Garrett County Birding Site Guide

Map of ALL Garrett County Birding Sites

Finzel Swamp:

Coordinates:
39.700253 N, -78.945587 W
parking lot

This is a Nature Conservancy Preserve. It’s a great spot for Rails (Sora and Virginia). King Rail and American Bittern have occasionally been reported from here. In the spring there are breeding Swamp Sparrows, Northern Waterthrushes and (in some years) Alder Flycatchers. I often hear Ruffed Grouse drumming from the parking lot. In the Fall, it’s a great spot for finding Lincoln’s Sparrows (Late September – Early October). Rusty Blackbirds are findable in October and November. Ray Kiddy found a Northern Shrike here in late 2001 that was re-located in the swamp on a snag. I saw an Olive-sided Flycatcher in one of those snags one September morning.

Piney Reservoir:

Coordinates:
39.711602 N, -78.997707 W
Entrance

Piney Reservoir is the water supply for the town of Frostburg, Maryland. It is tucked down in a stream valley but birds do find it when the fog rolls in (and it has a habit of rolling in). At the right time of year it can be great for migrating waterfowl and an occasional Bald Eagle, Great Egret, Osprey, Common Loon etc. A field trip of the Allegany and Garrett Counties' Bird Club once saw (on April 3rd, 2004) 63 Common Loons here (many of which were calling). Occaisionally in late summer the water level is low enough to attract shorebirds. There have been Pectoral Sandpipers, Wilson's Snipe, Semipalmated Plovers etc. and even Sanderling, Baird's Sandpipers, and Short-billed Dowitchers.
DIRECTIONS: From I-68 (Westbound) Take exit 29 for MD-546 toward Finzel. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Beall School Rd/US 40 Alt. Go straight to the stop sign and continue straight through onto Piney Run Rd. Follow Piney Run Road all the way to the bottom of the hill to the reservoir.

Meadows Lake & Campground

Coordinates:
39.67982 N, -79.108043 W
Entrance

A large-ish lake with camping facilities. The best policy is to ask permission at the house by the gate. The owners have always been friendly to birders. You can fish here for an extra $5.00. The gate is typically open after April 15th and you can drive around the perimeter of the lake when the gate is open. When the gate is closed it is possible to park on the east side of the road and scope things out from there (be careful as there isn't much shoulder here and traffic moves rapidly along this road).
DIRECTIONS: From the East take I-68 West (about 10 miles from Frostburg) to exit 22 (US-219 N) and turn left at Chestnut Ridge Road. Go about 0.8 miles to the entrance to the lake on the left.

Westernport Road Area

Coordinates:
39.544228 N,-79.03028 W
Intersection of Russell and Michael Roads

I'm actually including several roads as a part of this location including Russell Road, Michael Road, and Aaron's Run Road. The reclaimed mineland in this area is great for Henslowe's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Whip-poor-will (summer) and Rough-legged Hawk, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur (winter), and Short-eared Owl, Northern Harrier (year-round). The wintering species that I'm listing here can be very very hard to find (but not impossible).
DIRECTIONS: Take exit 34 for MD Route-36 toward Westernport/Frostburg. Keep left at the fork and turn left onto Route-36. Go about 9 miles and turn right onto Legislative Rd SW (MD-935). Follow Legislative Road for a little over 1 mile. Turn right onto Bartlett Run Rd which turns into Russell Rd after a little less than 1 mile. To bird this area stay on Russell Road driving slowly along. Listen in summer for Grasshopper Sparrows and Vesper Sparrows. Russell Road has had Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings mixed in with Horned Lark flocks. There is similar habitat along Michael Road which completes a loop by connecting with Russell Road at two different spots. Alternately continue past Michael Road to the intersection with Westernport Road. Take a left on Westernport Road and continue straight past where Westernport Road goes off to the right (you will then be on Aaron's Run Road). You will then ascend a small hill and just over the crest of the hill where a field opens up on the right hand side is a good place to stop and listen for Henslowe's Sparrows in May and June and to look for Northern Harriers, Short-eared Owls, and Rough-legged Hawks (winter).

Youghiogheny Reservoir:

Coordinates:
39.687498 N, -79.385222 W
parking

This is a good spot for shorebirds when the water levels are right for it. There is also a path along the reservoir that can be good for songbirds. I have found Ruffed Grouse along this trail. The trail is also good in early spring (late April +/-) for Yellow-throated Warbler and there have been Prothonotary Warblers breeding in the area (though not lately). All the regular shorebirds can be found here and I found Buff-bellied Sandpipers in the grassy areas before the mud two years in a row in (9/5/2000 and 9/1/2001).
DIRECTIONS: Take exit 4 (Route-42 Friendsville). Approximate going straight by jogging left and right again onto Blaine Frantz Road. Go about another mile and turn right at Old Morgantown Rd and follow it until it ends.

Snaggy Mountain Area

Coordinates:
39.498068 N,-79.454147 W
parking area

The Snaggy Mountain Area is part of the Garrett State Forest. Snaggy Mountain Road goes through woodlands and brings you to a couple of interesting wetland areas behind Herrington Manor State Park. It is a good spot for Canada Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Least Flycatcher. Its best to have a map of the area. From Cranesville Road, take Snaggy Mountain Road to the West. The road actually goes south for most of the length that you travel but also heads slightly west. Either turn around and go back “the way you came” to Cranesville Road or turn left at the end of the road and left again onto Hutton Road (travelling into Preston County, WV for a bit). Hutton Road takes you to Oakland, MD.

Mount Nebo WMA

Coordinates:
39.453847 N, -79.376923 W
parking area

Mount Nebo Wildlife Management Area is a hunting area owned by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The area is known for Grouse and Woodcock hunting. It is also a great birding spot and a good place to look for Ruffed Grouse, Veery, Canada Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler etc. From the parking area, walk down the road beyond the yellow gate towards the wetland area at the bottom of the hill. There are roads and trails off to the left as you go down the hill or continue on to the wetland and explore the fields on the right (North) after you walk past the wetland. DIRECTIONS: From I-68 at Keyser's Ridge, take MD 219 south toward Oakland. Mt. Nebo is approximately 3 miles north of Oakland along the west side of MD 219. There is a small parking area that can be accessed by going out the unimproved road west of 219.

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