Allegany County Birding Site Guide

Map of ALL Allegany County Birding Sites

Rocky Gap State Park:

Coordinates:
39.700908 N, -78.652125 W
The Parking Lot

Rocky Gap is perhaps the most important birding site in Allegany County with more rare bird sightings than anywhere else. J.B. Churchill discovered a Piping Plover early one April morning (April 30th, 2005) that was seen by several observers later the next day. Immediately after Hurricane Isabel (Sept 19th 2003), Ray Kiddy, J.B. Churchill and Cameron Cox found a Red Phalarope, an American Golden Plover and some Common Terns here. Other birds that have been seen here include Short-billed Dowitcher, Caspian, Common, and Forster’s Terns, White-winged, and Surf Scoters, and Snow Bunting. Sometimes there are large congregations of Tundra Swans in November or March and the best waterfowl watching and most of the uncommon waterfowl sightings are from the park. The park is accessed from Interstate 68 at Exit 50. Go North of the Interstate and go straight into the parking lot straight ahead. A $2.00 fee may be collected during the summer months.

North Branch:

Coordinates:
39.58596823 N, -78.74457389 W
The Tarps

This is the best shorebirding spot in Allegany County. The shorebird tarps are on private property so it is important not to trespass. The birds can be viewed without trespassing by viewing from outside the fence along the road or even from the C&O Canal towpath (park on the Canal Side across from the center gate of the treatment facility and walk up onto the path). In the fall, birds start showing up in late July and are typically present in good numbers until mid-September especially when they are grounded by a storm. When a summer storm occurs, I often head to North Branch as soon as the rain stops. This strategy works pretty well and some birds may stick around for a while. When the skies have been clear for several days, all the birds that have eaten well tend to move on. Birds that can be found here regularly are Least, Semipalmated, Solitary, and Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plovers, and both Yellowlegs. Baird’s Sandpipers are annual here in late August. Special treats are White-rumped, Western and Stilt Sandpipers, Sanderling, Black-bellied Plover, and Wilson’s Phalarope. Ray Kiddy found a Whimbrel here May 25th(2002). From I-68 in Cumberland, take exit 43b (Industrial Boulevard) south. Go about 4.5 miles +/- and look for a brown sign for the North Branch C&O Canal access. Turn right onto PPG Road and make the first left turn onto River Road. You can park in the lot and walk down or drive on back (but don’t block access to the facility during business hours and never trespass by going behind the gates).

Cumberland Terminus

Coordinates
39.64405306 N, -78.76404170 W

Starting from Interstate 68 (mile 0), take exit 43b (Industrial Boulevard; Route 51) and head South of the Interstate for a short distance. Stay to the right and turn right following the brown sign for Canal Parkway. Turn right just before the Power Station at 0.6 miles. Follow the dirt road almost to the canal and park on the grass (not on the canal). Scope the river out from here. It may be useful to walk downriver a little bit (up to or perhaps even past the 184 mile marker). Rare birds reported from the Cumberland Terminus include Yellow Rail, Least Tern, American Avocet, and the counties only Lesser Black-backed Gull. The Potomac River here regularly attracts waterfowl. Such desirable species as Long-tailed Duck, Gadwall, all three Mergansers, Canvasback, Pintail, and Goldeneye have been seen here. When the water level is low and there are small islands of exposed substrate, there can be shorebirds. I've seen Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Baird's, and White-rumped Sandpipers among the more common species. The only Black-crowned Night-herons I've ever seen in the county were along the bank of the river here. The river is a corridor for migration and is a good spot for finding swallows and migrating nighthawks (though nighthawks are easy to find in Cumberland and Frostburg during the summer).

Warrior Mountain:

Coordinates
39.605036 N, -78.602316 W
Good Warbler Stop

Warning ... There may be a lot of deer hunters out here during hunting season.
Take Route 51 South from I-68 (exit 43b) for about 12.4 miles. Turn left on East Wilson Road at the 2nd Opportunity where East Wilson is directly across from Opessa Road (reset odometer here; mile 0). Go approximately 2 miles and turn right on Ruby Road. Stay on Ruby when it veers to the right avoiding Levi road. Feel free to stop along the way but be aware that there is a lot of private property along the way. There are some good stops after you get through the woods where some smaller trees line the roads (approximately mile 4.5 - 4.8). I've found lots of warblers in these spots. One spring I found a Red-Headed Woodpecker. Driving along Ruby or Oliver Beltz Road can be a good way to spot a Ruffed Grouse. A good way to bird this area is to continue on Ruby until it ends at Oliver Beltz Road (mile 5.8). An option (at mile 6.8) is the left turn onto Spanish Leather Road (if your car can navigate this narrow road with lots of ruts). Bird the woods and fields in the WMA along this road. Then continue West on Oliver Beltz. If you need to, reset your odometer (0/6.8). At mile 2.3/9.1, there is another pull-off where you can bird the field and woods-edge. Then continue on. At mile 3.9/10.7, turn left onto Cresap Mill Road which completes the loop back to Route 51 in about 5 miles (mile 8.9/15.7).

Dan's Rock:

Coordinates
39.582068 N, -78.897787 W
The Overlook

The overlook provides a scenic view of the Potomac River Valley. Park here and walk around near the towers. Common Warblers are Black and White, Chestnut-sided, and Cerulean. Its a good spot to see Common Ravens. Hawk migration ranges from very dull to very good.
To get there take Route 36 about 3.7 miles south of I-68 and turn left at the brown sign for Dan's Rock Overlook (Paradise Road; look also for the McMahon's Nursery sign). Paradise Road paralells Route 36. Go 1/10th of a mile and turn left onto Old Dan's Rock Road. Follow Old Dan's Rock Road about 3.0 miles to the summit and overlook.

Dan's Mountain State Park

Coordinates
39.56287 N, -78.95023 W
The Pond

The park is a good place to find Black-capped Chickadee, Acadian Flycatcher, American Redstart, and Black-throated Green Warbler. It is possible to find Blue-headed Vireo here (which is more common in Garrett County). The park has been historically good for Cerulean Warblers and they can still be found here in spots.
The Road to turn onto from Route 36 is about 6.5 miles south of I-68 (look for the brown park sign). You turn left onto Water Station Run Road and then go about 1.2 miles to the park entrance. Then continue straight ahead another half-mile to the small pond on the left. This is a good place to park and explore. Bird the area around the pond or across the road by the pavillion. You can see more of the park by continuing on for 0.1 miles and turning right, going another 1.0 miles (past the pool and playground) and turning right onto the dirt road (Water Station Run Road). That dirt road takes you back to the park entrance.

contact me (jbc - at - westernmdbirding - dot - com) !