OK, I'll bite. I'm posting this to the list in case there are some folks who might like to bird St. Mary's but haven't tried it yet.

First and foremost should be Pt. Lookout State Park. That's like a mini-Cape May and can have impressive numbers of individuals or species. Probably one of the best places for rarities. Places to bird at PLSP are:

at the point itself
the ponds near the point, if you can see through the phrags
the picnic area
the trails near the fort
in winter, the fishing pier
the Periwinkle Trail behind the museum, as well as the campground - best place for Brown-headed Nuthatch

Cornfield Harbor - drive down Cornfield Harbor Rd. then turn left through the white concrete pylons. The area near the wooden bridge is often good for rails and herons/egrets. Pines on the north side often have BHNUs.

St. Mary's River State Park - there are two sections, the lake and the wildland. At the lake, you may find a nice assortment of swallows and a walk around parts of the lake will yield many migrants. Often lots of people though which is a drawback. The wildland section is accessed off of Indian Bridge Rd. When you come up Indian Bridge from Rt. 5 you will come up a hill from the flood plain and on the right is a hunter parking lot. If you get to Onion Fields Rd. you've gone past it. Park and walk to the back left corner of the lot to a trail that leads to an old road which winds down to the creek and deep into the woods. Where the trail starts to drop down, that's a great place to look into the canopy. Great place for FIDS and migrants. Hooded, Kentucky and Louisiana Waterthrush nest here.

Myrtle Point Park - stay away from the water where there are lots of people. The trails that run to the river to the north side of the picnic area are usually empty. Lots of Prairie Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats here. If you're still around this area near dark, between Iris Lane and Mill Cove Rd. is a created wetland. Great place for Am. Woodcocks. You can usually hear Barred Owls and Chuck-will's-widow there.

Airport Rd. - this is the road by the Outback Steakhouse. Drive to the end and there's a slash area where you can get Prairie Warblers and Chats. If you're lucky, after dusk, you can hear Chuck's to the left as you face away from the runway, and Whips to the right. If they haven't mowed the field on the 235 side of the runway, there are usually Grasshopper Sparrows in the grass. Sometimes Horned Larks. Field Sparrows were singing there yesterday. Drive around the back of the shopping center and check out the drainage pond. Good place for Wood Ducks, Green Herons, White-eyed Vireo, Orchard Oriole. N. Rough-winged Swallows nest in holes in the block walls and can usually be seen loafing on TV antennae there.

Beauvue Ponds near Leonardtown are probably past prime for waterfowl diversity. Go down Rt. 4 toward Leonardtown, turn left on Fairgrounds Rd., straight across Rt. 5 at the light then right onto Breton Beach Rd. right on Abell's Wharf Rd. Pull well off onto the grass if possible. DON'T TRESPASS! E. Meadowlarks nest in the field across from the ponds. In winter, often the best place in the county for Short-eared Owl and N. Harrier and occasionally Rough-legged Hawk.

If you visit all of these location and bird them extensively, that'll take up a day, for sure! If you're looking for any particular species, let me know and I'll see if I can point you in the right direction.
 
Tyler Bell

California, Maryland 



----- Original Message ----
From: Tim Boucher <>
To: 
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 12:44:49 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] St Mary's County RFI

We are thinking of going to St. Mary's County next weekend - one of the many places in Maryland we haven't had a chance to get to. Would appreciate hearing opinions/experiences as to spring birding and good sites to visit.

Thanks.

Ellen Paul
Tim Boucher
Chevy Chase MD