Tanyard Marsh

Tanyard Marsh

Dover Bridge Road, Preston, MD 21655
GPS Coordinates: 38.754223, -75.991951
No phone contact available

Tanyard Marsh is a large tidal marsh of the Choptank River, about 100 acres in size and consistently ranking high within Caroline County in both number of bird species and number of checklists submitted to eBird. It’s popularity among birders stems both from its biodiversity and its ease of access.

The marsh sits on the east bank of the Choptank, flanking the sides of the Dover Bridge Road/MD Route 331 at the point where the Dover Bridge crosses the Choptank River. There was an older, swing-style bridge here, but it was replaced by the modern highway bridge in 2018 and the old bridge is now a fishing pier and river overlook. The MD State Highway Administration has thoughtfully turned the road that used to go to the old bridge into a paved foot-path for fishermen and the likes of us, and has even provided a small roadside parking area that can hold 8 cars (including one designated handicapped spot). See our map of the marsh at the link in the orange box in the At a Glance section of this webpage.

The old road/footpath provides an excellent view of the marsh to the north, and upon arriving at the old bridge, there is an equally excellent view of the Choptank River, making this a prime spot for waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls and terns, and marshbirds of all kinds. Note that the marsh itself is privately owned, and should not be entered without permission.

To the east of the marsh, there are a couple small, mixed woodlands that supports Forest-interior Dwelling Species. Like the marsh, the woodlands are privately owned. Some birding may be possible from Carr’s Creek Lane, which goes north from Dover Bridge Road, or from a private lane behind the businesses on the north side of Dover Bridge Road, but ask permission at the businesses.

The area can only be birded from the east side of the Dover Bridge in Caroline County. The approaches to the west side of the bridge, in Talbot County, are owned by the State Highway Administration but are posted No Trespassing. The old swing bridge is now permanently in the open position, so it cannot be used to cross on foot to the other side.

Historical Notes: The place name “Dover” comes not from Dover, the capital of Delaware, but from an old settlement on the Talbot County side of the river that for a brief time in the 1700s served as the Talbot County seat.

Prior to the opening of the old swing bridge in 1932 or 33, there was a series of older bridges here, and in colonial times, there was a ferry crossing. There is a historical marker at the beginning of the foot-path from the parking area that commemorates the old swing bridge.

Birdlife:

There is one eBird hotspot at this location:
Tanyard Marsh – 168+ species

The top five on eBird’s list of “Iconic Birds”  for Tanyard Marsh are Common Gallinule, Mute Swan (now becoming hard to find in Maryland because of control measures), Caspian Tern, King Rail, and Long-billed Dowitcher. eBird defines “Iconic Birds” as those that are more likely to occur at this site than in the surrounding region.

Highlights on the birds of Tanyard Marsh:

Waterfowl: 25 species of ducks, geese, and swans, mostly in winter or in migration. Canada Goose, Wood Duck, and Mallard are breeders and are present year-round; American Black Duck is nearly year-round, absent only in late May through June.

Northern Bobwhite: a few in summer, breeding status unknown. Could be escapes.

Rails: King, Virginia, and Common Gallinule are breeders, present during the warm months but not generally in winter. Sora are spring and fall migrants. Clappers are rare in fall migration. American Coots are present in early winter.

Shorebirds: 24 species, mostly in migration. Killdeer are year-round. Semipalmated Plovers, Wilson’s Snipe, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin (migration + winter), Least Sandpipers (a few lingr into winter), Semipalmated Sandpipers are numerous during their respective migration periods.

Gulls and terns: 13 species. Bonaparte’s Gulls are easy to see in fall and again in winter and into spring. Laughing Gulls are present in large numbers March-May and again July through November. Ring-billed and American Herring Gulls are numerous almost year-round, being absent only in mid-summer. Great Black-backed Gulls can be expected from November, through the winter and into spring, and are more numerous in spring. There is a good chance for Lesser Black-backeds from January through March. Least Terns, Caspian Terns, and Forster’s Terns are numerous in spring, summer, and fall, although the Caspians and Forster’s take a break in mid-summer. Common Terns and Royal Terns are less common, but present in small numbers April-May and July-August. Black Terns are possible in small numbers in May or August.

Waterbirds: Pied-billed and Horned Grebes are scarce, mostly spring or fall. Ditto Common Loons. Double-crested Cormorants are numerous year-round.

Ibis, herons and egrets: White Ibis are a recent addition to the avifauna and may be found, with luck, in fall. Glossy Ibis are more likely in spring. American and Least Bitterns are rare, found in spring or late summer, respectively; the Least are more likely than the Americans. Great Blue Herons are numerous year-round; Snowy, Great and Western Cattle Egrets come through in spring and late summer/fall. Green Herons show up in mid-to-late summer. Rough-legged and Broad-winged Hawks are rare.

Raptors: 8 or 9 species are regular. Black and Turkey Vultures are ubiquitous year-round, as are Bald Eagles. Osprey are numerous from early March through September. Sharp-shined and Coopers Hawks are sporadic in fall, winter, and spring, but a few Cooper’s may be seen at times during the summer. Wintering Northern Harriers are numerous, seen from September through the end of April. Red-tailed Hawks are seen sporadically all year, but mostly November through March. Red-shouldered Hawks follow the same timeline as Red-taileds but there are fewer. Falcons are sporadic in fall and spring; American Kestrels are the most likely, Merlins and Peregrines less so. Great-horned Owls are rarely observed, only in spring or fall. No other owls.

Belted Kingfishers are noisily present during fall, winter, and spring.

Woodpeckers: 5 species – Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated and Northern Flicker, observed sporadically throughout the year. This may have more to do with the lack of birder access to the small woodland than to the actual presence of the birds. Note the absence of wintering Yellow-breasted Sapsuckers.

Flycatchers: 3 regularly-occurring species: Eastern Phoebe (winter), Great Crested Flycatcher (once in a while in summer), and Eastern Kingbird (expected early May through August). Kingbirds are habitat generalists that often found in or near marshes.

White-eyed Vireo is the only vireo present, found only in mid-summer.

Blue Jays, American Crows, and Fish Crows are ubiquitous year-round.

Surprise: Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice, usually the mainstays of bird lists, are scarce, probably because of the aforementioned lack of birder access to the woodland.

Horned Larks may be found in winter. Ditto American Pipits, but the pipits are more likely and occer over a broader time period.

Swallows: 6 species – Bank, Tree, Northern Rough-winged, Barn, Cliff, and Purple Martins, all found during the warm months. Barn and Tree are the most numerous.

Marsh Wrens: listen for their bubbly songs from February through December. The only other expected wren is Carolina, present year-round.

Mimids: Surprisingly, Gray Catbirds are scarce and only show up during fall migration. Brown Thrashers are present spordically from March through June; Northern Mockingbirds are also sporadic, but almosts year-round.

Thrushes: Only Eastern Bluebird (spring) and American Robin (most of the year) have been reported.

Cedar Waxwings are occasional May through November. They may be in the woodland in winter, where they would survive on berries.

Finches: House Finch (a few in fall and spring); Purple Finch (rare in fall); Pine Siskin (occasional in fall); American Goldfinch (easy to find almost year-round).

Sparrows: 8 regularly occurring species. Chipping is the only sparrow present in summer. The rest are wintering: Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated, White-crowned, Savannah, Song, Swamp, Eastern Towhee. The most numerous are Savannah, Song, and Swamp. Field Sparrows are rare in fall; Towhees are almost rare, seen mostly in spring.

Icterids: Bobolinks are reliably seen during fall migration. Eastern Meadowlarks are rarely seen during fall migration. Orchard Orioles are seen in April, May, and June; breeding? Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles are numerous throughout the year. Brown-headed Cowbirds are sporadic throughout the year.

Warblers: Only 5 species reported (lack of woodlands): Common Yellowthroat (numerous breeder); Yellow-rumped Warbler (numerous in winter); American Redstart, Northern Yellow Warbler, and Pine Warbler are very scarce and found only in migration.

Cardinals and kin: Northern Cardinals are numerous all year; Blue Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings are present in breeding season; Dickcissels are a rare late fall migrant.

Wheelchair Access:

The paved path down to the old bridge is wheelchair -accessible. No restrooms.

Pet Policy:

Pets are allowed on leash; pick up after your pet. Do not allow your dog to enter the marsh or the river – it would disturb the birds.

Special Designations:

The privately-owned Tanyard Marsh is within the state-designated Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, and as such is protected by law from certain types of development or disturbance. The marsh is also listed by MD DNR as a sensitive species review area, indicating that it may host species in need of conservation.
Special Features:

• The old swing bridge is now a great fishing pier and observation deck.
• It may be possible to launch a kayak or canoe at the riverbank, but be aware of strong currents. Use extreme caution.
• The Dover Bridge is included in the Choptank & Tuckahoe Rivers Water Trails Map Guide, produced by the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program of the National Park Service.

Local MOS Chapter:

The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Caroline County Bird Club, offering field trips and meetings with informative programs, all free and open to the public. Consult the online calendar on the MOS website for details on meetings, field trips, and other events.

Parking:

Roadside parking area, paved with 7 marked spaces plus one handicapped space, on the north side of Dover Bridge Road, a short distance west of a business at #20780 and just east of the Dover Bridge.
Address: Dover Bridge Road, Preston, MD 21655
GPS Coordinates: 38.754223, -75.991951

Directions:

Tanyard Marsh is on a numbered state road and is easy to reach from US Route 50 on the Eastern Shore.

From the Western Shore: Use your favorite route to reach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. After crossing the bridge, continue east to the US Route 301/US Route 50 split, and use the right two lanes to take the exit for US Route 50/Ocean Gateway. From the 301/50 split, drive east and then south on US Route 50 for about 18 miles, to the outskirts of Easton, then turn left (east) onto MD Route 331/Dover Road. Follow Dover Road for 4.2 miles to the Dover Bridge over the Choptank River. After you cross the bridge, the parking area for Tanyard Marsh will be on your left (north side of road), just after the green “Welcome to Caroline County” sign and before reaching the businesses that are also on the left.

From points north on the Eastern Shore: Use US Route 301 or MD Route 213 southbound to reach US Route 50 Ocean Gateway, and then follow directions as above from the Western Shore, picking up the directions at the 301/50 split.

From Salisbury or Ocean City: Use your favorite route to reach US Route 50/Ocean Gateway heading west. At Salisbury, use US Route 50/Ocean Gateway/US Route 13 North around the north side of Salisbury. Then continue driving west and north on US Route 50 toward Vienna. At Vienna, after crossing the bridge over the Nanticoke River, you have a choice to make: a shorter, scenic route or a longer route with fewer turns. The difference is about 10 miles of driving – about 10 to 15 minutes.

• Longer route, fewer turns:
  At Vienna, simply continue driving west and then north for about 31 miles on US Route 50/Ocean Gateway. On the outskirts of Easton, turn right (east) onto MD Route 331/Dover Road. Follow Dover Road for 4.2 miles to the Dover Bridge over the Choptank River. After you cross the bridge, the parking area for Tanyard Marsh will be on your left (north side of road), just after the green “Welcome to Caroline County” sign and before reaching the businesses that are also on the left.
• Shorter, scenic route, more turns:
  After crossing the bridge over the Nanticoke River at Vienna, follow signs and take the first right turn for MD Route 331/Rhodesdale-Vienna Road north toward Hurlock and East New Market. Tanyard Marsh will be ahead on Route 331 in about 25 miles, but in getting there, the numbered route makes some turns in the small towns, and other numbered routes join Route 331, so it’s necessary to be alert and pay attention to the road signs. Here’s a guide to the turns: In 6.2 miles from Vienna, at Rhodesdale, turn left to follow the joint Route 331/Route 14/Railroad Avenue, heading northwest. In another 2 miles, turn right to follow Route 331 north on Shiloh Church-North Hurlock Road (landmark: North Dorchester High School on the left). This road will take you into Hurlock and the road name will change in succession to Main Street, Academy Street, and Waddells Corner Road, but all still signed as Route 331. About 2.5 miles from Hurlock, turn right to follow the join Route 331/Route 16/E. New Market-Ellwood Road northbound to the town of Preston. Approaching Preston, at a fork, MD Route 381 will join from the right; bear left to continue on 331/16. As you enter Preston, the street name will change to Main Street, but it will still be signed as 331/16. In Preston, Route 16 will turn right; stay straight to continue on Route 331 northbound. After leaving Preston, the street name will change to Dover Bridge Road, still Route 331, and you will reach the Tanyard Marsh parking area on the right, in about 6.1 miles from the heart of Preston.

From points north in Delaware: Use US Route 113 or US 13 south to cross into Maryland and continue south to reach US Route 50 in Maryland. At Route 50, follow signs to get on Route 50/Ocean Gateway heading west toward Salisbury. Approaching Salisbury, stay to the right to take US Route 50/Ocean Gateway/US Route 13 North around the north side of Salisbury. Then follow directions as above from Salisbury, choosing either the shorter scenic route or the longer route with fewer turns.

From points south on Delmarva, such as Pocomoke City or the Eastern Shore of Virginia: Use US Route 13/113 northbound to reach Pocomoke City. At the Route 13/113 split, bear left to continue north on US Route 13. Approaching Salisbury, follow signs to stay on US Route 13 North – DO NOT TAKE US Route 13 Business. As you travel around the east side of Salisbury, US Route 13 Northbound will merge with US Route 50/Ocean Gateway Westbound. Continue traveling west on UR Route 50 and follow directions as above from Salisbury, choosing either the shorter scenic route or the longer route with fewer turns.

Nearby Sites:

Caroline County: Adkins Arboretum ■ Choptank Marina ■ Daniel Crouse Memorial Park ■ Idylwild Wildlife Management Area ■ Martinak State Park ■ Pelot MOS Sanctuary ■ Skeleton Creek Road & Bethlehem Road ■ Tuckahoe State Park (Caroline County)

Habitats:

Bottomland Deciduous ForestsConifers Forested SwampFreshwater Marsh or FloodplainMud Flats (Tidal or Non-Tidal)Rivers & StreamsSalt or Brackish Marsh

Features and Amenities:

BeginnersBoat or Canoe/Kayak LaunchFishingFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimeObservation Platform or TowerParkingPets AllowedWater ViewWheelchair Accessible Features

Type:

The Rivers of the Eastern ShoreWater Trails