Browns Bridge
T. Howard Duckett Reservoir
Browns Bridge Road, Highland Maryland 20777
Amenities: A portable toilet may be provided on the Montgomery County side of the bridge when the reservoir is open for boats.
Special Attractions: Browns Bridge is known for the mudflats in the vicinity of the bridge, mostly in late summer and early fall. When conditions are right, it is one of the premier locations in the county for shorebirds. The watershed on the east side of the bridge is Howard County; the west side is Montgomery County. The mudflats are the draw here, although there is rarely more than a small window in late summer when precipitation, water level drawdown, and migration coincide. A negative highlight draping the trees is kudzu, a leguminous vine with attractive blossoms that grows along the road mid-spring through fall. Its annual growth is nothing short of astonishing.
Handicapped Access: A portion of the area is visible from the paved boat ramp on the Montgomery County side of the bridge. There is little access. From the gravel parking lot on the Howard County side, it may be possible to see a portion of the mudflats, but most sight lines are blocked by trees. When the boat ramp is open in Montgomery County, some of the mudflats are visible. A scope is essential.
Habitat: Fluctuations of the water level usually produce mudflats in late summer, occasionally in spring. This affects when, where, and to what extent mudflats emerge. During hot, dry periods, the mud either bakes quickly into a hard expanse or vegetation emerges (mostly a bur-tickseed). Either situation renders the location unattractive to shorebirds. Deciduous trees cover much of the surrounding upland, although there are several blocks of mature pines planted decades ago. Some scrub meadows exist east of the gravel parking lot. North of the bridge, Patuxent River floodplain is visible with mudflats of varying extent. Deciduous woods and planted pine plantations cover most of the adjoining land.
Layout: There are no defined trails; sometimes there are fishing trails along the shoreline. When water levels are down, it may be possible to walk on the mudflats with caution. The numbers below refer to locations on the Large Site Map.
There is a steep, poorly maintained, gravel/dirt parking lot on the south side of the bridge in Howard County (8). Recreational boaters use a lot and ramp across the bridge in Montgomery County (9). Birders use both sides as vantage points. Because mudflats often extend east of the gravel lot, the Howard County side has closer views. From that parking lot, walk west (toward Montgomery County) into the grassy area (1) to view whatever flats exist between the parking lot and the bridge. If the mudflats are extensive and dry, walk from the parking lot south through the small clump of willows (2). From this spot, scope flats (3) both east and west of the stream that bisects the area (4). (If you are wearing boots and wish to cross the stream, do so south of the parking lot where there is a better chance of finding gravel or a rocky bottom. Do not attempt to cross the stream on the flats as the soft bottom can be treacherous.) If the mud has dried and vegetation has sprouted (which happens surprisingly fast), birds may concentrate in a narrow muddy strip near the water. If you cross the stream near the parking lot, walk through the narrow woods to reach a different vantage point, although it is not necessarily worth the effort. By working left along the wood edge, the flats soon narrow, so that anyone walking here or passing in a boat will usually put up the shorebirds, which may fly back to where you started—west of the parking lot! For birds other than those on the flats, walk east from the gravel lot along a beaten vehicle track (5), cross the stream over a culvert, and continue up an incline along an old fenceline flanked by scrubby meadows (6). A planted pine stand is at the top of the hill (7). Second-growth continues beyond the pines. By mid-summer, any fishing trails are not well-defined and tend to become overgrown. WSSC has discontinued most mowing for budget reasons so be prepared to fight briars away from the fire road if you leave the fire road. Although a fine view of the floodplain from the road to the north, heavy traffic on the road (except early on Sunday morning) makes this unwise. For another vantage point, walk to the foot of the boat ramp. From there, it is possible to look under the bridge. You can see the west side of the island (normally visible) as well as some of the flats on the Howard County side.
Compiler: Joanne Solem
