Mid-Atlantic Birding Hotspots
Text and images by Anna Champagne
Note: The Mid-Atlantic region lies between New England and the South on the Atlantic Seaboard. It contains anywhere from three to eight states, depending on who draws the map. This article will focus on three Mid-Atlantic states: Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
About 16% of the land area in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania is classified as urban or suburban. The rest consists of a complex landscape of diverse habitats, including 19.3 million acres of forest, more than 300,000 acres of salt marsh, millions of acres of pastures, thousands of rivers, and more than 3,500 miles of coastline.
These habitats make it ideal nesting grounds for millions of birds. The area’s geographic location along the Atlantic Flyway also creates a migratory corridor for birds flying either north or south. Some of the best birding hotspots in the country are located right in this corridor.
The Mid-Atlantic birding hotspots outlined here provide unique birding experiences throughout the year. They are all easy to get to, free (or close to free), and open to birders nearly every day of the year.
Maryland Birding Hotspots
Conowingo Dam
Conowingo Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the lower Susquehanna River in Maryland. It is about 10 miles north of the river mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and five miles south of the Pennsylvania border. The area around Conowingo Dam is a world-class birding destination and one of the best places in Maryland to see and photograph eagles, vultures, herons, gulls, and warblers.
Public access is located on the southwest side of the Susquehanna River at Fisherman’s Park in Darlington, Maryland. This 100-acre park is a popular fishing destination and home to more than 200 species of birds. One of the best places to bird watch is on the 160-foot wharf at the dam end.
The intake valves on the dam turbines suck water through the barrier and send it downstream into the river. This process can stun the fish downstream, making hunting easy for the Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, gulls, and waterfowl that flock to the area.
You can find dozens of Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons here all year, but peak times are October through March, with November being the big month for Bald Eagles and the later winter months being best for Great Blue Herons. The water flowing through the dam remains unfrozen during the winter, so many birds migrate to the Conowingo area from New York and Canada for a steady food source.
Seeing more than 200 Bald Eagles flying, hunting, and perching around Conowingo Dam is not unusual. You’ll also find an equal number of photographers, who come from as far away as Europe and Asia, trying to snap photos of the action. The parking lot fills up quickly in peak season, so don’t be afraid to go early to get a spot.
The area along the parking lot is flush with songbirds all year long. You can bird right from the parking lot (watch for cars pulling in and out) or hike the 1.7-mile Shure’s Landing Wildflower Trail, which starts at the downstream end of the parking lot. The trail, which follows the path of the Susquehanna River and Tidewater Canal, is well-known for its wildflowers, including Virginia bluebells and Dutchman’s breeches in the spring and goldenrod and asters in the fall.
If you walk a little over two miles, you can get to Susquehanna State Park, which is also one of the best places to bird in Maryland. This area is the spot to go in this region of Maryland if you want to see migrating warblers. You can find 30 different warbler species here, including Cerulean Warblers and Prothonotary Warblers, the latter of which nest along the river’s edge in the summer.
The Bald Eagles will sometimes chase each other and fight for fish above the river. You can also find them perched in the trees near the parking lot.
Antietam National Battlefield
Antietam National Battlefield is a protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Maryland. It is preserved and managed by the National Park Service.
When you think of Antietam, birding may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but the battlefield has a range of bird-friendly habitats, including grass fields, hay meadows, shrubby meadows, deciduous and conifer trees, hedgerows, and a creek. The self-guided 8.5-mile Auto Tour is one of the best ways to see birds in their natural habitats.
There are also quite a few walking trails that can get you deeper into the battlefield. Some trails have hazards like groundhog holes, poison ivy, and rough terrain, so being aware of your surroundings as you walk is advised.
Antietam Remembered: This easy 0.25-mile loop is paved. It leads to the historic Dunker Church and significant monuments meant to commemorate the 1862 American Civil War Battle of Antietam.
Bloody Lane Trail: This easy-to-moderate 1.6-mile loop meanders through the Mumma Farm and Roulette Farm. This trail is known as the Bloody Lane because 5,500 men were killed or wounded during the three-hour battle that took place in this spot. Both farms suffered heavy damage during the battle and had to be repaired or rebuilt after the war.
Cornfield Trail: This easy 1.25-mile loop takes you around a field that may or may not have corn planted in it. (The National Park Service provides permits to local farmers to grow crops to help maintain the rural landscape.) More men died in and around the Cornfield than anywhere else on the battlefield.
Final Attack Trail: This moderately difficult 1.7-mile loop takes you through rolling grassy areas and around a field. It connects to Snavely Ford Trail in two spots. After capturing Burnside Bridge, approximately 8,000 Union soldiers marched through this area to attack the Confederates and drive them out of Maryland.
Sherrick Farm Trail: This moderately difficult 1.3-mile out-and-back trail winds through hilly farm fields and woodlots and ends at Burnside Bridge. This bridge played a key role in the battle and has since become a symbol of Antietam and one of the most photographed bridges of the Civil War.
Snavely Ford Trail: This 1.8-mile loop follows Antietam Creek. It is mostly easy, with lots of flat ground and shade along the creek, but the grade getting to and from the creek is steep enough to be considered moderately difficult. The Union soldiers used Snavely Ford to cross the creek during the battle.
Three Farms Trail: This easy-to-moderate 1.6-mile out-and-back trail connects to the Bloody Lane Trail in the north and the Sherrick Farm Trail in the south. It crosses over two seasonal creeks and takes you through an area that did not see intense fighting.
Tidball Trail: This moderately difficult 0.3-mile one-way trail starts at Newcomer House and takes you to a battlefield overlook. The trail is named after U.S. Army Captain John C. Tidball, who commanded men in this spot and wrote the U.S. Army's Manual for Heavy Artillery.
Union Advance Trail: This easy-to-moderate 1.0-mile loop crosses Burnside Bridge and makes a loop on an eastern portion of Antietam Creek. Confederates defended the Burnside Bridge here before the Union Ninth Corps advanced to capture the bridge.
West Woods Trail: This easy-to-moderate 0.9-mile loop takes you through the part of the West Woods where combat occurred. This is one of the trails where you really need to watch out for uneven terrain, poison ivy, and groundhog holes.
Preserved areas with grasslands, such as Antietam National Battlefield, are increasingly essential bird refuges for declining grassland birds, such as the Eastern Meadowlark, which has seen nearly a 75% decline in the last 50 years. In the summer, you can see many birds that prefer nesting in fields and grassy habitats, including Eastern Meadowlarks, Grasshopper Sparrows, Indigo Buntings, Red-Winged Blackbirds, and Horned Larks.
The Eastern Bluebird has also had great success here thanks to a married couple named Mark and Jean Raabe, who began placing bluebird nest boxes throughout the battlefield in 1979 with the permission of the National Park Service. Around that time, the Eastern Bluebird population was steeply declining due to habitat destruction and the lack of natural cavities available for nesting.
The Bluebird Trail grew to more than 100 nest boxes, and in the nearly 40 years that the Raabes monitored and maintained the trail, more than 10,000 Eastern Bluebirds successfully fledged at Antietam National Battlefield. During the summer, you can drive or walk along the road and easily see plenty of Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows flying to and from the boxes to deliver food to their young.
In addition to birding along the road, you can also find good birding opportunities along the water’s edge near Sherrick Farm and the Snavely Ford Trail. Great Blue Herons are common here in the autumn. The sky itself is also a hotspot. You can often find raptors flying over the battlefield, including hawks, vultures, American Kestrels, and even the occasional kite.
The Eastern Bluebirds at Antietam National Battlefield often perch on wires and fence posts to hunt. They will perch again near the nest box before entering it to feed their young.
Delaware Birding Hotspots
Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is a 16,251-acre refuge on an 8-mile stretch of Delaware Bay, North America's second-largest shorebird staging site. The sanctuary was created in 1937 and is considered one of the best birdwatching sites in Delaware. Approximately 80 percent is a tidal salt marsh with cordgrass meadows, tidal pools, streams, rivers, creeks, and mud flats. The other portion of the refuge contains diverse habitats, including forests, timbered swamps, herbaceous plant fields, and freshwater impoundments.
The self-guided 12-mile wildlife drive (an easy-to-follow loop) is one of the best ways to see birds at Bombay Hook. The refuge also has five short, easy out-and-back walking trails, three leading to wildlife observation towers.
Bear Swamp Trail: This 0.24-mile trail goes through a wooded area and leads to a 30-foot tall observation tower overlooking Bear Swamp Pool. There is also a floating platform nearby that accommodates wheelchairs. The trail is relatively wide and has a boardwalk section.
Boardwalk Trail: This 0.40-mile trail goes through a small wooded area along Raymond Gut, a creek leading to the Leipsic River. Brackish ponds border the woodlot. The Boardwalk Trail offers a relatively good look at the tidal salt marsh that covers most of the refuge.
Raymond Observation Tower Trail: This 0.15-mile trail leads to a tall observation tower that overlooks Raymond Pool.
Parson Point Trail: This 0.64-mile trail goes through a wooded area; Shearness Pool is visible through the trees. Turtles sometimes dig holes on this trail and sun themselves by the pond in the summer months.
Shearness Observation Tower Trail: This 0.12-mile trail leads to an observation tower overlooking Shearness Pool. The 560-acre Shearness Pool is the largest impoundment on the refuge.
Hotspots within Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge include Shearness Pool and the Leatherberry Flats (part of the salt marsh east of Shearness Pool), both of which are good places to see ducks and geese, including enormous numbers of Snow Geese that hang out at the refuge in the winter. Shorebirds are also possible depending on water levels. Many Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, and other wading birds visit Shearness Pool in the late summer months.
The Boardwalk Trail is an excellent place to see migrant songbirds and, if you’re lucky, rails. During certain times of the year, you can also find Black-Crowned Night Herons roosting near the pond on Parson Point Trail.
November is the peak of fall waterfowl migration. Northern Pintails (as shown here), Mallards, Black Ducks, Gadwall, American Widgeon, Buffleheads, Blue-Winged Teal, Green-Winged Teal, Ruddy Ducks, Scaup, Wood Ducks, Red-Breasted Mergansers, and Hooded Mergansers are some of the ducks that can be seen at Bombay Hook.
Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge
Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge is a 10,000-acre plot in Milton, Delaware. It was established in 1963 as a sanctuary for migratory birds and has become a globally renowned birding destination. Many migratory shorebirds, including Red Knots, Piping Plovers, Oystercatchers, and other species, feed and nest in the Fowler Beach area of the refuge.
Portions of the beach are seasonally closed to protect nesting sites, but there are many ways to get around the refuge and many places to birdwatch. The sanctuary boasts 7.5 miles of hiking trails, a canoe/kayak trail, and four country roads crisscrossing through the marsh. Most trails are short, easy hikes, but some have uneven terrain.
Black Farm Trail: This 1.6-mile trail takes you through wooded uplands. Along the path, you walk next to agricultural fields and freshwater marshes in various spots.
Blue Goose Trail: This 1.4-mile trail winds through freshwater marsh, fields, and a wooded area with conifers and deciduous trees. The Blue Goose Trail features several observation areas to watch wildlife and take photos. It can be accessed from the Boardwalk loop or the Black Farm Trail juncture.
Boardwalk and Dike Trails: Both of these trails are wheelchair accessible. The Boardwalk Trail is a 0.5-mile loop through freshwater marsh, uplands, and forested wetlands. The Dike Trail is 0.5 miles from start to end (and 0.5 miles to get back). It features an observation area to watch wildlife and take photos.
Photography Blind Trail: This trail is 0.3 miles from start to end (and 0.3 miles to get back).
Pine Grove Trail: This 0.8-mile trail loops through a forest with pine and hardwood trees and provides a wildlife viewing platform overlooking the marsh area. It is near two different ponds (Fleetwood Pond and Turkle Pond).
Canoe/Kayak Trail: A self-guided kayak/canoe trail will take you to the heart of a freshwater marsh along Prime Hook Creek. This is an excellent way to see Osprey in the summer and enjoy waterfowl during fall and winter migrations.
The self-guided Auto Tour consists of about 22 miles of country roads crisscrossing the refuge. The tour starts at the refuge headquarters and includes many different stopping points to view wildlife. Some spots along the auto tour that may be of specific interest to birders include the bridge on Cods Road, the Broadkill Impoundments, the Prime Hook Road Impoundments, and Fowler Beach.
Another refuge hotspot to explore is the Broadkill Impoundment, a mile-long stretch along the south side of Broadkill Beach Road (near the town of Broadkill Beach). The varying water levels attract many different shorebirds, ducks, and geese. Many birders also attend the Annual Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival. This festival takes place in May and is co-hosted by the Town of Milton and the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
It is very common to see shorebirds, like this Sanderling, on Fowler Beach in the spring and summer.
Pennsylvania Birding Hot Spots
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park is a 6,000-acre area in Adams County, Pennsylvania, where the Battle of Gettysburg was fought in 1863. The park is managed by the National Park Service.
Most of the area has been converted from the large agricultural fields that existed during the war to smaller patches of native grasses. This has coincidentally created valuable grassland habitats for birds such as the Bobolink, Savannah Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark. Additional habitats are suitable for birds, including forested areas, woodlots, small wetlands, and riparian corridors. Furthermore, 36 different apple orchards of varying sizes also offer a bird-friendly environment.
The self-guided 23.5-mile auto tour is one of the best ways to see birds in Gettysburg National Military Park. You can find numerous areas to pull over and park. There are also a few walking trails that can take you deeper into the habitat. Some of the trails are rugged and not as clearly marked as they could be, so it may be a good idea to grab a map from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center before walking.
Big Round Top Trail: This 0.8 out-and-back trail is very rocky with considerable elevation. Trees are visible from the trail, and there are some side trails that loop around. Big Round Top's slope, timber, and boulders prevented artillery placement. This hill is the topographic high point of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Several Union regimental monuments are located along the trail.
Billy Yank Trail: At 9.7 miles, this is the longest battlefield loop trail. It is moderately challenging and has some elevation. Billy Yank is a slang term for a Union soldier. It is the counterpart to the term Johnny Reb. The Billy Yank Trail begins at Cemetery Ridge and goes up Little Round Top, where intense fighting took place during the battle.
Culp’s Trail: This 4.2-mile out-and-back trail is a rehabilitated trail that leads from the summit of Culp’s Hill down to Forbes Rock. More than 20,000 soldiers fought on Culp’s Hill on the third day of the battle. Forbes Rock was named for wartime battle sketch artist Edwin Forbes.
Gettysburg Trail: This 2.8-mile loop is mostly paved and one of the most accessible trails in the park. It connects the Visitor’s Center to notable locations on the battlefield and the National Cemetery.
Johnny Reb Trail: This 3.7-mile loop begins at Cemetery Hill but is relatively easy. Johnny Reb is a slang term for a Confederate soldier. It is the counterpart to the term Billy Yank. The trail was collaboratively designed with the cooperation of the National Park Service and the Boy Scouts of America. It goes through many battlefield features and past a lot of notable monuments.
A western portion of the park, located in the grasslands and hay fields bounded by Emmitsburg Road, Millerstown Road, and West Confederate Avenue, has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) to protect some of the vanishing grassland habitats in Pennsylvania and the species of birds that reside there, including the state-endangered Loggerhead Shrike and Short-eared Owl. The Eisenhower National Historic Site, also an IBA, is adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield and is another good place to birdwatch when you are in the area.
The Grasshopper Sparrow population, which is especially vulnerable to habitat loss, declined by 72 percent between 1966 and 2015.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a 2,600-acre observation, research, and education facility in Kempton, Pennsylvania. It was founded in the 1930s as the world’s first refuge for birds of prey and is currently operated by the world's largest private member-supported raptor conservation organization. This raptor sanctuary is open to the public most days of the year.
The sanctuary has an 8-mile trail system. The trails are open but not maintained in the winter; they can be icy and snow-covered. There is also a small fee to walk on the trails if you are not a member, so plan accordingly.
All the trails are rough and rocky except for the South Lookout Trail, which is groomed, and the Silhouette Trail, which is accessible. Both of the latter trails lead to the South Lookout of Hawk Mountain. Some trails, including the Skyline Trail, River of Rocks Trail, and Golden Eagle Trail, are very steep and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
No matter which trail you choose, you will want to stop by the Native Plant Garden between the visitor’s center and the trailhead. This two-acre plot has 250 native plant species. It is an excellent place to see birds, butterflies (more than 40 different species have been spotted), and other wildlife.
Many birders visit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in mid-August through mid-December and April through mid-May because it is considered one of the best places in the northeast to see migrating raptors. Some birders opt for a September visit to attend International Hawk Migration Week and participate in birding events and workshops designed to improve birding experiences and skills.
The weather impacts the number of birds that can be seen on any given day. For example, south or southwest winds produce strong updrafts along the slope of the Mountain and result in a higher number of sightings, while sunny, non-windy days result in fewer sightings since birds are flying higher and farther away from the mountain.
One effective method for assessing population trends is by counting both local and migrant birds, such as the Black Vulture, at hawk watches, like the one at Hawk Mountain.