Cecil County - Courthouse Point, Elk Forest, Welch
Point, and Bethel. The permits are valid for one calendar year.  The DNR
office will want you to send them a written request for permit with
photocopies of your drivers license and vehicle registration.  They mail
the permit back to you with a set of regulations.  There are stiff fines
for parking and entering without a permit.  

There have been many problems with illegal activities and off-road
vehicles at these sites and the permits are DNR's answer to control
access.  I highly encourage birders to set a good example and follow the
rules on this.

That said, Bethel and Courthouse offer GREAT birding and I highly
recommend them.  They are my regular patch.

A little later I'll forward the text of the letter that I send annually
to request a permit. It has the contact information etc.  I can't do it
right now because I'm having  computer problems and can't access my
files.  And fyi, there are no instructions about this on the DNR website
- the only way to find out about it is to go to one of the sites and
read the sign at the parking lot.

Marcia Watson
Cecil Bird Club

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Chris Starling
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 9:57 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: Bethel WMA trip


As indicated by Norm earlier, The Bethel WMA is located due east of 
Chesapeake City, MD on the south side of the C&D Canal. Traveling east
out 
of two, on MD 286, look for the intersection with Bethel Cemetary Road. 
Parking for the WMA is at this intersection (about 1.5 miles out of
town). 
the impoundments are located to the west along a trail that traverses
the 
dike. It should be obvious.

As recently as week ago there has been a White-faced Ibis feeding in the

ponds a little to the east (in Delaware). The Ibis, as far as I know,
has 
not crossed into Maryland, but it has been seen within a mile of the
line. 
Also the ibis has only been seen on the north side of the canal in the
area 
of the Route 896 Bridge, south of Glascow (Newark), Del.

good Luck!
and
Good Birding,
Chris Starling


>From: Carol Laing <>
>Reply-To: Carol Laing <>
>To: 
>Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Bethel WMA trip
>Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 15:29:47 -0400
>
>Hi, I'm looking for more information on Bethel Wildlife Mgmt ARea, 
>considering going, depending on where it is. I have searched google and

>can't find it. could anyone please provide info re where exactly it is,

>like what city and is it in MD. and if you have a link that would be 
>superb. thanks
>
>Carol Laing
>Front Royal, VA
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Maryland Birds & Birding 
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> >Behalf Of Richard S. Donham
> >Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM
> >To: 
> >Subject: [MDOSPREY] Bethel WMA trip
> >
> >
> >The Cecil Bird Club will sponsor a birding trip to Bethel Wildlife 
> >Management Area this SUNDAY, June 25. This site offers a nice mix of 
> >water and deciduous/scrub forest. This 1/2 day trip will be co-led by

> >the participants and will begin at the Big Elk Mall at 7 a.m. Richard

> >Donham 
> >
>

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