Perryman Park & Forest Greens Park Area (Perryman Peninsula)

Perryman Park & Forest Greens Park Area (Perryman Peninsula)

Perryman Park – 101 Ford’s Lane, Aberdeen, MD 21001
Forest Greens Park – 2050 Clubhouse Road, Aberdeen, MD 21001
(410) 638-3853

Located on the coastal plain in southern Harford County, the Perryman peninsula lies between the Chesapeake Bay and the Bush River. The majority of the peninsula is occupied by the U.S. Military’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds (restricted – no public access), but a small residential area at the northwest corner of the peninsula on the east shore of the Bush River holds three small community parks that are birding gems: Perryman Park (88 acres) and the nearby Forest Greens Park (110 acres) and Perryman Forest (31 acres). Perryman Park and Forest Greens Park are managed by the Harford County Parks and Recreation Department, while Perryman Forest is owned by the private Harford Land Trust. The land near the parks is a mix of suburban residential development, farms, and forests. Locations in this area offer  access to view the open water of the Bush River as well as the smaller Church Creek. Habitats include tidal marshland, ponds and impoundments, farm fields, and forest.

Perryman Park consists of gently-rolling hills, undeveloped woodland, brushy area, and wetlands, with a flat, ½ mile walking trail that circles a man-made wetland (an old dredged material containment facility). In addition, there is access to the waterfront along Church Creek, a tributary of the Bush River. There is a small gravel parking area at the entrance at 101 Ford’s Lane.  The majority of Perryman Park is undeveloped at this time.

The nearby Forest Greens Park, at 2050 Clubhouse Road, contains substantial woodlands and a tidal inlet and associated marshes. The man-made “flatwood” lake contains a year-round supply of wild celery, wild rice, duck weed, and elodea, all of which serve as food for waterfowl. The Forest Greens tract is managed by the County in partnership with the Harford Land Trust. The tract features a 1.5 mile natural surface nature trail through the forest conservation area. In addition, local residents have arranged with Harford County to close off Gulf Drive to vehicular traffic; the road, which runs south of the lake, is open to hikers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Perryman Forest, located at the intersection of Forest Greens Road and Mitchell Drive  and adjacent to Forests Greens Park, is a wooded tract with natural surface, unmarked foot-trails. The tidal and non-tidal wetlands on the site are hydrologically connected to the Bush River and subsequently to the Chesapeake Bay. Perryman Forest was acquired by the Harford Land Trust in 2018 after a campaign to raise the purchase price of almost $1 million dollars, most of which was contributed by Aberdeen Proving Grounds, and the remainder by members of the community. In fact, the preservation of Perryman Forest had long been a dream of the surrounding community, which had been working toward its preservation for many years. Perryman Forest is characterized by upland forest and wetlands, also known as “tree swamps,” and vernal pools. This type of ecosystem is only found in the Coastal Plain portion of Harford County, and is of limited occurrence.

In addition to birding the parks, it is also worth doing some birding along the roadsides in the area. For example, fields along MD Route 159 (Perryman Road) may hold Horned Larks and American Woodcock, along with migrating plovers and shorebirds, especially when wet weather has produced puddles. Canning House Road is also a good place to check. Early summer and spring have produced rare vagrants (e.g., Ruff) in wet fields and impoundments  on the peninsula.

Another good nearby spot for shorebirds and waders are the stormwater retention ponds in the Eastgate industrial park on Woodley Road (see Directions below). The industrial park is still under construction, and the location and topography of the accompanying stormwater ponds may change over time. Currently, there are three or four ponds located on the northwest side of Woodley Road (left side as you drive north). Be extremely cautious here because of heavy construction equipment as well as tractor trailers coming to the businesses. The Woodley Road ponds were a hotspot of shorebird activity in the summer of 2019, when a couple of rarities turned up.

Birdlife: