Page 22 - 2023 flip book

BIRD WATCHING

in Mountain Maryland

As outdoor enthusiasts return to the mountainside’s The Finzel Swamp is home to uncommon
waters, trails and lands to their favorite recreational bird species such as Virginia Rails, Soras,
spots, they are cheerfully greeted with the familiar Ruffed Grouse, Barred Owls, and a few
sights and sounds of mother nature’s soothing flycatcher species. The best chance of
playlist - the bird song. spotting these elusive birds is to arrive in
the morning hours and listen for movement
In Allegany County, there are countless opportunities in the tall swamp grasses. If you are lucky,
for birdwatching, especially during migration seasons. you may be startled by the loud outburst
Aside from the popular feeder birds such as from a Virginia Rail calling nearby.
Northern Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees,
Allegany County offers an abundance of the more Dan's Rock, a popular overlook in the
overlooked bird species such as warblers, vireos, county, is perfect for witnessing the raptor
raptors, and waterfowl. migration. If you spend an hour or two
sitting at the overlook during peak
There are several ideal birding “hotspots” within the migration, you can spot Broad-winged
county on public land. One of the best places for Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Black Vultures,
birding is along the C&O Canal Towpath. The level and Common Ravens.
canal trail offers a variety of habitats from open water
to shrub thickets and forested areas, and the Potomac Green Ridge State Forest offers gorgeous
River regularly attracts waterfowl. It is an ideal spot to hiking trails and approximately one hundred
find birds such as Green Herons, Yellow-rumped bird species throughout the year. Visitors
Warblers, Rusty Blackbirds, Common Mergansers, and may stumble across ground birds such as
various hawk species. The C&O Canal serves as a Wild Turkeys, American Woodcocks,
corridor for migration and is a good spot for finding Brown Thrashers, Wood Thrushes,
swallows and migrating nighthawks. Ovenbirds, and various sparrow species.
Calling from the treetops are species such
Rocky Gap State Park is an excellent birding spot, as Warbling Vireos, Eastern Phoebes,
with more rare bird sightings here than any other Black-and-white Warblers, Northern Parulas,
location within the county. If you venture into the and Yellow-billed Cuckoos.
wooded trails at this park, you are likely to find the
noisy Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, White-throated Town Hill Overlook at the eastern end of
Sparrows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, the county may take the claim for best
and several woodpecker species. The park’s lake is hawkwatching site in Western Maryland.
an excellent location for waterfowl and shorebirds, Broad-winged hawks arrive in late
as there have even been large congregations of September with accipiters and falcons
Tundra Swans in November and March.

20 | 2023 Destination Guide