Howard County Bird Club
Gwynn Acres Path Detailed Information
Habitat: The Gwynn Acres Path goes through deciduous woods. Most portions are adjacent to floodplain; the northernmost section has views of the floodplain as the path rises into upland woods.
Layout: It is a paved path with six wooden bridges over wetlands beginning on Columbia Road opposite Rams Horn Row on the south and terminating at Larkspring Row on the north. There are a few short dirt paths west into the floodplain and a few paved spurs east into parts of nearby Dorsey Hall. About 50 feet north of the Columbia Rd entrance, a square trail post marks a wood chip path to a wooden observation platform. The area is sometimes good for Rusty Blackbirds and an occasional Wood Duck. The path continues for a short distance ending in a loop. The paved path runs mostly in view of the Little Patuxent River on the west and houses on the east. There are houses across the river but few of them are visible much of the year; however, one is rarely out of sight or sound of habitation. The bridges can be valuable observation points during migration, particularly if there has been sufficient precipitation to produce standing water.
Best Time to Visit: As with most locations, birding is best during spring and fall migration. Because the path is shaded, it can be a pleasant walk even in summer. Early weekday mornings and Sunday mornings are likely to be the most quiet. Birds seem relatively undisturbed by the noise from adjoining yards, but mowers and other machines can make it difficult to hear bird songs. Fall foliage is attractive and there is a fine variety of early spring wildflowers.
Birding: A good sampling of floodplain residents are present during the breeding season from Wood Ducks, Red-shouldered Hawks, and Barred Owls through woodpeckers, flycatchers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Wood Thrushes, Northern Parulas, Louisiana Waterthrushes and Scarlet Tanagers. Spring is the best time to look for Northern Waterthrushes and Rusty Blackbirds in the ooze of the first or second bridges (numbers are incised on the bridges; numbering begins at Columbia Road). There may be a good variety of migrants on some days during migration—or there may be almost nothing. Winter produces few birds. When walking this path during wet weather at any time of the year, watch your footing on the wooden bridges which are slippery when wet. Since most of the bridges are slanted on at least one end, caution should be exercised.
Highlights: An old-growth tulip-tree and spring wildflowers.
Handicapped Access: Paved paths, gentle grades. Hilly section near Larkspring Row can be avoided by turning around and returning to Columbia Road. All wooden bridges should be navigated with caution when wet or leaf-covered.