Howard County Bird Club
Marriottsville Road, PVSP
Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104
Size: A section of the 14,000-acre Patapsco Valley State Park (PVSP) on both sides of the South Branch of the Patapsco River. The river in this area is the boundary between Howard County and Carroll County.
Habitat: Mostly upland deciduous woods, developed areas near the road, and open areas adjacent to the railroad tracks and at a pipeline crossing downstream.
Best Months: April and May; late spring and early summer for nesting Neotropical species; September.
Coverage Time: Several hours to a half day.
Trails/Paths: Trails lead upstream and downstream.
Notable Birds: Wild Turkey, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Common Raven, Veery, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-white
Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Hooded Warbler.
Amenities: No facilities. Although outside the scope of this website, the McKeldin Area, PVSP, is 0.7 miles north on Marriottsville Road in Carroll County. It has full facilities, is open 9:00 a.m. to sunset, and offers excellent birding.
It is a fee area.
Handicapped Access: Limited, although it is sometimes possible to see/hear Yellow-throated Warblers from the parking area. Level gravel parking.
Operation and Hours: State park hours are 8:00 a.m. till dusk. No fee area.
Special Attractions: In April and early May, this is one of the best areas in the county for Cerulean and Yellow-throated warblers.
Bow Hunting: There may be a deer hunting season in the fall and winter. See the Hunting Guide at Department of Natural Resources. There is no hunting in the bridge area.
Nearby Sites: Alpha Ridge Park, Mount Pleasant,
Henryton Road, Woodstock Road.
Compiler: Scott Berglund
