Black Hill/Seneca Creek State Park (long)

andrew l rabin (andyrab@wam.umd.edu)
Thu, 5 Mar 1998 11:57:55 -0500 (EST) 

  Dan,

     Roger Stone and I saw the Eagle and the RH Woodpecker at a different
location (though the boat ramp area is a good place for RH Woodpeckers).
The Eagle and RHW were in another group of dead trees uphill from the
visitor center.  (Roger, if you're out there, could you give more specific
directions?  If not, I'll look at my Black Hill map and pinpoint where we
were.)  

  As far as thinking Seneca Creek State Park (SCSP) is better, it was
mostly a jab at Roger (who lives near Black Hill and considers it "his"
park- I live near SCSP and consider that "my" park).  However, Clopper
Lake at SCSP is smaller and therefore affords better views (in general) of
waterfowl, especially if you don't want to lug around a scope.  Plus, I
can walk to it.  This is probably from what my preference derives.

  I have found SCSP to be productive for my purposes.  There are plenty of
birds and a wide variety of them.  If by "productive" you mean that there
are those birds that everyone gets excited about (RHP's, eagles, rarities,
etc.), then maybe SCSP is not as productive as other places.  I have lived
near the park for only a few months, and am very grateful for being able
to visit it regularly.

  On the lake, which can be circumnavigated via Lakeshore trail (almost 4
miles) in a couple of hours, many ducks make appearances.  This winter I
can remember seeing Ruddys, Ringnecks, a Redhead (a few days ago), Wood
Ducks, Black Ducks, Mallards, Wigeons, Red-breasted Mergansers (14 this
week), Common Mergansers, a Tundra Swan, Buffleheads, and Coots.

  On Lakeshore trail I have see other birds of interest.  In the pine
stands (adjacent to Longdraft Rd, across the lake from Longdraft Rd, and
behind the boat rental area), Red-breasted Nuthatches have been around all 
winter, Great Horned and Barred Owls have made appearances and lately I've
seen a couple of Hermit Thrushes.  Along the stream that is in between the
two pine stands near Longdraft Rd I've seen a Winter Wren.

  As the trail goes past the boat rental area (if you are walking away
from the main entrance to the park and the maintenance area), there is a
small patch of tall grass and brush that is great habitat for sparrows.  I
have seen Pine Siskins and Purple Finches there this winter.  Last summer
I found a Cedar Waxwing building a nest in a pine tree there.

  Continuing around the lake, you get to a road which abuts a bunch of
huge rocks.  The view of the lake from the road is wonderful.  If you pick
up the trail from the road, the wooded area immediately to your right is
great for woodpeckers- Downies, Hairies, Red-bellieds, Pileateds, Flickers
and Sapsuckers (alas, no Red-headeds).  

  I have seen a Phoebe, Wood Ducks, and all of the usual backyard birds 
this winter in the coves on the side of the lake opposite the boat rental. 

  On the other side of Longdraft Rd, there is an active Red-shouldered
Hawk's nest (I was fortunate enough to see the two birds "do the nasty"
yesterday).  Judging by all the drumming I have heard, there will also be
plenty of woodpeckers raising broods there too.  Sharpies, Cooper's and
Red-tails are also common.

  There are bluebird boxes throughout the park.  Last year, a total of 101
bluebirds were fledged from SCSP alone.  Many have stayed in (or migrated
to) the park this winter.

  I realize that I have probably gone on too long, but I'll mention a
couple of other points of interest.  There is a wetland area with an
observation platform that can be accessed from Riffleford Rd.  There is
also a brand new trail (Greenway trail?) on the opposite side of
Riffleford.  A few of us checked it out recently and it's very scenic.  A
Winter Wren, a Swamp Sparrow and a Harrier were the highlights of that
walk.  A short distance away from these two trailheads is a large field
adjacent to a sewage/water building of some sort that is alongside Great
Seneca highway.  Kestrels and Turkeys have been seen there.  There are
also powerline cuts throughout the park that provide nice vistas and
plenty of edge-habitat birds.

  I could go on, but I won't.  Maybe after the breeding season is over
I'll report on the spring & summer birds that are in the park.  I have
seen very few, in fact, almost no people birding in the park when I visit.
Maybe it's just bad timing or maybe it isn't a popular spot.  Either way,
it's a great place to bird (if you are interested in birds as I am).  

  Hope this helps.

Andy Rabin
Gaithersburg, MD
andyrab@wam.umd.edu



On 5 Mar 1998 daniel.eberly@gsa.gov wrote:

>  
>      Hi Andy Rabin, Can you provide the location where you saw the Red 
>      Headed Woodpecker in Black Hill. I assume the Eagle and the Red Headed 
>      Woodpecker were in the dead trees near the boat ramp area.  Since I 
>      have not found Seneca Creek State Park very productive and it is a 
>      very large park, will you provide some specific areas in the park that 
>      you recommend for birding.  Thanks, Dan Eberly
>