Robbins MOS Sanctuary at Red Run

February 23, 2021/in Bottomland Deciduous, Conifers, Features, Forested Swamp, Forests & Woodlands, Free - No Entry Fee at Any Time, Freshwater Marsh or Floodplain, Garrett County, Habitats, Hiking/Walking Trails, MOS Sanctuaries, Parking, Pets Allowed, Rivers & Streams, The Western Region, Type, Upland Deciduous, Wetlands/by Marcia Watson

Caroline W. Wilson MOS Sanctuary

February 16, 2021/in Bottomland Deciduous, Conifers, Features, Forests & Woodlands, Free - No Entry Fee at Any Time, Freshwater Marsh or Floodplain, Garrett County, Habitats, Hiking/Walking Trails, MOS Sanctuaries, Pets Allowed, Rivers & Streams, The Western Region, Upland Deciduous, Wetlands/by Marcia Watson

Youghiogheny River Reservoir

December 17, 2019/in Audubon Important Bird Areas, Ball Fields or Other Sports, Boat or Canoe/Kayak Launch, Bottomland Deciduous, Camping, Community and Urban Parks, Conifers, Features, Fishing, Forested Swamp, Forests & Woodlands, Free - No Entry Fee at Any Time, Freshwater Marsh or Floodplain, Freshwater Pond, Lake, or Reservoir, Garden or Arboretum, Garrett County, Habitats, Hiking/Walking Trails, Lawn, Ballfields, Golf Course, Mud Flats (Tidal or Non-Tidal), Parking, Pets Allowed, Picnic Area, Playground, Ponds, Lakes, and Reservoirs, Restrooms, Rivers & Streams, The Western Region, Type, Upland Deciduous, US Army Corp or BLM, Water View, Wetlands/by Marcia Watson

The Youghiogheny River Reservoir (aka Youghiogheny River Lake) straddles the Pennsylvania – Maryland border, starting just north of Friendsville, MD in western Garrett County. The entire reservoir covers approximately 2800 acres, spanning 16 miles with 38 miles of shoreline. The reservoir was created in 1944 by damming the northward-flowing Youghiogheny River for the purpose of flood control and hydroelectric power; the dam itself is located in Confluence, PA. The dam, reservoir, and the immediate shoreline are owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers; fishing and other recreation are managed jointly by the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland with the Army Corps. Habitats include shallow and deep waters; deciduous and coniferous woodlots along the shores; rocky embankments on the shores; sunken trees and snags; and shallow vegetated flats that provide excellent habitat. Water level fluctuations, depending on annual rainfall, are extreme, especially in fall, when the water levels are often drawn down. Water flowing through the dam is managed to provide electric power as well as to provide white water rafting and other recreational opportunities downstream of the dam and to maintain optimal water temperatures for fish spawning in the river. There are numerous access points for birding the reservoir from the shore.

Swallow Falls State Park

September 26, 2019/in Audubon Important Bird Areas, Beginners, Bicycle Trails (Bikes may be prohibited on some trails), Birding By Car, Bottomland Deciduous, Camping, Conifers, Driving Tour (Roadside Birding), Features, Fishing, Forests & Woodlands, Freshwater Marsh or Floodplain, Garrett County, Habitats, Hay Meadows, Pasture, Grass Field, Hedgerows, Hiking/Walking Trails, Human Habitats, Lawn, Ballfields, Golf Course, Open Habitats, Overnight Lodging or Cabins, Parking, Pets Allowed, Picnic Area, Restrooms, Rivers & Streams, State Natural Areas & Wildlands, State Parks, The Western Region, Type, Upland Deciduous, Water View, Wetlands, Young People / Families/by MarylandBirds

Swallow Falls State Park is located in the mountains nine miles north of Oakland, Maryland and contains some of Maryland’s most picturesque scenery. The park features three of Maryland’s most spectacular waterfalls along a 1 ¼-mile trail through old-growth hemlock forest – the last large hemlock forest in the State. The Youghiogheny River and several of its tributaries converge in the park. At nearly 60 feet tall, Muddy Creek Falls, a highlight on the park’s main trail, is Maryland’s tallest free-falling waterfall. The park’s rivers and streams pass through shaded rocky gorges and feature rippling rapids and white water. With 257 acres, the park is compact enough to allow thorough birding coverage, but be aware that some of the trails are hilly and can be muddy and slippery after rain. The park also features camping, fishing, and picnic areas. The trails at Swallow Falls weave through a 40-acre grove of old-growth hemlocks. Managed as a sensitive area, the dense woodlands in the park provide ample cover for forest interior birds like Blue-headed Vireos, Hermit and Wood Thrushes and various warblers. Because of the parks’s habitats and location in the mountains, the breeding birds at Swallow Falls include many that are known only as winter visitors or migrants in other parts of the state. The list of breeding warblers is especially impressive (see below). In addition to birding on foot using the park’s trails, it is also possible to bird by car from Maple Glade Road, which runs through the park. Broad shoulders allow for quick pull-overs on this little-traveled road.