Howard County Bird Club
Plumtree Path Detailed Information
Habitat: Plumtree Path is adjacent to young floodplain deciduous woods along Plumtree Branch and some beaver-enhanced wetlands with open areas that once were flooded. Some cattails patches still exist, but reed canary grass is rapidly making inroads as water levels drop.
Layout: Plumtree is a paved path. It is adjacent to yards on one side and open space on the other. The vegetation, for the most part is younger than that at Gwynn Acres Path; and there is a view of the sky for much of its length. There is often pedestrian traffic.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and early summer are probably the best times to walk this path with dawn and dusk the best options, although there is more noise from traffic and nearby houses in the evening.
Birding: The most productive section is usually the easternmost third of the loop. The wetlands are seen in glimpses to the east among the trees. You are free to walk into these areas, but access is not always easy. Here and there a deer path may be spotted or openings among the trees may allow closer access. During wet weather, knee boots are required if one wishes to move around more than a short distance off the paved path. During periods of drought, it may be hard to imagine that this area ever attracted many marsh birds, including possible nesting Virginia Rails. Beavers were active previously and then left. Their dams disintegrated and the whole area became much more dry. From time to time, there is evidence that beavers are constructing a dam so perhaps there is hope that some of the area’s former attractiveness will be restored. Upon reaching the east end of the path on Columbia Road, be sure to check the view from both sides of the bridge. On the south side there is water,
some standing dead trees, and a beaver dam. Puddle ducks, herons, and egrets have been spotted from the bridge. The wetlands at one time produced Little Blue Heron, American Bittern, Virginia Rail, Sora, Marsh Wren, and Lincoln’s Sparrow. Frogs are present in large numbers in spring.
Highlights: The area just south of the bridge near the east entrance on Columbia Road and the large section of cattails with adjoining water a few hundred yards south of that. (There is no parking on Columbia Road in this area.)
Handicapped Access: Paved paths, gentle grades. All wooden bridges should be navigated with caution when wet or leaf-covered.