Friday, June 14: Nutter’s Neck/Nanticoke River WMA

Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee and Yellow-breasted Chat. Photos courtesy of Frode Jacobsen.

MORNING FIELD TRIP

Nutter’s Neck/Nanticoke River Wildlife Management Area (DRIVING/HIKING)
Date: Friday, June 14
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $30/person (proceeds to benefit the Lower Shore Land Trust)
Guides: Jared Parks, Beth Sheppard & Jim Rapp
Meeting Location: for our exact meeting location, use GPS coordinates: 38.376939, -75.804083. There is no reliable street address. From Cherry Walk Road, drive ~1.8 miles along the dirt road to our meeting location. See the Google Map below.

Dress and prepare for hiking on trails that may be wet and muddy. Waterproof boots are recommended. Please prepare for ticks. Be sure to bring insect repellent. For information about preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.

Northern Bobwhite. Photo credit: Dan Small.

Join your guides Jared Parks and Beth Sheppard of the Lower Shore Land Trust and Jim Rapp of Delmarva Birding as we explore the 1,587-acre Nutter’s Neck Tract of the Nanticoke River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, this area offers some of the best birding in Wicomico County. There are extensive forested areas, open fields, and excellent hedgerows for birding. There are trails for hiking, and plenty of open areas for observation. The tract is bordered on the north by Manumsco and Rewastico Creeks, on the  south by Quantico Creek, and to the west by the Nanticoke River.

More than 170 species have been reported on eBird for Nutter’s Neck. Ospreys nest on the property, and eagles and other raptors are common. Northern Bobwhite nest here. Wild Turkeys are common. During June, the hedgerows provide a feeding and nesting areas for Indigo Buntings, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Prairie Warblers. For more information, please visit the site description on the Birder’s Guide to Maryland & DC.

This field trip is sponsored by the Lower Shore Land Trust through a grant from the Rural Maryland Council.

Nutter’s Neck Conservation

Click on the image for a PDF of the map.

In 1993, the Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Fund and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation assisted the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in purchasing the 1,587-acre Nutter’s Neck tract (Wic. Co.). With this purchase, the Nanticoke River WMA was established to help conserve the wildlife habitats found along this mostly tidal river, and to provide outdoor recreational opportunities for the public to be able to enjoy.

Fields and woodland edges provide habitat for Mourning Dove, Eastern Cottontail, Northern Bobwhite, and American Woodcock. Any trip along the bottomland forests could yield abundant opportunities to see a number of wading birds and waterfowl, as the marshes are extremely productive and support a wide variety of birds. Wild Turkeys have long been established in the area, and Sika Deer continue to expand into habitats surrounding the stream corridors in the watershed.

Google Map

For our exact meeting location, use GPS coordinates: 38.376939, -75.804083. There is no reliable street address. From Cherry Walk Road, drive ~1.8 miles along the dirt road to our meeting location.

Here are some tips to help make your birding adventure safe, fun and comfortable:

  • Dress and prepare for hiking on trails that may be wet and muddy. Waterproof boots are recommended. Please prepare for ticks. Be sure to bring insect repellent. For information about preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
  • Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
  • Bring rain gear if needed. Trips will go rain or shine, unless torrential rains prevent us from viewing wildlife.
  • Try to arrive a little before the scheduled trip departs.
  • Be courteous to your fellow birders. Speak quietly and turn off cell phones during trips.
  • There are no restroom facilities at Nutter’s Neck.

Please note:

  • No cancellations are accepted after June 1, 2024. For a further explanation of our refund policy, please click here.
  • If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions, we will notify you via email. Please note that the email will be sent to all participants BCC, so you may need to check your email spam folder. A full refund will be provided within 15 days.