At a Glance
Hours: Year-round.
Cost: Free.
Tips: Be aware of hunting seasons and visit accordingly. Mosquitoes and other biting insects are common from spring through early fall.
Best Seasons: Winter for waterfowl, summer for breeding sparrows and waders, spring and fall for migrating shorebirds and others.
Breeding Bird Atlas Block:
Woodmont Wildlife Management Area
11761 Woodmont Road, Hancock, MD 21750
(301) 842-2155
Email fortfrederick.statepark@maryland.gov (managed by Fort Frederick SP staff)
The Woodmont Natural Resource Management Area (NRMA). This former rod and gun club , with overt 3,400 acres of land, is managed through a cooperative agreement between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Woodmont Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America. The property is open to hiking and birding, but a portion of the property is off-limits to public use for part of the year. The limited use section is shown on the Woodmont NRMA trail map at https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Documents/Woodmont-Map.pdf. The habitat diversity at Woodmont provides birders with a mix of mature and young growth forests and fields and includes frontage on the Potomac River. To reach Woodmont NRMA from I-68, take exit 77. Turn left onto US Route 40, then turn right onto Woodmont Road. Follow Woodmont Road approximately 6 miles. Signs mark the entrance.
Birdlife:
Over 220 species have been reported on eBird from Deal Island WMA. There are multiple eBird hotspots for Deal Island WMA:
- Deal Island WMA (224 species) covers the entire WMA: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L446894
- Deal Island WMA—Riley Roberts Rd. (224 species): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L368645
- Deal Island WMA—Riley Roberts Rd. Turnoff (164 species): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1106952
- Deal Island WMA—Game Reserve Rd. (158 species): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L368647
- Deal Island WMA—Dove Hunting Area (119 species): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L989432
- Deal Island WMA—Drawbridge Rd. Section (108 species):https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2677092
- Deal Island WMA—Monie (72 species): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L368644
- Deal Island WMA—Riley Roberts Rd. Boat Ramp (57 species): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L5131274
- Deal Island WMA—Transfer Station Access (29 species): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2494136
Many, many species of waterfowl nest, feed and migrate through this area. The WMA also supports one of the largest concentrations of herons, egrets and ibis in Maryland. Shorebirds use the marshes during migration, and a few species (Williet, both Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper) can be found all through the warm months. A breeding population of Black-necked Stilts thrives here. The rare Eurasian Wigeon is seen almost annually in large flocks of American Wigeon that spend the winter here. A Peregrine Falcon nest tower has been erected as part of the Eastern Peregrine Falcon Recovery Plan. Five species of owls are found here: Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned, Barn, Short-eared, and Northern Saw-whet. Both Seaside and Salt-marsh Sparrows breed here, and Swamp Sparrows overwinter. Marsh Wrens sing, almost at your fingertips, all through the warmer months. This is a great place to search for rails. Overall, Deal Island WMA provides unsurpassed access to the habitats of marsh-dwelling birds.
Wheelchair Access:
Pet Policy:
Special Designations:
Special Features:
For those who are mobility-impaired, there is good birding from the roads and parking areas within Deal Island WMA. You don’t have to go far from the car to see great birds. The Monie Bay area of Deal Island WMA is one of three Maryland locations for the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve; the other two are the Anita Leight Estuary Center at Otter Point Creek (Harford County) and Jug Bay (Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties). Deal Island WMA is contained within the Somerset-Wicomico Marshes Important Bird Area, as designated by the National Audubon Society. The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Tri-County Bird Club, serving Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. Tri-County Bird Club offers field trips and meetings with presentations by guest speakers, free and open to the public.
Parking:
Free, near a boat launch ramp on Green Dumpster/Game Reserve Rd., along Riley Roberts Rd., and at other locations. See map at trail guide.
Directions:
From US Route 13 south from Salisbury. In Princess Anne, turn right to go west onMD 363 west for about 11 miles to Deal Island WMA. Marked parking areas are located off Deal Island, Riley Roberts, and Drawbridge Roads.
Nearby Sites:
Irish Grove MOS Sanctuary; Nanticoke River WMA (Wicomico County); Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Dorchester County).
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