Cecil Birding Hotspots
Earleville WMA |
| Description |
Earleville Wildlife Management
Area is a 195-acre tract of agricultural
land that is open to the public for upland game hunting and other
recreation.
Birders will appreciate the open fields, dense hedgerows, and small
woodlot.
Fifty acres of fields are planted with warm season grasses and
provide habitat for a number of birds. |
| How to get there |
From the Elkton area, take Rt. 213
south. Immediately after crossing
the Bohemia River bridge at Hack's Point, make a sharp right onto Glebe
Road. Follow Glebe Road south out of Hack's Point and make a
right
(west) onto Fingerboard Schoolhouse Road. Watch for a gravel
parking
area with a WMA sign on the right. Another parking area lies a
bit
farther on, also on the right, near the intersection with Pinewood
Road.
From
the Cecilton area, take Rt. 282 west toward Earleville. Go
north on Glebe Road to Fingerboard Schoolhouse Road; turn left
(west).
Watch for a gravel parking area with a WMA sign on the right.
Another
parking area lies a bit farther on, also on the right, near the
intersection
with Pinewood Road.
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| Map references |
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| What to do
after arrival |
From either parking area, head
north on the obvious trails through
the fields. Check the open areas for sparrows and other
ground-dwelling
birds and the wood edges and hedgerows for others. The woods in
the
central part of the WMA can be good for wrens, vireos, flycatchers,
warblers
and thrushes. A branch of Cabin John Creek and small dammed pond
lie in the north part of the WMA and are worth checking. See the
trail map posted at the parking areas or print out the map at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/earlvillemap.html
and take it with you. |
| Birds to look
for |
- Year-round:
Wood Duck, turkey, pheasant, bob-white, Horned Lark,
sparrows, blackbirds.
- Fall
and spring migration: warblers, other small land birds.
- Winter,
fall and spring migration: American Pipit.
|
| Hours/Fees/Amenities |
Access to Earleville WMA is
restricted to hunting permit holders for the hunting season from
September 1 through
February 15. Check State
hunting seasons.
Outside the hunting
season, Bethel is open for hiking, fishing,
bird watching, nature photography, etc. with non-hunting permit. No fee
to enter; however, the
free annual non-hunting use permit is strictly required and must be
displayed on your parked
car. To request a permit, contact the Gwynnbrook Wildlife and Heritage Service Office
at 410-356-9272;
allow 3
weeks for delivery
of your permit by mail.
There are no picnic tables,
restrooms,
or other amenities at the site. The closest public restroom is at
the library in Cecilton (limited hours). There is a port-a-potty
at
the Stemmer's Run Boat Launch (warm months only). |
| What to bring |
Boots may be needed if the trails
are muddy. |
| Difficulty of
walking |
Easy to moderate. Most of
the walking is on gentle slopes;
footing may be uneven. |
| Personal safety |
This is an isolated area with
little public use. Most birders
would feel more comfortable with a friend. Check the State
hunting schedule and do not visit during hunting
season. |
| Nearby sites |
Courthouse
Point MHA, Grove Neck Wildlife
Sanctuary, Stemmer's Run WMA. Also check the Bohemia
River at Hack's Point for waterfowl in winter and for terns in summer,
and the surrounding agricultural areas for Northern Harrier, Horned
Larks,
American Pipits, Vesper Sparrows. |
| For more
information |
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Copyright 1998,
1999, 2007 Cecil Bird
Club; All rights reserved. May be printed for personal use
but may not be reproduced in any form for mass or commercial
distribution
without permission of the Executive
Committee
of the Cecil Bird Club.
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