Hi Everyone,

Here are specific suggestions for birding several MD counties in
mid-March.  Great stuff!

Ron and Carol Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD
 


NOTES ON PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY FROM JEFF SHENOT:
Jug Bay from PG Co.; continuing further downstream:

1. Mt Calvert Manor (at end of Mt Calvert Rd; fields and river views
with fantastic bird variety.  If you have time, spend about 1.5 to 2
hours glassing river, and walk field edges. To go to next item #2, go
back up Mt Calvert Rd, turn left on Duvall Rd, go to end, turn left on
Croom Airport Rd and go to park.  Go SLOW, it is a very narrow road. 
Watch field and areas in woods for wild turkey (not common, but they are
here).
2. Patuxent River Park HQ (off Croom airport Rd; follow sign down long
entrance road to park visitor center).  When you get to HQ, glass the
river at the HQ overlook (facing the river, it is on your right, in
front of a white two story office).  Also, do the loop walk around the
Black Walnut Cr Trail (entrance to it is down at river, by boat
ramp/pier; facing river the trail entrance is to the right at the far
end of parking area.  There is also an observation deck about a quarter
mile down river, accessible by the foot trail (follow down the river,
ot's obvious).  Report any good flora or fauna finds at the Visitor
Center!
3. If you happen to be here on Sunday, I would highly recommend doing
the Critical Area Driving Tour (its only open Sunday).  It starts at
Selby's Landing at Patuxent River Park (access by Selby's Landing, at
the end of Croom Airport Rd; follow the signs).  It will end up at
Merkle Wildlife Management area, and offers a great variety of habitats
in a concentrated area that will be hard to match for the county as far
as variety.
4. Merkle Wildlife Management area (Fenno Rd).  If Sunday, you can
cover this area much more quickly by car due to its size.  Otherwise, it
is accessible only by foot, and you can get to any of it but it will
take more time.  It is a great area and I would see as much as you can
to get a good variety.  Report any good flora or fauna finds at the
Visitor Center!
5. Aquasco WMA.  At end of Aquasco Farm Rd (a long way down!).  This
may be a repeat of habitat from Merkle, Selbys, Mt Calvert, etc., but is
a very sizeable area of great field habitat.  The open/field bird
species really like it here!

Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary (AA Co side of Jug Bay):
The AA Co. side is also great to see the Jug Bay area, and will
offersimilar habitat variety as PG side but it is not as conveniently
accessible, and without some knowledge of the Sanctuary you may not find
it as easy.  You will need to drive to each area separately and get out
and walk around.

1. JBWS Visitor Center area (near end of Wrighton Rd; follow the sign
down long dirt road to entrance),  Do field and wood traisl around VC,
and see river overlook also.  Sign in at Visitor Center; and report any
good flora or fauna finds at the Visitor Center (outside)!
2. Glendening Nature Preserve (off Plummer Lane).  This area has nice
fields and extensive woods, and one field you really should see is about
10 acres of dense scrub pine and cedars, with a couple trails through
them, that usually harbors interesting birds year round and is a great
spot.  There is very little views of the river, but edges of it that are
nice swamp can be checked if you feel like taking a long walk.
3. River Farm - caution - this area is only accessible by a long walk
from #1 above, or by car if you are with JBWS staff or someone else who
has authorization to be there.  It has great view of river, as well as
good field habitat.


NOTES ON CALVERT COUNTY FROM SUE HAMILTON:
Flag Ponds:  hike to the beach -- sometimes good offshore birding --
Bonaparte's Gulls and Buffleheads, etc.  Keep an eye out for
shorebirds--some small ponds to the north --and on your way back up take
the Duncan Pond trail to the blind for freshwater ducks (although
there'll probably be buffleheads there too).



NOTES ON CALVERT AND ST MARYS COUNTIES FROM TYLER BELL:
I would suggest that you start in Calvert at North Beach marsh. When
you drive down Rt. 2 from Annapolis, you can turn off at the traffic
circle (probably not on any maps yet as they just finished it recently)
onto Friendship Rd. This takes you down through Rosehaven and to North
Beach. Pull off into the sandy parking lot on the left just after you
cross into Calvert County. Scope the water there. There are often
scoters right in that little embayment. Walk down the beach to the right
and you can scan a small pond near the houses that's not visible from
the road. Scope the marsh. When you're done there, drive south and into
North Beach. You can park near the pier in North Beach and walk out and
do some more scoping. Gannets are in the Bay big time right now.

If you continue driving down the main drag, it'll eventually pass Rt.
260 at a traffic light. Speedwise, it's faster to turn west on 260 then
south on Rt. 2 but scenery-wise, it's nicer to stay on 261 which will
eventually dump you out on Rt. 2 just north of Prince Frederick.
Depending on where you had planned in Calvert, you can go to Battle
Creek Cypress Swamp, Jefferson Patterson Park, Flag Ponds or Calvert
Cliffs State Park all which are south of PF. The area around the beach
ponds at Flag Ponds is reliable, at least in spring migration, for
Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow and Seaside Sparrow and often Marsh
Wren.  When you get to the south end of the county, stay in the right
lane and turn just before you go onto the bridge. Go under the bridge
and scope along the water from the boat ramp area. The waterfowl have
mostly moved off but there are still some decent birds around.
Yesterday, there were about 60 Coots right at the ramp. Gannets have
also been in the river in both Calvert and St. Mary's waters.

When you cross the bridge into St. Mary's, make the first right and
drive down to the dilapidated pier and scope the river. It's a short
detour and you can be back onto Rt. 4 in no time. Remember that the
county line runs down the middle of the river.

You will need to go to Beauvue Ponds for dabblers so drive across the
Rt. 4 & 235 intersection staying on Rt. 4 (St. Andrew's Church Rd.).
There's a big turn to the left at Indian Bridge Rd. Continue on and look
for Fairgrounds Rd. If you miss it, you'll end up at Rt. 5. Turn left
onto Fairgrounds and proceed to the traffic light at Rt. 5. When you
cross over Rt. 5, it becomes Medley's Neck Rd. Continue on MNR down the
hill past the Catholic church and when it starts to wind back up the
hill, look for the open fields and there's a small paved parking pulloff
just before Breton Beach Rd. Pull in and scan the ponds from this
vantage point. Continue on down BBR then turn right onto Abell's Wharf
Rd. When you pull off, make sure to pull off as far onto the grass as
you can. There's not much traffic but sometimes they get pissy. You can
walk out onto the edge of the hill overlooking the ponds but don't go
any further. Make sure to check out the field on the
 other side of the road as that's good for E. Meadowlark, N. Harrier,
A. Kestrel and if you're really lucky, Short-eared Owl and Rough-legged
Hawk.

Drive back to Rt. 5 then turn right (south). There not much of interest
between there and Pt. Lookout though a stop in St. Mary's City just when
you first see the water often yields loafing gulls on the sand spit in
the river. Check around the chapel site (you can view it from Rt. 5 for
Meadowlarks and Kestrels if you didn't find them already. When you pass
through St. Inigoes, you will pass the intersection of Rt. 5 and
Beachville/Chesleytown Rd. Keep an eye out on the left right around
Whitaker Rd. for a swampy area with standing dead trees. This is one of
the few spots in the county for Red-headed Woodpecker. There's another
one a bit further down the road to the south.

After you pass south of the intersection of Rt. 4 and 5, turn left onto
Long 
Neck Rd. beyond the PO at Scotland. This is a good area for
shorebirds in season. Now is a good time to look for Pipits and Horned
Larks and other sparrow types. When you get to the end, don't go too far
but you can scan the water while still on the pavement. Unfortunately,
we lost the availability to bird this property a while ago during an
ownership change. Keep an eye out at the 90 degree turn where the cattle
are. This is a good spot for Cattle Egret.

Turn south onto Rt. 5 then almost immediately turn right onto Camp
Brown Rd. Drive slowly looking for Wilson's Snipe in the corn stubble
field on the left. Keep the car windows down as this is the only spot
left in the county for N. Bobwhite. Just before you get to the camp,
turn right and park near the big weedy field. Excellent for sparrows. 
There was a shrike reported on the left side of the road during the CBC
but never relocated.

Go south again on Rt. 5 then turn right onto Cornfield Harbor Rd. Turn
left at the big white cement pylons. When you get into the loblolly pine
area, listen for Brown-headed Nuthatch. Stop at the little bridge. This
area is good for rails and owls, at dusk. Sedge Wren often is reported
during the CBC from here.

Pt. Lookout has lots of good spots. The first is the causeway. Then
there's the fishing pier. Of course, the point itself offers the best
chance at Great Cormorant as well as Brown Pelican, gulls, terns and
gannets. Check the little stand of trees near the point as this is a
migrant trap. You never know what you'll find in there.  The trails
around the old fort can be excellent in migration. When you leave the
park, turn right at the hard left turn at Rt. 5 and turn onto Scotland
Beach Rd. The view from the end of the road looks over a couple of pound
nets that often hold a number of gull and tern species as well as
cormorants and Brown Pelicans, which are now year-round in St. Mary's.

One fairly unknown area in St. Mary's is the Wildlands section of St.
Mary's River State Park off of Indian Bridge Rd. This is accessed
through the hunter parking lot closer to Rt. 5. There is a relatively
large tract of fairly mature hardwoods which is productive for birds
like Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush,
Worm-eating Warbler and in spring is often very good for Catharus
thrushes.

Myrtle Point Park, near the Solomons bridge, has probably the densest
population of Yellow-breasted Chats and Prairie Warblers of any place I
know. Walk the trails near the water tower in May and you can't miss
them. Bad for ticks, though. When you exit the park, drive past Iris
Lane and on the right is a section of brambles that ends at a created
wetland. This area, particularly at this time of year, is excellent for
Woodcocks.  Often you will hear Barred Owls closer to the intersection
of Mill Cove Rd. and Patuxent Blvd. and in the late spring and summer,
Chuck-will's-widow.


NOTES ON PICKERING CREEK (TALBOT COUNTY) FROM LES ROSLUND:
For the dates you mention (mid-March), I would suggest that you include
a visit to Pickering Creek Audubon Sanctuary in Talbot County, which is
at the intersection of Sharp Road and Presquile Road and Todd's Corner
Road about 6 miles north-northwest of Easton.

Here is how to bird that place. (I have led birding groups there many
times.)  Start at the intersection of Todd's Corner and Presquile Road,
and turn left.  The property, including wetland ponds, is on your right,
and a row of mature pines is on your left.  Bird along that road,
pulling onto the shoulder whenever you stop, for the road does carry
some traffic, though not great amounts.  On the left listen for Pine
Warblers and Sparrows, including possibly a Chipping Sparrow.  Song
Sparrows will be on your right, at the edge of the marsh grasses, and
you might find a Swamp Sparrow there.  The big attraction is the
waterfowl on these fresh-water wetland ponds.  (There are not great
numbers of such ponds in Talbot County, so the birds on these can be
special.)  Bird all the ponds from 
the roadside, and save your greatest
amount of time for birding the one that is farthest to the west along
that road.  Watch for the big pond, and stop along Presquile Road before
you come to the pond berm.  The berm hides the birds, but if you stop to
look before getting beyond the berm you can see the birds that are
present on the pond surface and around the edges.  Six to ten species of
ducks are not unusual for that site.

When done with that area, turn back toward Todd's Corner, but stay to
the left where Presquile Road changes into Sharp Road and you will see
the sign for Pickering Creek.  The place is open from dawn to dusk for
the general public, and you are welcome to just go on in and start
birding.

The entrance driveway often has several species of sparrows - Song,
White-throated, Savannah and occasionally Field.  But since the driveway
is so narrow it is best to go to the end and park and walk back if you
plan to squeeze out the ID of many of the sparrows.

From the parking lot you will be facing an open field with a barn on
your left and a small woodland on your right.  There is a nice
fresh-water pond beyond that woodland on your right, and a very good
trail around it.  Take that trail, but check out the pond first.  Wood
Ducks are likely to be in the stream that feeds the pond.  Many other
species of the forest edges can be found along the loop trail around
that woodland.

After circling the pond and woodland, cross the pond dam again and turn
to the right on a trail that takes you into the woods on that side. 
Follow that trail as it crosses a marsh via a boardwalk.  This is the
best place for Swamp Sparrows on these grounds.  Quite a few other
woodland species can also be found here.  Follow the path to the left to
make a loop of the grassy field, and return to your car using the stone
surfaced road.
Watch for birds all along the way, including in the region of the herb
garden and the trees behind it.

You are not yet done with Pickering Creek.  Take your car and drive
down that stone surfaced road until you come to a place where there are
a few cars parked, and a driveway going to the left.  Take that driveway
- pass a couple of office buildings, and you will find that the road
between those buildings leads to another parking lot.  Park there.  This
lets you bird the waters of Pickering Creek, using the nice wooden pier
and viewing platform.  Next, go to the far end of the parking lot where
you will find the head of another trail.  Take it, and veer to the left
every chance that you get.  This will lead you through the closest thing
that Talbot County has in the way of Old Growth Forest. This 30-acre
plot will have Pileated and other woodpeckers, and also most of the
other woodland birds of the county.  You will come out on the entrance
road, so just use that to get back to your car.  As you leave, watch for
birds in the fields and in the shrubbery beside the road all the way
back to Sharp Road.  From then on, you are on your own.


NOTES ON WICOMICO COUNTY FROM CAROL BRODERICK:
One of my favorite spots is Roaring Point County Park off Nanticoke Rd.
At low tide there is a long spit for shorebirds. Also, when you turn
right to the park there is a road to the left that many people think
belongs to a campground.  At the end you can see to where the Nanticoke
goes into the Bay. This is a great spot for scoping; I've had Wilson's
Storm-Petrels, Gannets and Sandwich Tern.


NOTES ON SOMERSET COUNTY FROM JENNIFER ELMER:
Pocomoke Sound WMA 
Directions to Pocomoke sound WMA, coming south on Rt 13 about 1 mi
before Pocomoke City turn right onto Rt 667.  Stay on 667 till you reach
Coventry Parish Rd on your left. Turn onto Coventry Parish and continue
till you reach Rehobeth Rd on your right. Turn onto Rehobeth till you
see Shelltown Rd on your left next to a church.  Turn onto Shelltown and
continue till you see Back Shelltown Rd on the right. Turn onto Back
Shelltown and continue through many S turns till you reach a sharp left
bend with a 
dirt road continuing straight.  Drive straight on to the
dirt road watch out for pot holes turn left where strait and right are
gated. Continue on the road till you reach the parking lot and you are
there. It usually takes 3 to 4 hours to walk through and takes you
through many habitats witch give you a variety of birds. When your there
follow the tire tracks and mowed paths in fields left by the park
rangers.

NOTES ON WORCESTER COUNTY FROM JENNIFER ELMER:
Pocomoke Sand Pits
Directions:  To get to the sand pits from 113 you go into Pocomoke
city, cross Rt 13, turn right onto Market St. turn left on to Clark
Avenue and follow that road.  Clark will become Unionville Rd.  Keep
going straight on that road till you reach the church.  Then continue
across Sand Pit Rd until you see Blades Construction building on the
left. You then drive down the dirt road past the Blades construction
building and park on the side of the road and walk to the sand pit lake.
There's another road that I usually bird on and it’s called RiverView
Rd. and turns off Unionville Rd. This trip is best done on bicycles
because many of the birds I see are on the side of the roads with little
room to stop in a car. You will need to bring a scope on this trip for
when you are at the sand pits.