At a Glance
Access is limited. See “How to Visit.”
Dates and Hours:
- Dates vary for official birding tours to Hart-Miller; these may be offered throughout the year. Tours are usually 8 am to 1 pm. Check DMMP website for dates and times and to register for a seat.
- Public Day Use, State Park Beach Area: 8 am – sunset. Only the beach area of State Park is open year-round for day use.
- Public access to South Cell trails: open Thursday through Monday, 8 am – 5 pm from May 1st – September 30th.
- Camping available May 1st – September 30th.
Cost: Official birding tours are free. State Park day-use is also free; fee for overnight camping.
Birding Tour Schedule and Reservations: see the Maryland Port Administration Birding website.
Tips: Bring scope, sunscreen, hat & other protective clothing. Bring all the food & drinks you will need in a backpack; even if the concession stand is open, it is not close to most of the birding area and offers limited choices. Especially in summer, bring ample water – there is extremely limited shade and it gets very hot.
Best Seasons: The South Cell of the State Park is only open from May 1 through September 30 and only Thursday though Monday during that season.
Breeding Bird Atlas Blocks: Middle River SE, Gunpowder Neck SW, Sparrows Point NE, Swan Point NW
Local MOS Chapter: Baltimore Bird Club
Hart-Miller Island State Park
In the Chesapeake Bay off Rocky Point Beach and Park, Essex, MD 21221
(410) 592-2897
Hart-Miller Island: you will either love it or hate it. Birders who know the island well find it a source of never-ending surprises, with ongoing habitat changes and rare birds tucked into hidden corners. Others come to the island and see only mud, water, and gravel roads, and dread a long walk around the perimeter.
In truth, Hart-Miller Island is one of the top three eBird hotspots in all of Maryland, with 306+ species reported on eBird as of spring 2025, and 311 species on the official list maintained by the Maryland Ornithological Society (click here for the official checklist). With its placement in the upper Chesapeake Bay, at the mouths of Back River and Middle River in southeastern Baltimore County, Hart-Miller Island is well-positioned to host fall and spring migrating birds as well as summer breeders and overwintering birds. As an island, Hart-Miller has limited access for birding, but no guide to birding spots in Maryland would be complete without it.
The present day Hart-Miller Island is mostly a man-made island, constructed with dredged material. Originally, Hart and Miller Islands, along with nearby Pleasure Island, were a chain of small islands historically used for duck hunting. But in the 20th century, the islands were eroding away, and their placement near the main shipping channel for the Port of Baltimore inspired an ambitious plan to connect and stabilize Hart and Miller Islands with a man-made dike, creating two impoundments to receive material dredged from the shipping channels that lead to the Port. The project is a partnership between the Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Environmental Service, and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The island is owned by the State of Maryland and the public parts are managed by the State Park service.
The main part of construction of Hart-Miller Island took place from 1981 through 2009. First, a 100-acre sandy beach was constructed between Hart and Miller Islands, and this beach eventually became the nucleus of the State Park. Dike construction started in 1981; dredged material placement began in 1984 and ended in 2009.
The dredged material is what makes Hart-Miller Island a birding destination: when fresh, the material dredged from the bottom of the shipping channels is teeming with invertebrates and other small organisms that provide food and attract shorebirds, gulls and terns, waders, and other species. Essentially the island became like a giant buffet table for birds. Though fresh dredged material is no longer being placed on the island (the cells are now full to the brim), the dredged material remains a source of food for a wide variety of birds and other wildlife throughout the year.
Today, the 1,140-acre island is shaped like a figure-eight: the large North Cell (not yet open to the public) occupies about 800 acres and the South Cell occupies about 300 acres. The two cells are divided by a cross-dike, and each is circled by an outer dike. There are gravel roads at the tops of the dikes and also at varying heights along the steep sides of the dikes. The cells are filled with dredged material and a varying amount of water as well as vegetation. There are a couple of small but deep pits where soil has been removed for various projects, and these “borrow pits,” as they are known, are attractive to certain birds. The remnants of the original Hart and Miller Islands, accounting for a little over 200 acres, are on the northwestern and southwestern corners of the present-day island, and support two small stands of trees separated by a marsh and the sandy beach. At this time (spring 2024), the South Cell is essentially complete but management of the dredged material and creation of habitat in the North Cell continues. The North Cell is closed to the public except during guided tours.
The public State Park portion of the island consists of the headquarters area at the sandy beach on the island’s northwest shore, an adjoining woodland and marsh, and the South Cell. State Park visitors must provide their own boats; there are no public ferries or shuttle services. See “How to Visit” below for more information and other options.
The headquarters area of the State Park includes restrooms, a short boardwalk, and an observation tower. Unfortunately, the observation tower no longer provides a view out over the dredged material cells because after the tower was built, the dike was raised above the level of the tower. The tower is still a good place to observe a portion of the Island, and it provides an attractive nesting place for Ospreys.
At the headquarters area, there is also a primitive camping area, concession stand, and restrooms that are open May 1 through September 30. The beach itself is open to day visitors year-round, but no amenities are available out of season.
The South Cell is open to the public for visitation from May 1 through September 30, Thursdays through Mondays from 8 am to 5 pm. The State Park has loaner binoculars and rents bicycles that can be used to ride around the South Cell, or the South Cell can be explored on foot. The distance around the perimeter of the South Cell is about 2.7 to 3.0 miles, depending on the exact route chosen..
The rim of the South Cell, which received dredged material from 1984 through 1990, has been extensively vegetated, and a nature trail with interpretive signage winds along the perimeter. The South Cell is a good place to view waterfowl and gulls in winter, and terns, waders and shorebirds in spring, summer, and fall. The dike and nature trail allow viewing of an extensive grassland area(blackbirds, Bobolinks, meadowlarks, sparrows) as well as the open waters of the South Cell and the surrounding Chesapeake Bay (diving ducks, loons, and grebes in winter). There is also a short trail through the woodland that borders the State Park’s sandy beach, leading to an observation platform looking out over a natural marshland (good spot to try for rails). There is a small pine woods on the remnant of old Hart Island, and these woods provide habitat for some songbirds that are not found on the rest of the island, such as Pine Warblers.
The distance around the perimeter of the much larger North Cell is about 4.4 miles. The North Cell is only open to birders on scheduled bird tours, during which birders are transported by bus, with frequent stops to get off the bus to look at birds at prime locations. The interior of the North Cell is filled with a mix of mud and open water and is largely covered by phragmites, the tall non-native and invasive reeds that have become a dominant plant species in most of the Chesapeake Bay region. There is more diverse native vegetation along the outer edges of the dikes that form boundary of the North Cell; some of this vegetation was intentionally planted to establish beneficial habitat on the island. Both the interior of the North Cell and its external borders can hold good birds, as well as insects including dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies and moths. Depending on season, look for gulls, terns, shorebirds, and waders within the North Cell, and a selection of songbirds outside the dike.
Important safety note: Always stay on the gravel roads on the dikes or on designated foot-trails. Do not, under any circumstances, ever enter the interior of either the South Cell or the North Cell or any of the smaller ponds or borrow pits. The muddy bottom is like quicksand and you can quickly become stuck. Also, there may be heavy machinery at work, particularly in the North Cell, and workers may be traveling the dike roads in trucks. They may not be able to see you, but you should keep an eye out for them and stay out of their way.
How to Visit:
There are two ways for birders to get to Hart-Miller Island: Free public birding tours sponsored by the Maryland Port Administration or visiting the State park by private boat.
1) Public birding tours conducted by the Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) of the Maryland Port Administration.
The Maryland Port Administration offers free birding tours of Hart-Miller Island, and as of spring 2024, has developed a lottery system to distribute seats on the tours. Tour dates are announced about one month in advance on the Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) website and birders may register for seats through the lottery; each birder can request seats for up to three additional people (four seats total). There is no cost for the tours; they are offered as a public service by the Maryland Port Administration.
Notice that the DMMP website also includes information about tours at other Maryland Port Administration dredged material sites, namely Poplar Island, Masonville Cove, and Cox Creek. Scroll through the webpage to find the Hart-Miller information; specific tour dates are listed in chronological order near the bottom of the page, with a link for more information and registration.
Birders can request to be added to a mailing list to receive advance notification of the public tour dates as they are scheduled; send an email to birdingtours@menv.com with the subject line “Add me to mailing list.”
Generally, the boat to Hart-Miller Island departs the mainland at 8 or 9 am and returns to the mainland at 1 pm, but some tours may run at other times, so check the details carefully if you receive confirmation that you have a seat on a tour. Most tours leave from the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) Landbase dock at 2024A Riverview Rd, Essex, MD 21221. There is a small gravel parking lot at the dock and a portable restroom. Often, the birding is quite good at the parking area, so you might want to consider arriving extra early to start your bird list for the day. Occasionally, birding tours may leave from other mainland locations; this will be specified in the email confirmation of your tour reservation.
The Hart-Miller birding tours include the boat ride to and from the island and a bus trip (air-conditioned!) around the North and South Cells, with frequent stops to get off the bus and look at birds. Each tour is limited to about 18 birders because of the capacity of the boat and bus. A birding guide accompanies the group. The tour may also include walking along the State Park beach (sandy surface) and woodland trail (dirt surface), as well as portion of the nature trail along the South Cell rim and short portions of the dikes. Be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces. It is required that birders wear closed-toed shoes for safety reasons, and must agree to abide by other guidelines as described on the DMMP website.
Birders should bring spotting scopes, binoculars, water, bagged lunch or snacks, cameras, and sun and bug protection. Hats are essential – there is little shade. The tour does not include a lunch break but there is time to eat while on the bus. Restrooms are available on the island and at the mainland dock area.
The boat and bus are not handicapped-accessible. Participants must be able to board the boat, which involves climbing a few steps and stepping across a small gap from the dock to the boat. Someone will be standing by to help you board. Boarding the bus also involves climbing steps. Participants must also be able to walk on unpaved roads with rock, gravel, or mud, with the potential of crossing shallow water or puddles.
High visibility vests (provided by the Maryland Port Administration) must be worn at all times, both inside and outside of the bus. On the boat, all participants are required to wear a life jacket, which will be provided.
Smoking, drugs, alcohol, and weapons are prohibited and pets are not allowed.
Tours run rain or shine but may be canceled in the event of severe weather. Please note that the island weather can be more severe than on the mainland, is unpredictable, and can change quickly. The boat cannot travel to the island in severe weather, or if there is ice on the water. If inclement weather is predicted for the day of your tour, plan to check your email before leaving the house to travel to the dock, in case of cancellation. Plan to arrive at the dock at least 15 minutes before scheduled boat departure in the morning.
The lottery system for awarding birding tour seats is evolving and is subject to change.
2) Visiting the State Park by private boat.
Birders with private boats have limited access to Hart-Miller Island at the State Park beach area and the South Cell, which is open for public birding Thursday through Monday from 8 am – 5 pm beginning May 1st and ending September 30th. Be aware that your access on the island will be limited to birding around the South Cell, the woodland adjacent to the State Park beach, and the beach itself. There is no access to the North Cell for those who arrive by private boat. Private boats can moor off the State Park beach and birders can wade ashore from there. There is no boat dock available for private boats, so wading ashore is the only option.
After wading ashore, birders may take the trail through the woodland that adjoins the State Park beach; this trail ends at a raised wooden platform that provides a good view of a large marshland. This is a good spot to check for rails and other marsh birds. Birders can also walk up from the beach area to reach the trails around the South Cell or may rent a bike to ride the trails. The South Cell trails, bike rentals, and concession purchases are unavailable Tuesdays, Wednesdays and during inclement weather during the May to September season.
The nearest public boat launch is at Rocky Point Park, owned by Baltimore County. It may be possible to rent a boat from a marina near Middle River or in the Miller’s Island residential community. Or, the Carefree Boat Club (private club with membership fee) on Middle River offers unlimited boat usage to members.
Some might wonder if it is possible to kayak or canoe to Hart-Miller Island. For those with a high level of skill and experience and their own canoe or kayak, the nearest canoe or kayak launch site is at Rocky Point Park; there is no soft launch, only concrete boat ramps. The paddling distance varies from 1.6 to 1.9 miles depending on which boat ramp is used at Rocky Point, and the route and distance will also depend on water and wind conditions. A private club that previously rented kayaks near Hart-Miller Island would only allow highly experienced customers to make the crossing to Hart-Miller. Many would say this paddling trip should only be done in a group for safety. The route is across open water with strong currents, no shelter from wind, and heavy boat traffic. Also recognize that taking a scope by canoe or kayak is difficult and with one flip, your optics could end up on the bottom of the Bay. For these reasons, MOS does not recommend paddling to the island.
Birdlife:
Over 300 species have been reported on the eBird hotspot for Hart-Miller Island, but the official checklist maintained by the Maryland Ornithological Society lists 311 species, as of November 2021. There is a separate eBird hotspot (MES Landbase–Back River) for the mainland dock where the boat trip to Hart-Miller starts and ends; this hotspot lists 145+ species.
Hart-Miller is best known for its vast assemblages of shorebirds during migration, with an astonishing 41 species reported on eBird. Breeding shorebirds have included Black-necked Stilt, Killdeer, and Spotted Sandpiper. Migrating shorebirds that are rarities or hard to find in Maryland can almost be expected on Hart-Miller; these include Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Marbled Godwit, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and Wilson’s Phalarope. However, it must be said that the shorebird numbers are not as large as in the past: during the years when fresh dredged material was being deposited at Hart-Miller, shorebird flocks could number in the thousands, but nowadays, expect little groups of 20 to 100 birds scattered around the island.
Hart-Miller is also frequented by large flocks of gulls and terns, with 24 species reported. Notable rarities for the area have included Black-legged Kittiwake and Black-headed, Little, Franklin’s, California, Iceland, and Glaucous Gulls; Gull-billed, Black, Roseate, Arctic, and Sandwich Terns, as well as Black Skimmer. Lesser Black-backed Gulls are reliably found from May through October.
The island is a prime overwintering spot for waterfowl, with 33 species reported on eBird, comprising almost all of the ducks, geese, and swans that regularly occur in eastern Maryland. Only Harlequin Duck and the eiders have not yet appeared at Hart-Miller. In 2021, a pair of Trumpeter Swans nested in Hart-Miller’s South Cell and fledged young; they have continued breeding at Hart-Miller to date.
All four regular grebes (Pied-billed, Horned, Eared, and Red-necked) can be found in appropriate seasons, with Pied-billed breeding on the island. Both Common and Red-throated Loons can be found in the offshore waters, mostly from fall through spring. Both American White Pelican and Brown Pelican occasionally turn up and are becoming more frequent.
Among rails, Virginia Rail, Sora, and, in recent years, Common Gallinule, breed on the island. If you are interested in herons, Great Blue Heron (year-round), Great Egret (April-October), and Snowy Egret (April-October) are easily seen; Black-crowned Night-Heron and Green Heron are also common; Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and Cattle Egret are less common but possible. Least Bittern, more often heard than seen, formerly bred on the island in large numbers, but with recent changes in habitat, their numbers may be reduced. American Bittern is sometimes found during migration. There have been rare flyovers of Roseate Spoonbill.
A single Wild Turkey showed up on the island in spring of 2023 and has persisted for at least a year. The distance from the island to the mainland is about the limit of what Wild Turkeys are able to fly, so that bird may be a loner for quite a while.
Rock Pigeons are not as common as you might think, but are sporadically reported, especially from the Administration Building area on the side of the island facing the open Bay. Mourning Doves are numerous, and there is one fall record of White-winged Dove. Yellow-billed Cuckoos are commonly seen during the warm months, and Black-billed shows up occasionally. Common Nighthawks are only rarely reported in the spring. Chimney Swifts are overhead from early April through October, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are often see in the vegetation surrounding the cells from late April through September,
A good set of raptors turns up at Hart-Miller. Osprey and Bald Eagle are breeders and are easily seen. Northern Harrier is also regular from August through May. Other regular raptors include Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed Hawks. Great Horned Owl has nested on the island; Short-eared Owl overwinters; and Snowy Owl is almost regular in winter, at least during irruption years. A pair of Peregrine Falcons nest on the nearby Craighill Channel Light, and often are seen, sometimes in extreme close-up views, chasing shorebirds and scattering the flocks. Merlin and American Kestrel are also easy to see.
The island is a great place to observe swallows, especially during migration, when there can be large flocks hunting over the impoundments. All of the expected Maryland swallows have been seen, including Cave and Cliff. As of 2022, it appears that a colony of Bank Swallows may beg attempting to nest in gravel and sand mounds.
The small woodlands hold a surprising variety of passerines, including the usual flycatchers, vireos, and other small birds. House Wren, Marsh Wren, and Carolina Wren all breed in numbers, and Winter Wren overwinters. Both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets are common fall through spring. Wood Thrush and American Robin breed on the island, Hermit Thrush overwinters, and Swainson’s, Gray-cheeked, Bicknell’s, and Veery might be found during migration.
The grassland areas of the South Cell can be good for field birds, including American Pipit, Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, Bobolink, and Eastern Meadowlark. About twenty species of sparrows have been reported; specialties include “Coastal Plain” Swamp Sparrow, which has bred on the island and is found year-round, and Savannah Sparrow, present in large numbers from fall through spring. Yellow-breasted Chat occasionally shows up from May through September, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds have been found during fall migration, along with the ever-present and numerous Red-Winged Blackbirds.
Thirty-four species of warblers have been reported, mostly migrants, but Common Yellowthroat and Yellow Warbler breed on the island, while Yellow-rumped overwinters in good numbers. Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting are two more breeders on the island, easily seen from May through September.
Wheelchair Access:
Hart-Miller Island is not accessible to wheelchairs.
Pet Policy:
Pets are not permitted on MES birding tours. For people arriving in their own boats, pets on leash are permitted in the State Park.
Special Designations:
The entire island has been designated by the National Audubon Society as the Hart-Miller Island Important Bird Area.
The Northwest shoreline of Hart-Miller Island, including the remnants of Hart and Miller Islands and the State Park beach, lie within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area; special laws regulate what kind of development can take place within the Critical Area.
Special Features:
An interesting history of Hart-Miller Island, written by DNR Seasonal Ranger Molly Hoopes, can be found in the MD DNR newsletter “Gunpowder Currents,” Fall-Winter 2016. ◾ For the official Maryland Ornithological Society checklist for Hart-Miller Island, click here. ◾ The State Park offers a seasonal (May 1 through September 30) concession stand, bicycle rental, picnic area, loaner binoculars and field guides, and primitive campsites. The island is popular for boating, fishing, offshore swimming, and waterfowl hunting. There are also a few primitive campsites on nearby Pleasure Island, which is part of the State Park.
Local MOS Chapter
The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Baltimore Bird Club, which offers field trips and meetings with speaker presentations, free and open to the public. The Baltimore Bird Club is the founding chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, and remains an important hub of birding activity in the state.
Multimedia:
The Maryland Department of Natural History has posted two short YouTube videos in their “Virtual Ranger” series:
Both videos will give you a sense of the habitats and conditions on the island.
Parking:
No cars on the island.
If taking an official birding tour offered by the Maryland Port Administration, parking is available in a gravel lot at the boat dock located at 2024A Riverview Rd, Essex, MD 21221. Note that this is a private lot and boat dock and there is no public parking here. If you park here and are not on an official tour, your car is subject to towing.
If taking a private boat to the island, check with the boat launch facility or marina for parking.
Directions to the MES Landbase mainland boat dock for official tours:
Hart-Miller Island is located off Rocky Point Beach and Park in Essex, MD. The boat dock is located at 2024A Riverview Rd, Essex, MD 21221.
From the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) on the east side of the City: take Exit 36 onto MD Route 702 South/Southeast Boulevard, in the direction of Essex. In 3.3 miles, at a traffic circle, go halfway around the circle to continue on Southeast Boulevard/Rte 702. In about 0.7 miles, just past an intersection with Turkey Point Road, Back River Neck Road willl merge with the road you are on and the name you are following will change to Back River Neck Road; continue straight ahead in a southeast direction. In another 2.1 miles, turn left (west) onto Wildwood Beach Road. Go straight for 0.7 miles, then turn left go southeast on Riverview Road. The driveway to the MES Landbase boat dock and parking area is the first gravel road on the right. Beyond that, you will see a row of private homes. This is not a public parking area; parking here is only permitted for those on the tours.
Note that occasionally, the birding tours leave from another location. Use the directions provided in the email you receive to conform your reservation on the birding tour.
Nearby Sites:
Baltimore City: Cylburn Arboretum ◾ Druid Hill Park ◾ Fort McHenry National Monument ◾ Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center ◾ Patterson Park
Baltimore County: Cromwell Valley Park ◾ Fort Howard Park ◾ Gunpowder Falls State Park – Hammerman Area & Dundee Creek Marina ◾ Holt Park ◾ Irvine Nature Center ◾ Lake Roland ◾Liberty Reservoir Cooperative Wildlife Management Area – Baltimore County ◾ Loch Raven Reservoir Cooperative Wildlife Management Area ◾ Marshy Point Nature Center ◾ Milford Mill aka Villa Nova Park ◾ North Point State Park ◾ Northern Central Rail Trail (NCRT) ◾ Oregon Ridge Park ◾ Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area
Anne Arundel County: Downs Memorial Park ◾ Fort Smallwood Park ◾ Swan Creek Wetlands | Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility
Habitats:
ConifersUpland Deciduous Forests Dredged Material Containment FacilityReclaimed Industrial Site Old Fields, Shrubby MeadowsSandy Beach or Dunes Forested SwampFreshwater Marsh or FloodplainJetties & SeawallsMud Flats (Tidal or Non-Tidal)Open Ocean, Bay, or Estuary
Features:
Bicycle Trails (Bikes may be prohibited on some trails)CampingFishingFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimeHabitat Restoration ProjectHiking/Walking TrailsNative Plant Garden or Meadow/Pollinator PlantsObservation Platform or TowerPets AllowedPicnic AreaRestroomsSnack Bar, Camp Store, Food ConcessionsSwimmingWater ViewType:
#1 Hotspot in County or CityAudubon Important Bird AreasChesapeake Bay Western ShoreState ParksThe Rivers of the Western Shore