Terrapin Nature Park — Birding Pictures

Terrapin Nature Park
Location Information

253 as of 04-21-24. CLICK HERE to view the ebird hotspot information.
Not in particular, but a decent variety due to the habitat. This park was a very popular place to bird during the 2021 fall migration. There was a good variety of warblers coming through.
Yes. There is a dedicated parking lot.
There are restroom pods near the parking lot and portable toilets available near the beach.
Yes, click here to view.
No, it is a Queen Anne’s County public park.
Dawn to dusk seven days a week.
Yes. This park is usually very crowed on the weekends during the summer. You may want to consider visiting during the weekdays in the summer.
Horse flies CAN be a nuisance in the spring and summer, but not necessarily a problem on every visit.
Like any birding location - be cautious of ticks. It is best to stay on the trails and avoid walking through tall grasses.
Personally I do not normally bring my scope on a bird walk here. There are bay beach areas where a scope may be helpful especially during the winter.
Mostly oyster chaff, dirt and some sand in places and boardwalks. There are also grass trails (usually well mowed) around the meadows.
Mixed:
- Woodlands (mostly deciduous trees with some coniferous)
- Aquatic (wetlands, tidal ponds, bay shoreline)
- Scrub (short woody plants and bushes)
- Open (grassland, meadow)
CLICK HERE to access the Maryland Ornithological Society’s Birder’s Guide to MD & DC.

Address:

191 Log Canoe Circle
Stevensville, MD 21666
https://www.qac.org/facilities/facility/details/terrapinnaturepark-97

The following is a list of bird species you may see by season. Note that some of these species may also be seen into the following season.

Spring - Mar-May
- Osprey
- Pine Warbler
- Yellow Warbler
- Eastern Kingbird
- Eastern Phoebe
- Common Yellowthroat
Summer - Jun-Jul
- Indigo Bunting
- Orchard Oriole
- Great Egret
- Snowy Egret
- Blue Grosbeak
- Green Heron
Fall - Aug-Nov
- Blackpoll Warbler
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Cedar Waxwing
- Magnolia Warbler
- Northern Parula
- Black-throated Blue Warbler
Winter - Dec-Feb
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Canvasback
- Ruddy Duck
- Hermit Thrush
- White-throated Sparrow
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Year-round
- Eastern Towhee
- Downy Woodpecker
- Bald Eagle
- Northern Flicker
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Great Blue Heron

Bird Walk

I’ll take you on a virtual bird walk so that you can become a little familiar with the location.

Using the trail map (select map to enlarge) I have marked the beginning of the walk in Green, then in White, it is approximately 2.5 miles.

Note: You can also move through (using the arrows) the following walk from your cell phone (depending on service) to help guide you.

START - Like many places the parking lot can be a good place to bird. In the spring you are likely to hear a pine warbler. In the fall you may see/hear other warblers. There is a trail to the left of the bathrooms/ranger station - Let's take that.
You'll see a grassy area which goes to the right. This is the beginning of the area which is very good for warblers in the fall - Let's follow that path.
For our walk we'll follow the path to the right. The areas on both sides of this path, just as you are turning right - is a good spot for seeing hermit thrush in the winter.
This whole area is great for warblers in the fall, there may be black-throated blue warblers, bay-breasted warblers, or a chestnut-sided warbler. There may also be a flock of cedar waxwings. As you follow the path around the corner you have a choice of turning left or going straight (it circles around). We are going to go straight, but if you here in the fall I suggest you stay in the area for the warblers. This area around the corner in early fall can come alive with blue-gray gnatcatchers.
At the end of the grassy path we are going right which will take us over a very small bridge. Looking to your left you may see red-eyed vireo from spring/fall.
At the end of the path we will take a left onto the Beach Trail.
In the spring/summer you may hear a common yellowthroat or a yellow warbler. On your right is a meadow.
You'll notice a little farther down there is an entrance to the meadow, we are instead going straight for this walk, but you may want to check this out in the spring for common yellowthroat or in the fall black-throated green warblers.
We are going to follow the Beach Trail to the left.
The trail will take you between two tidal ponds. In spring/summer you are likely to see great or snowy egrets. There are also osprey hunting during this time of year. Year-round you will see great-blue herons. In the winter you may see canvasbacks and ruddy ducks or possibly green-winged teal.
This trail runs parallel to the beach, you can take any of the paths to get to the beach.
From the beach you may see great-crested cormorants, a variety of gulls such as the ring-billed, laughing, and the great black-backed.
We'll get back on the Beach Trail where we may see/hear an eastern towhee or in the spring/summer an indigo bunting.
The trail will go over a small bridge, we continue, bearing to the left through the sand.
The trail is again oyster chaff. Be sure to look to your left and check the tall trees. You may see a bald eagle perched (year-round). Today we see an osprey perched (spring/summer).
We've come upon a fork in the road, we'll bear left onto the Marsh Trail. If you bear right that will take you on the South Meadow Loop (1.2 miles).
There is a pond on the right (we can't see it today because the phragmites are overgrown). In the spring when the grass isn't so high you may see wood ducks in the early morning.
At marker B6 we are going to continue on the Marsh Trail to the left.
Along here we will probably see our regular year-round residents - northern cardinals, northern mocking bird and a Carolina wren.
Starting at around marker B4 you may notice a variety of woodpeckers year round - downy, hairy, and red-bellied.
We'll cross a boardwalk. Here in the spring you may see blue-gray gnatcatchers with the yellow-rumped warblers before the warblers migrate for the summer.
Towards the end of this trail, before the phragmites, is an area where there may be a surprise. It could be an ovenbird or American redstart in the spring/summer.
At the end of the Marsh Trail we'll take a left S. Blind.
We'll take the first right, but before that look and listen - you may see/hear an indigo bunting at a tree top singing in the spring/summer.
Along this trail you may hear a black-billed cuckoo on the right in the spring/summer or a blackpoll warbler in the fall. This trail will wind to the left which will take us back to the parking lot.