Chesapeake Farms (formerly Remington Farms) & St. Paul’s Millpond

Chesapeake Farms (formerly Remington Farms) & St. Paul’s Millpond

7319 Remington Drive, Chestertown, MD 21620
(410) 778-8400

Chesapeake Farms, formerly known as Remington Farms, is a 3,300-acre agricultural research center located southwest of Chestertown in Kent County. The property is devoted to the development, evaluation, and demonstration of advanced agricultural practices and wildlife management techniques, which are designed to be environmentally sound, productive, economically viabl, and socially acceptable. Now owned by  Corteva Agriscience, a spinoff of Dow-DuPont, the farm was originally established by the owner of the Remington Gun Company and later was purchased by the DuPont Company. In 1997, DuPont donated a conservation easement on the property to protect it in perpetuity.

Chesapeake Farms offers vast swaths of deciduous and coniferous forests, agricultural fields, numerous man-made freshwater ponds and impoundments, extensive wetland habitat, extensive shrub-scrub habitat, and miles of hedgerows and vegetated field and pond borders. Some fields, hedgerows, and pond edges are planted with native pollinator plants. It is a privilege to bird here, in an environment free from traffic and other distractions. Chesapeake Farms consistently ranks #2 among eBird hotspots in Kent County, surpassed only by the nearby Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

Public access to Chesapeake Farms is provided through a self-guided auto tour route. You can use our map (orange box on this webpage), or pick up a printed brochure with information on the tour route stops at the farm office on Remington Drive off of Ricauds Branch Road, or access Corteva’s tour information. There are no public walking trails at Chesapeake Farms, and you must remain in your car at all times, in order to avoid disturbing wildlife, in particular the many waterfowl that inhabit the numerous ponds along the auto tour route. The auto tour is generally open during daylight hours from February 1 to October 10, but may be closed at times during that period because of road conditions or other factors. Call ahead to 410-778-8400 to check on the status of the tour route.

Birders who are familiar with Chesapeake Farms from past years should note that the impoundment across from the office on the main tract is no longer present; it has been replaced by a crop field that is labelled “Waterfowl Rest Area” on a sign for the Auto Tour. There is still a small wet depression that may or may not be visible, depending on crops.

While visiting Chesapeake Farms, you should stop in at St. Paul’s Church, which is east of the Chesapeake Farms office, at the intersection of Ricauds Branch Road and Sandy Bottom Road. From the churchyard, you can view St. Paul’s Millpond, which may hold waterfowl, shorebirds, or waders and is favored by swallows in summer. The churchyard at St. Paul’s contains many shrubs and trees and is a good place to look for sparrows.

A great way to visit Chesapeake Farms is to volunteer to help during the annual Lower Kent County Christmas Bird Count, which generally takes place on a Sunday in mid-December. The Lower Kent County Christmas Bird Count circle includes all of Chesapeake Farms, and permission is usually given to walk the property. See the map of Christmas Bird Count circles and zoom to the Lower Kent County Circle for information on participating.

Birdlife:

Over 225 species have been reported on eBird from the hotspot for Chesapeake Farms as a whole. There is a separate hotspot for the Chesapeake Farms Habitat (Auto) Tour, with 210+ species reported. The combined species count for the two Chesapeake Farms hotspots is 244+ species.

There is also a separate eBird hotspot for the nearby St. Paul’s Millpond, with 177+ species reported.

Chesapeake Farms is probably best known for its waterfowl, with at least 30 species reported. Another attraction at Chesapeake Farms are the shorebirds that use the ponds and impoundments, primarily during spring and fall migration; at least 29 species have been reported. The ponds also provide good habitat for wading birds: Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Little Blue Heron, Western Cattle-Egret, and Glossy Ibis are all regular. White Ibis is becoming more frequent, particularly during dispersal in July and August. American Bittern and Least Bittern are less regularly observed but are present. Listen for them.

Although Northern Bobwhite previously bred at Chesapeake Farms and indeed were easy to see, they no longer breed here and are not regularly seen.

Ospreys and Bald Eagles nest at Chesapeake Farms, and are numerous and easy to see. Golden Eagle is a rare visitor during winter and early spring. Northern Harrier is present from fall through spring. Other hawks include Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed. Rough-legged is a rare visitor some winters. American Kestrel, Merlin, and Peregrine Falcon are also found on the farm.

In spring, summer, and fall, the woods and hedgerows hold a selection of migrating or breeding flycatchers and vireos. At least 16 species of sparrows have been reported at Chesapeake Farms, including wintering species such as White-throated, White-crowned, Savannah, and Swamp, and breeders such as Grasshopper, Chipping, and Field. A Golden-Crowned Sparrow, a great rarity for Maryland, created a sensation in the winter of 2010-2011.

Other specialty species at Chesapeake Farms include Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, and Yellow-breasted Chat. Horned Larks may be found in the agricultural fields year-round, and American Pipits may be present from winter through early spring.

Reports include at least 31 species of warblers, mostly during migration, but Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Prairie Warbler all breed at Chesapeake Farms. Both Summer and Scarlet Tanagers also breed here, as well as Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak, both of which are numerous

Wheelchair Access: 

Since Chesapeake Farms is visited via an auto tour and there are no walking trails, this is a great place to visit for those who are mobility-impaired: birding from the car is the norm. There are no restrooms.

Pet Policy:

Pets must be kept in the car at all times. No exceptions.

Special Features:

• The entirety of Chesapeake Farms is protected in perpetuity through a conservation easement donated by the DuPont Company
• The nearby St. Paul’s Church is an Episcopal church serving a parish that was founded in 1692 and was one of the first parishes established in what became the United States. The church building dates back to 1713 and is the oldest continuously used Episcopal church building in Maryland; it is on the National Register of Historic Places. The graveyard holds the grave of the famous actress Talullah Bankhead, who died in 1968; her sister lived nearby.

Local MOS Chapter:

The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Kent County Bird Club, which offers field trips and meeting programs that are open to the public, free of charge.

Parking:

Roadside along the auto tour route. You must remain in your car. There are no walking trails.v

Directions:

From the Western Shore of Maryland: Go east over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge using US Route 50/US Route 301. Near Queenstown, US Route 50 and US Route 301 will split; bear left here to follow US 301 north. In 5.3 miles after the split, take the exit from Route 301 to go north on MD Route 213. Route 213 will bring you into Chestertown in about 18 miles. After crossing the bridge over the Chester River, turn left to go southwest on MD Route 289/Cross Street. In just 700 feet (two blocks), turn right onto High Street. In 1 mile, you will come to a traffic circle at the intersection of High Street, MD Route 291, and MD Route 20. Bear right around the traffic circle and take the second exit to proceed west on MD Route 20. In 8.1 miles, turn left to go east on Ricauds Branch Road. The entrance to the Chesapeake Farms office area and the beginning of the auto tour route will be on your right in 0.6 miles, at 7319 Remington Drive. Pick up a printed auto tour brochure at the office or follow the tour using directions online. To reach the remainder of the Auto Tour Route from the office area, turn around and return to Ricauds Branch Road, turn left and proceed west to the intersection with Route 20; turn left again and make a quick right into the gravel lane for the Auto Tour Route, marked by a blue sign on the roadside. Follow the signs or our map to follow the tour route. At the conclusion of the tour (Stop 14), you might be able to drive straight ahead to exit onto MD Route 21/Tolchester Beach Road, if the gate is open; turn right onto Route 21 to return to Route 20.

From points south on the Eastern Shore: Use US Route 50 to reach the Wye Mills area. Near Wye Mills, turn right to go north on MD Route 213/Centreville Road. Route 213 will bring you into Chestertown in about 18 miles. After crossing the bridge over the Chester River, turn left to go southwest on MD Route 289/Cross Street. In just 700 feet (two blocks), turn right onto High Street. In 1 mile, you will come to a traffic circle at the intersection of High Street, MD Route 291, and MD Route 20. Bear right around the traffic circle and take the second exit to proceed west on MD Route 20. In 8.1 miles, turn left to go east on Ricauds Branch Road. The entrance to the Chesapeake Farms office area and the beginning of the auto tour route will be on your right in 0.6 miles, at 7319 Remington Drive. Pick up a printed auto tour brochure at the office or follow the tour using directions online.

From points north on the Eastern Shore: Use MD Route 213 southbound to reach Chestertown. Approaching Chestertown, turn right to go southwest on MD Route 291/Morgnec Road. In 0.6 miles, at the traffic circle, take the first exit to go west on MD Route 20. In 8.1 miles, turn left to go east on Ricauds Branch Road. The entrance to the Chesapeake Farms office area and the beginning of the auto tour route will be on your right in 0.6 miles, at 7319 Remington Drive. Pick up a printed auto tour brochure at the office or follow the tour using directions online.

To reach the remainder of the Auto Tour Route from the farm office area: Turn around past the office and return to Ricauds Branch Road; turn left and proceed west to the intersection with Route 20; turn left again and make a quick right onto the gravel lane for the Auto Tour Route, marked by a blue sign on the roadside. Follow the signs or our map to follow the tour route. At the conclusion of the tour (Stop 14), you might be able to drive straight ahead to exit onto MD Route 21/Tolchester Beach Road, if the gate is open; turn right onto Route 21 to return to Route 20.  If the gate at Route 2 1 is closed, turn around and follow the Tour Route southward toward the Route 20 access where you went in.

Nearby Sites:

Queen Anne’s County: Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center – Horsehead ◾ Conquest Preserve ◾ Ferry Point Park ◾ Matapeake Clubhouse & Beach / Matapeake Fishing Pier & Boat Ramp ◾ Terrapin Nature Park ◾ Tuckahoe State Park (Queen Anne’s County) ◾ Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area

Habitats:

Bottomland Deciduous ForestsConifersHedgerows Agricultural Crop Fields or Fallow FieldsHay Meadows, Pasture, Grass FieldOld Fields, Shrubby Meadows Forested SwampFreshwater Marsh or FloodplainFreshwater Pond, Lake, or ReservoirMud Flats (Tidal or Non-Tidal)Rivers & Streams

Features:

BeginnersBirding By CarFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimeHabitat Restoration ProjectHuntingWater View

Type:

Driving Tour (Roadside Birding)Hunting AreasPonds, Lakes, and ReservoirsPrivate Sanctuaries and Preserves