Salisbury Landfill & Naylor Mill Road Pond

Salisbury Landfill & Naylor Mill Road Pond

West Naylor Mill Road between US Route 50 Business and Brick Kiln Road, Salisbury MD 21801
GPS Coordinates: 38.394436, -75.631502

Why visit a landfill, you ask? Landfills, as any larophile can tell you, are one of the best spots to see large numbers of gulls, and large flocks are what you want when you are seeking rare gulls or simply want to see a diversity of local gulls, perhaps to hone your gull identification skills. And the Salisbury Landfill offers a bonus besides the gulls: a large freshwater pond, often filled with waterfowl in winter, that is easily visible from the roadside where there is ample parking along a wide grassy shoulder.

The Salisbury Landfill (called so by birders, but the real name is the Newland Park Landfill) is located on the northwest side of the town of Salisbury and is easily accessed from US Route 50/Ocean Gateway (see Directions below). The entrance to the landfill itself is on Brick Kiln Road, but we’re not recommending you enter because the landfill is not open for drop-in birding. Instead, any time you want, you can park along West Naylor Mill Road to view birds on the slopes at the back of the landfill, a vantage point that also gives an easy view of the Naylor Mill Road Pond. Depending on weather and the time of day, some gulls will be perched on the ground at the landfill, but many may be in the air, hovering over the ground, or flying back and forth between the landfill and the pond. Gulls will also be resting on the water.

Birding here is simple. Approach the landfill and pond by traveling west on West Naylor Mill Road. The high tiered slopes of the landfill will be on your left (south side of road) and the pond will be on your right (north side of road). Simply pull over on the road shoulder as soon as you start seeing gulls flying above or loafing on the landfill, or as soon as you have a good view of the pond and any waterfowl or other birds on its surface.

If you’re satisfied with the view from inside the car, bird from the comfort of your seat. Bring along a thermos of hot chocolate and a sandwich and you’re all set for the day. If you prefer to get out to use a scope, there should be sufficient room to do that; be sure you are entirely off the travel lane of the road and standing in a safe position. Traffic here is relatively light but fast-moving.

Once you exhaust the view from where you are, you can pull the car forward and gain a new vantage point. This is particularly important with the pond, as the view of the north end of the pond is blocked by trees and if you move your car further west along the road, you’ll be able to look back to get a view of that section.

Pay attention to birds that may be in the deciduous trees and shrubs near the road and around the pond, and be sure to check the conifers at the corner of Naylor Mill Road and Brick Kiln Road for a selection of birds that may be different than what is in the hardwoods.

If your view of gulls at the landfill is insufficient, you can try finding a spot to see them from Brick Kiln Road: drive west on West Naylor Road and turn left at the first intersection onto Brick Kiln Road, which runs along the southwest side of the landfill. Many spots along Brick Kiln Road have a wide shoulder good for viewing. Avoid the busy area near the landfill entrance. Note that Owens Branch Road, which runs along the southeast side of the landfill, does not afford a good view because it is lined by trees.

Both the landfill and the pond are owned by Wicomico County. The manmade pond is very large, covering about 90 acres, and still has the look of the former sand and gravel quarry that it used to be. The pond is strictly off limits for hunting, fishing, or anything else, and there is a high chain-link fence topped with barbed wire that prevents entry to the pond from Naylor Mill Road. Do not attempt to get down the slope to the pond – you will be arrested for trespassing.

Birdlife:

The eBird hotspot for this location is the Salisbury Landfill – Naylor Mill Rd. Pond, with 147+ species reported.

Before you go to the landfill, you might want to take a look at Macaulay Library photos taken at the landfill and pond in order to familiarize yourself with what you might see, especially to prepare for the size of the gull flocks that are possible – but not guaranteed. Gulls are fickle creatures and some days, there just may not be many around. Other days, there will be so many that you may feel overwhelmed and not know where to look first. A good strategy, whether viewing a flock in the air or on the ground or on the water, is to scan across the flock, looking for individuals that seem different. With gulls on the ground or on the water, you can work through the flock with a scope, looking at every individual. To quote Gene Scarpulla (Baltimore Bird Club), productive gull viewing requires “mindless persistence.”

In winter at Naylor Mill Road, gulls are generally the most obvious birds, with up to 10 species reported. The usual suspects, present most days, are Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed. This is one of the best locations in Maryland to find Lesser Black-backed Gull, and there may be multiples present during the winter. Indeed, Lessers are almost as reliable here as Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed. Laughing Gulls are present over a long period from late February into early December, but are generally absent in the depths of winter. Bonaparte’s Gulls show up during two timeframes: fall and late winter-early spring. Iceland Gulls – in one’s or two’s – are almost regular from late October through March or early April. Glaucous Gulls are a little less regular, but have been reported from late December through early March. Beyond those species, there have been occasional reports of Little Gull or Franklin’s Gull in fall or early winter, and purported gull hybrids show up from time to time. Terns are not usually seen, except for a random Caspian (spring) or Forster’s (fall).

The waterfowl list for Naylor’s Mill Pond comprises 26 species, quite good for an inland location, and because the roadside viewing area is elevated above the pond, excellent views are possible, making this a good place to study waterfowl plumages. (But it must be said that the chain link fence by the road does tend to interfere with viewing of the pond.) Canada Geese are present year-round. Three goose species – Snow, Greater White-fronted, and Cackling – may be present any time from December through early March, but these are usually in small numbers and not necessarily annual. Tundra Swans also make an appearance from December through March and are more regular. Mallards are almost year-round, becoming sporadic in the summer when they are in eclipse plumage, so it may just be that they are hiding and are overlooked. https://www.birdlife.org/news/2021/12/16/the-eclipse-moult-of-mallards/ Wood Ducks are present sporadically all year; although they breed in Wicomico County, breeding has not been documented here. Other ducks are winter regulars: Northern Shoveler (small numbers in January), Blue-winged Teal (fall migration), Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck (numerous from October through March or April), Great and Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead (numerous), Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser (numerous), Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser (scant and sporadic), and Ruddy Duck (numerous).

Other waterbirds include American Coots, Pied-Billed Grebes (relatively numerous), Horned and Red-necked Grebes (scant and sporadic), Red-throated and Common Loons (once in a while) and Double-crested Cormorants (numerous most of the year but absent in mid-summer).

Three waders are regularly seen: Great-blue Heron (common year-round), Great Egret (common from late summer through fall), and Green Heron (summer or early fall). Little Blue Heron and White Ibis sometimes appear during the late summer post-breeding dispersal. (White Ibis, formerly strictly a southern species, has been expanding its range northward and is becoming more common on the Delmarva Peninsula; they were documented breeding near Smith Island in Maryland during data collection for the Third Breeding Bird Atlas.)

The landfill attracts its share of diurnal raptors: Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, and Bald Eagle are numerous year-round. Osprey fish the pond in the summer months. Several hawks are found mostly in the winter and during migration: Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed, plus American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon.

Apart from Killdeer (August through May), shorebird sightings are spotty. The only other species that could be considered “expected” are Spotted Sandpiper (sporadic) and Greater Yellowlegs (fall and spring migration). Other species might be seen during fall migration but are not dependable.

A selection of swallows hunt over the pond in the warm months: Tree, Northern Rough-winged, Barn, Purple Martin. Bank Swallow and Cliff Swallow are rare possibilities. Chimney Swifts are present but only for a brief period in early July.

Given the habitat available, this is not a place where birders typically come for landbirds, but we’ll give a rundown of what is usually around.

Rock Pigeons, Mourning Doves, and Belted Kingfishers are seen year-round. The small strips of trees around the pond and along the road hold woodpeckers, and all are more commonly noted in winter: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated, and Northern Flicker. Then again, the apparent lack of woodpeckers in summer may be an artifact due to the tendency of woodpeckers to go quiet during breeding season.

Only a few flycatchers are present, as expected because of the lack of extensive woodlands. Only Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Eastern Kingbird have been reported; the Kingbird is the more prevalent but never numerous.

Blue Jays, American Crows, and Fish Crows are common year-round on the landfill. Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice are reported from winter through spring, and then less so in the summer and fall. Horned Larks might be found in January or February or early December.

Both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets are in the trees in winter. White-breasted Nuthatches are surprisingly uncommon, as are Brown Creepers.

Northern House Wrens are seen, but oddly, not in summer as in other spots in Maryland; instead, look and listen for them from December through April, along with Winter Wrens (scarce). Caroline Wrens are present year-round.

Gray Catbirds are surprisingly absent, with only a couple of January sightings reported. Brown Thrashers are seen sporadically. Northern Mockingbirds occur year-round.

Eastern Bluebirds and Hermit Thrushes are present in late fall and winter. American Robins are more common in fall, winter, spring, and into the summer months. Cedar Waxwings may be present in winter.

Other winter possibilities include House Sparrows, American Pipits, House Finches, American Goldfinches, and sparrows including Chipping, Field, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated, Savannah, Song, Swamp, and Eastern Towhee.

Orchard Orioles are an outside chance in late spring.

Red-winged Blackbirds are always present. Brown-headed Cowbirds and Common Grackles are also there year-round, but may not be seen on every visit.

Warblers are scarce. Only Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll, Palm, Pine (fall and spring), and Yellow-rumped (winter) have been reported, and of these, only Pine and Yellow-rumped could be called reliable.

Northern Cardinals are reported fall through late spring, and Blue Grosbeaks are relatively easy to find in summer, but, surprisingly, Indigo Buntings are not often reported.

Rarities at this site over the years have included White-winged Scoter, American White Pelican, Great Horned Owl, various hybrid waterfowl, Virginia Rail, Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill, and Eastern Meadowlark.

Wheelchair Access:

This location is good for mobility-impaired birders who have car transportation, as viewing takes places from inside or near the car. No restrooms.

Pet Policy:

Traffic is moderate but moves very fast. Keep your pet in the car or on a short leash to prevent running into traffic; pick up after your pet to keep the area tidy for other birders.

Local MOS Chapter:

The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Tri-County Bird Club, offering field trips and meetings with informative programs, all free and open to the public.

Multimedia:

For most birding sites, we provide links to videos and other media pertaining to the particular birding site being described. For this location, less experienced birders and gull-phobes might want to sharpen their gull identification skills by viewing a recorded presentation “How to Cure Your Fear of Gulls,” given by Clive Harris (Montgomery Bird Club) for the Baltimore Bird Club in 2022.

More advanced gull watchers might want to view Amar Ayyash’s “Introduction to Gull Identification,” presented to the Midcoast (Maine) Audubon Society in May 2025. Ayyash is the author of The Gull Guide: North America (2024), and is one of the organizers of the annual Gull Frolic on Lake Michigan.

Parking:

Roadside parking on the north side of West Naylor Mill Road, starting where the pond becomes visible. See our map in the orange box in the At a Glance section of this website.

Directions:

• The Salisbury Landfill (Newland Park Landfill) and the Naylor Mill Road Pond are located on the northwest outskirts of Salisbury, MD.
• The street address is: West Naylor Mill Road between US Route 50 Business and Brick Kiln Road, Salisbury MD 21801
• GPS Coordinates: 38.394436, -75.631502 | Google Map

Directions:

From the South (Princess Anne, Pocomoke, and Virginia): Take US Route 13 north toward Salisbury. Approaching Salisbury, bear right to follow US Route 13 Business into downtown Salisbury. Immediately after the US Route 50 Business overpass, turn sharp left onto Broad Street westbound and then follow signs to merge on the left onto US Route 50 Business/Ocean Gateway/West Salisbury Parkway westbound. Follow the Ocean Gateway Busines for about 3.0 miles, and then turn left to go west on West Naylor Mill Road. The Naylor Mill Road Pond will be visible on your right (north side of road) in less than a ½ mile, and the slopes of the landfill will be on your left. Park on the road shoulder.

From the North (Delmar and Delaware points of origin): Take US Route 13 south to the interchange with US Route 50/Ocean Gateway. Follow signs to merge onto US Route 50/Ocean Gateway westbound. In 2.6 miles, take the exit for Naylor Mill Road. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Naylor Mill Road westbound. Follow Naylor Mill Road for about 1.0 mile; the Naylor Mill Road Pond will become visible on your right (north side of road) and the slopes of the landfill will be on your left. Park on the road shoulder.

From the East (Berlin, Ocean City, and other beaches): Take US Route 50/Ocean Gateway westbound toward Salisbury. Approaching Salisbury, follow signs and take the ramp on the right for US Route 13 north/US Route 50 west/Ocean Gateway west. Follow Ocean Gateway westbound for 5.8 miles, then take the exit for Naylor Mill Road. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Naylor Mill Road westbound. Follow Naylor Mill Road for about 1.0 mile; the Naylor Mill Road Pond will become visible on your right (north side of road) and the slopes of the landfill will be on your left. Park on the road shoulder.

From the Upper Eastern Shore: Use MD Route 213 and/or US Route 301 south to access US Route 50. Take US Route 50 south and then east toward Salisbury. Approaching Salisbury, follow signs to take the exit for US Route 50 Business. Follow Business Route 50 south toward downtown. As you come off the ramp, at the first intersection, turn right to go west on West Naylor Mill Road. The Naylor Mill Road Pond will be visible on your right (north side of road) in less than a ½ mile, and the slopes of the landfill will be on your left. Park on the road shoulder.

From the Western Shore: Follow US Route 301/50 over the Bay Bridge, and then continue on US Route 50 south and then east toward Salisbury. Approaching Salisbury, follow signs to take the exit for US Route 50 Business. Follow Business Route 50 south toward downtown. As you come off the ramp, at the first intersection, turn right to go west on West Naylor Mill Road. The Naylor Mill Road Pond will be visible on your right (north side of road) in less than a ½ mile, and the slopes of the landfill will be on your left. Park on the road shoulder.

Nearby Sites:

Wicomico County: Cedar Hill Marina & Park ■ Ellis Bay Wildlife Management Area ■ Nanticoke River Wildlife Management Area – Nutter’s Neck ■ Pemberton Historical Park ■  Pirate’s Wharf Park ■ Roaring Point & Nanticoke Harbor ■ Tyaskin Park & Wetipquin Park ■ Schumaker Pond & Salisbury City Park

Habitats:

ConifersHedgerows LandfillOld Quarry Freshwater Pond, Lake, or Reservoir

Features and Amenities:

Birding By CarFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimePets AllowedWater ViewWheelchair Accessible Features

Type:

Driving Tour (Roadside Birding)Ponds, Lakes, and Reservoirs