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Description
Violette's Lock, located on the C&O Canal, is one of the premier birding spots in Montgomery county, Maryland (and the most visited!). With a wide range of habitats - from the Potomac river and rapids (with waterfowl, gulls and terns), to marshy spots on the canal (blackbirds, shorebirds and herons), to forest edges (warblers and migrants in spring and resident species all year round) - it is an easy walk on the wide path, making this a great spot to spend a morning.
Starting in the parking lot, linger in the area, and wander back up the road, listening and looking for birds - especially migrants in spring (give it a little time to warm up). Many species can be found at the bend and beyond (Blue-winged Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Brown Thrasher, vireos, etc).
Over the canal bridge (look for an ever present Eastern Phoebe) you can go either up the canal (Prothonotary Warbler), but most people wander slowly down the canal (less noisy). Before you go very far, you can take a narrow, short path down to the river, or just hang out in the clearing - often a Warbling Vireo can be heard in the Sycamore Trees. Also look out for Baltimore Orioles, Parula and Gnatcatchers, and all sorts of other warblers can pop in at any times during spring (late April to mid-May in this region).
Further down you can come across flocks of Cedar Waxwings, and keep an eye out for the gorgeous Red-headed Woodpecker - often breeding in the area. Look for Louisiana Waterthrush on the canal, and migrant warblers in the trees, on the right of the path - between the river and the canal.
You can continue down (or up) as far as you want - the canal is miles long. Eventually you will either get to Riley's Lock upriver, or Pennyfield downriver, but in all likelyhood will turn around before (usually at the cliffs on the way down).
In winter look for waterfowl, mergansers and gulls and terns on the river, plus Hermit Thrushes, American Robins, goldfinches, all the woodpeckers (sapsucker included). All of the winter sparrows abound in the thickets at this time of year. Even a Barred Owl can be found during the day.
Violette's is well worth a visit - especially in spring - and you should visit a few times to find many of the migrating and resident species. Best is early in the morning, both for birding and the the fact that the canal path is popular with bikers and runners later in the day.
Details
Access
From River Road, turn down Violette's Lock Road, and park in the parking lot. Click on the P in the map for directions or coordinates. There are porta-potties in the parking lot too.