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Description
Little Bennett Regional Park is a great place to spend a morning in, especially in spring, as it has a nice range of residents with a very good spring migration.
Starting at Wilson Mill parking spot, you can see Eastern Bluebirds, sparrows and swallows. Following the trail through the grasses, as you get close to the forests, stop to scan the trees for migrating warblers and singing Yellow-throated Vireos and Scarlet Tanagers. In the forest, stop at the creek to listen for Louisiana Waterthrush, turn to the right , and bird slowly as the forest canopy can be full of warblers. Near the next opening, turn right again (Stoney Brook Trail), cross the little bridge over the creek, listen for vireos, warlbers etc.
Down to large bridge crossing the river (now Beaver Valley Trail) is also usually good for warlbers, goldfinches, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, etc. Blue-winged Warbler are often seen around this area, plus American Redstarts, Northern Parula, and other goodies. Crossing the bridge, look for Red-headed Woodpecker, Prairie Warlber, and White-eyed Vireo. The trails can also have many interesting species - such as Kentucky Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Pewee.
At the Western Piedmont Trail, turn left and bird the forest edges. Further along, take the circular Wim's Meadow trail - and on the edges of forest in tall shrubs, listen for the strange whistles, cackles ad chuckles of the Yellow-breasted Chat, while listening for Prairie Warblers. In winter, this can also be a good spot for Hermit Thrush and sparrows. Eventually the Peidmont Trail (a road) will meet a trail again (Bennett Ridge Trail), and you can return via some nice swampy area (Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler), through a clearing (Indigo Buntings), and upland forest (listen for Scarlet Tanagers, Wood Thrushes, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Acadian Flycatchers). Turn right to go down Mound Builder Trail (named after the endemic ants), and back to Wilson Mill Trail.
In spring (1st two weeks of May), keep an eye and ear out in forest clearnings up Mound Builder Trail for passing flocks of warblers! This area should be birded at least once or twice a week from late April to mid-May to catch all the different migrants.
This circular route can be done in reverse, and is a good 6km hike.
Details
Access
Little Bennett Regional Park is located in Montgomery County. It lies just a few miles from Interstate 270. There are lots of parking spots, but the best area in spring for birding starts at Wilson Mill parking area. Click on the P in the map for directions or coordinates. From the Wilson Mill parking area you can explore the forest that side of the park. Little Bennett Regional Park is open from sunrise to sunset, year round. The circular walk indicated on the map is about 6 km.
Terrain and Habitat
ForestConditions
Flat , HillyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
NoGood birding season
Spring , All year roundBest time to visit
Spring migrationRoute
Narrow trail , Wide pathDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
There is a terrific network of trails - so birding is possible almost everywhere - from deep forest species, to grasslands and edge habitat species.
Links
- Little Bennett eBird Hotspot
- https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/little-bennett-regional-park