Browns Bridge Detailed Information
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.
Highlights: 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. If the reservoir is full in late winter, the water south of the bridge has several times attracted hundreds of migrant Ring-necked Ducks. Dragonflies can be abundant although the variety is not always high. At least one rare species has been verified here, however. 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: 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: Water levels fluctuate in the course of the year. 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 meadow exists east of the gravel parking lot. North of the bridge, Patuxent River floodplain is visible with mudflats of varying extent. 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, generally the Howard County side has closer views. From that parking lot, walk west (toward Montgomery County) in the grassy area (1) to view whatever flats exist between the parking lot and the bridge. If the mudflats are extensive and somewhat 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 be concentrated in a relatively 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 economy 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 north of the bridge can be obtained by standing on the bridge, heavy traffic (except very 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. The west side of the island that is normally present, as well as some of the flats on the Howard County side, can also be seen.
Birding: Shorebirds are the reason most birders visit this site. Especially during fall migration it is always worth checking. Normally, Killdeer are present if nothing else is. Among the yellowlegs, Solitary and Spotted sandpipers, there often are Semipalmated Plovers and Semipalmated Sandpipers. Beyond that, almost anything is possible. To date, Western Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher have been among the special treats.
Many birders tend to limit their visits to mid to late summer, but Browns Bridge can be productive at other times of the year as well. After the ice melts in late winter, flocks of waterfowl, particularly Ring-necked Ducks, may gather south of the bridge. Bald Eagles are increasingly being reported (there is a nest on each reservoir), and Ospreys are regularly observed spring and fall, occasionally in summer. Various egrets and herons have been seen here; frequently one or two of the less common species become fixtures for weeks at a time. Before and after storms, especially in late summer, terns may wander by. Blacks and Commons are among the special sightings. Owls are year-round residents. The best time to hear them is before dawn when traffic is lightest. The wood edge adjacent to the flats has produced Least Flycatchers and at least one Alder Flycatcher. The willows south of the parking lot can be partially submerged or on dry land; in any case, they should be scanned for migrant passerines. Although a small colony of Cliff Swallows once nested beneath the bridge, they have not done so recently—although any swallow species is possible in migration. Once a Marsh Wren was spotted in a flooded brushy area west of the gravel lot. Prothonotary Warblers were found nesting in the floodplain above the bridge during the most recent atlas so it is possible they may be spotted in the vicinity. Like all county locations of this warbler, breeding sites are usually ephemeral. The scrubby areas east of the parking lot frequently hold Common Yellowthroats, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Blue Grosbeaks as well as Field Sparrows. From the parking lot, it is also possible to hear tanagers and vireos singing in the mature deciduous trees on the north side of the road.