RFI - McKee-Beshers best spots

[Howard Wu]

Hi, group:

I don't think I've actually been to this place, although I've seen the signs when walking along the towpath.

I actually saved a map which marks several parking lots and 3 sunflower fields. I am thinking about hopping over to finally check it out. Which one(s) are the best birding spots?

In you have any info, or any tips to share (e.g. best time of the day; any unusual hot spots, etc.), please reply to this post, or to me directly. Thanks in advance!

Thanks,

Howard Wu

Herndon, VA

[Marcia Watson]

Howard,

This might get you started, then perhaps some folks might add their personal tips.

https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/mckee-beshers-wildlife-management-area-hughes-hollow/

Marcia 

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Marcia Watson

Patuxent Bird Club 

https://patuxentbirdclub.org/

Maryland Ornithological Society

https://mdbirds.org/

Friends of Patuxent

http://www.friendsofpatuxent.org/

Bowie, Maryland

marsh...@comcast.net

On Jul 20, 2020, at 9:46 PM, Howard Wu <howi...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Jim Felley]

Howard,

This is one of my favorite birding spots, and I encourage you to go.  The birds are plentiful and are often concentrated along the main dike (from the parking lot) and the lateral dike by the signboard.   The best time would be early morning, as would be usual for us birders, but I go whenever I have the opportunity and I rarely have an unproductive trip.

My unproductive trips are usually associated with hunters.  This is a very popular area for hunters and they are plentiful during dove, duck and deer season.  I always wear something bright orange when I bird at McKee-Beshers.  If I see hunters in the main impoundment, or hear nearby gunshots, I usually leave (as do most of the birds, I'm sure).  I don't begrudge the hunters, they like birds and natural areas too, just for different reasons.  I always talk with any that I meet, especially in the parking area.

Also, at times the mosquitoes are awful.  Be prepared!

If I find hunters at McKee-Beshers, I usually head north on River Rd for a mile to Sycamore Landing, or head south on River Rd. to Riley's Lock.

Jim

Jim Felley

Gaithersburg, MD

[Les R Becker]

The main containment area is designated as a dog training area. The hunters tend to arrive by 0900, more so on Sundays than Saturdays, but not reliably so. Weekdays are clearly best if possible. 

TY

Les

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[Matthew Felperin]

Hughes hollow down hunting quarter road is the best birding location, especially in May during migration and for the hooded merganser/wood duck broods. If you go early enough it’s good now, especially for breeding warblers and bitterns. 

Obviously hunters and birders have a different agenda as Jim eludes to, but in all honesty we should be grateful to bird here because mckee beshers is designed specifically for hunting. 

The main sunflower field is on river road but you’d better get there quick as some flowers have gone past peak. You can’t miss it. Parking is crazy there. Buntings, goldfinches, and field sparrows are constantly seen perching on the flowers, as has a scarlet tanager (I’ve only seen him in the trees unfortunately). 

Matthew J. Felperin

On Jul 21, 2020, at 9:15 AM, Les R Becker <lesrb...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[David Crooks]

I used to go to the McKee-Beshers wetlands area a lot over five years ago and saw Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Green Herons, snakes, and other wildlife. Now when I go back it is quiet except for some Red-Winged Blackbirds and dragonflies.

David L.Crooks Photographer, DLCPhotos

703-203-9692 davidl...@gmail.com

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[Matthew Felperin]

David,

I mean yeah, if you go during the mid day July heat you won’t see much! But here are several birds you can see or hear right now at Hughes hollow early in the morning or early evening (in no particular order):

Prothonotary warbler

Yellow billed cuckoo

GB heron

Green heron

Indigo bunting

Orchard oriole

Eastern phoebe

Eastern kingbird

Wood duck

Both night herons

Least bittern

RT hummingbird

C yellowthroat

Hooded warbler

Prairie warbler

N parula

Scarlet tanager

Definitely much more than RW blackbirds and dragonflies!

Matthew J. Felperin

On Jul 21, 2020, at 1:17 PM, David Crooks <davidl...@gmail.com> wrote:



[David Crooks]

Matthew,

To be clear, I was just talking about the wetlands area at the end of Hughes Rd. Yes, I know there are many other birds in the whole McKee-Beshers WMA.

 

Thanks!

David L.Crooks Photographer, DLCPhotos

703-203-9692 davidl...@gmail.com

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[Eric Christian]

Are the fields planted at different times?  The field at the end of Sycamore Land looked as if most of the sunflowers hadn't opened yet when we were there on Sunday (we couldn't park at the main field).

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[Wendy Kates]

I am viewing the map of the Hughes Hollow area now, and wondering:  is Hunting Quarter Road near Hughes Road driveable with a conventional car?  If so, is there a parking area?  

Thanks,

Wendy Kates

[Eric Christian]

I was there Saturday with a Camry and didn't have any problem with the road, just with the crowds.  There are places where passing an oncoming car is a little difficult.  Drive slow, and unless you have a low-rider, you should be fine.

[Scott Young]

Entering Hunting Quarter Road across from Hughes Road is the easiest access to the parking lot next to the empoundments and the usual place people go to bird. The parking lot is about 0.1 miles from the entrance off of River Road and the road is perfectly fine. Traveling beyond the parking lot toward the other entrance off River Road is the part of the drive can be tricky.

Scott Young

Gaithersburg, MD

[Marcia Watson]

Since we’ve been discussing McKee-Beshers, I thought I would share a blog post by Peggy Smith Eppig that she posted yesterday. She biked the section from McKee-Beshers to Great Falls on Sunday. Peggy is a birder and an all-around naturalist and her blog post is full of photos of plants along the trail and details of natural history with  mention of the birds she was hearing. There’s an interesting anecdote about a Whip-poor-will.  You can find her post here: 

http://naturalmidatlantic.blogspot.com/2020/07/md-c-canal-out-and-back-mckee-beshers.html

Marcia 

------------

Marcia Watson

Patuxent Bird Club 

https://patuxentbirdclub.org/

Maryland Ornithological Society

https://mdbirds.org/

Friends of Patuxent

http://www.friendsofpatuxent.org/

Bowie, Maryland

marsh...@comcast.net

On Jul 22, 2020, at 10:39 AM, Scott Young <wsy...@gmail.com> wrote:

[John Stith]

My kid and I biked around McKee-Beshers late this morning. The parking lots along River Rd and Hughes Hollow Rd were full, though maybe parking along the side of the road is allowed? Interesting to see many crayfish crawling on the road near one of the wetlands.

The parking lots on Sycamore Landing Road were nearly empty, including at the end where the very nice sunflower “field #4” is this year.

There are a lot of tree branches down on the canal towpath, probably from the storms last night. We were carrying out bikes over the branches two or three times per mile.

I spent about 15 minutes at the sunflowers and never saw a bird land on one. I gained even more respect for the photographers patient enough to catch such moments!

My favorite birds at M-B this morning were Yellow-Billed Cuckoo and a flycatcher sound I haven’t figured out yet. I’ve attached the recording and appreciate any help with it!

John Stith

Chillum, Md.

[John Stith]

Sorry for the extra email — I forgot my app is partially broken and won’t make mp3s! Here’s a recording that should play.

John

On Thu, Jul 23, 2020 at 3:54 PM Marcia Balestri <mebal...@gmail.com> wrote:

I can’t hear anything on your recording. Could be just me, I suppose.

_____________________

Marcia Balestri
Worcester County, Maryland
mebal...@gmail.com

“...ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." Charles Darwin, 1871 

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<20200723-095438.mp3>

[Matthew Felperin]

White-eyed Vireo!

Matthew J. Felperin

On Jul 23, 2020, at 3:59 PM, John Stith <john....@gmail.com> wrote:



Sorry for the extra email — I forgot my app is partially broken and won’t make mp3s! Here’s a recording that should play.

John

On Thu, Jul 23, 2020 at 3:54 PM Marcia Balestri <mebal...@gmail.com> wrote:

I can’t hear anything on your recording. Could be just me, I suppose.

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Marcia Balestri
Worcester County, Maryland
mebal...@gmail.com

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<20200723-095438.m4a>

[John Stith]

Thanks for the ID!

[Eric Christian]

I went to McKee Beshers this morning.  The first field (off River Road) had many flowers that were past their prime, but was better for birds than the last field (at the end of Sycamore Landing Road), which had most flowers at their peak.

On Monday, July 20, 2020 at 9:45:53 PM UTC-4, Howard Wu wrote: