Hi Michael --

I am replying on-list as well as many might be interested in the same information.

Essentially, you are still welcome to bird at Lilypons at any time. The (very few) exceptions are when they may be hunting on the property, but this is usually only in the "back 40" and you can check at the desk to be sure. This time of year it should not be an issue.

When Lilypons is open -- their winter hours are more restricted, but they get very busy in spring and summer -- they have asked that birders park on the main road (Lilypons Road) and walk in. I still sometimes drive in and park if there are few/no customer cars and I plan to buy something (they sell birdseed, or did earlier in the year at least). But 99% of the time we walk in. You can get a copy of the Lilypons bird list inside the shop (in white house). Several of the staff are bird-savvy as well. 

When they are closed, the property is now gated but we have repeatedly been told to "just climb over the fence" and this by both the owner and staff. I do, however, always wait until there is no traffic passing so as not to give passersby the wrong idea. 

Sometimes you meet staff working off-hours or just driving around, and we always show our bins to them and everyone just waves.

Use common sense, of course -- do not touch pumps for example --  and don't go very close to the residence (red brick home) for politeness' sake.

Lilypons maintains a very healthy colony of Purple Martins and has just built an observation platform near one of the ponds where birders can sit and enjoy the scenery and birds. We are very lucky that this great birding resource is still accessible when so many others have been closed to us (e.g. Summit Hall Turf Farm) so it is a matter of being a good neighbor. Buying something occasionally is also a good thing, after all, a little water garden will also attract birds!

Gail Mackiernan
Colesvile, MD



-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Michael O'Brien <>
> To All:
> 
> Can any one please give me the skinny on birding at Lily Pons. I birded
> there on a somewhat regular basis in the middle sixties and was there a few
> times around 1970 to 74 or so.  Thus, I literally have not been there for
> over 30 years or more.
> 
<snip>