Nestled in a crook of the Patuxent River just below Route 4 and just within the borders of Anne Arundel County, Jug Bay is an underappreciated jewel among the multitude of Maryland nature preserves and parks.  At 1,700 acres with 19 miles of trails, it's also no miniature diamond, but rather a multi-karat beauty.  

The Sanctuary is maintained by Anne Arundel County and is a fee area with modest rates of a few dollars per vehicle but also a modest number of parking spaces during its busiest periods.  The cozy little Visitor Center offers trail maps some educational displays and activities for children.  But the real glory of Jug Bay are the trails both terrestrial an marine, as in addition to miles of hiking kayakers enjoy plying the Patuxent both up and downstream, occasionally to one of the nearby water-approach campsites.  

Many species of waterfowl and fauna of the Mid-Atlantic tidal biome can be found within the sanctuary.  Osprey, Bald Eagles, and many other raptors are endemic, while river otters, beaver and other semi-aquatic creatures roam below.  There are several viewing areas and boardwalks within the park, but opportunity for wildlife spotting abounds just about anywhere you set your feet.  

Nearby

Jug Bay itself is surrounded by public land and includes not only the Sanctuary, but the Jug Bay Natural Area on the West side of the river and the Parris Glendening Nature Preserve just to the North.  Camping, fishing, hiking and paddling opportunities abound.   

Birding 

Jug Bay has been designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon for several years.  Due to the Patuxent estuary's location in an important flyway, its easy to understand why its so many species can be found in on the river and in its tidal marshes.  

Occupying a small stretch of the Western Shore just above the more widely known Calvert Cliffs, Flag Ponds is another gem for those who love the ecological diversity of the great Chesapeake Estuary.  Flag Ponds consists of over 500 acres of tidal marsh, sand beaches, forest and, of course, fresh water ponds.  

One thing to know about Flag Ponds is that due to its popularity and relatively limited parking, it is prone to crowding.  The solution to that, exercised by Calvert County Parks, is to cut off access if there are too many guests and/or too little parking.  Not a bad thing, but something to be aware of when planning. Luckily, Calvert Cliffs is just a few miles down the road.  

Birding

Flag Ponds is an excellent spot for birders due to the confluence of salt and freshwater habitat, open water and coastal forest.  Waders and dabblers of various stripes can be found here year round and Green Herons seem to love this spot.  Natural nesting sites abound for birds like Ospreys and Bald Eagles and I have personally seen as many as 6 Osprey at one time in the same football field-sized patch of shoreline.  Bald Eagles are not uncommon visitors and their visits are probably due in some part to the park's location due West of the Blackwater across the Bay, a favorite nesting site for the species.     

Chapel Point is a State Park in name, but is moderately developed, with a few trails that give access to beaches and riverfront along the Port Tobacco River.  While theoretically encompassing more than 800 acres, due to the lack of signage, parking or easily accessible on-site maps, the feel is definitely more modest.  The State is working with Charles County to develop the site, with concept maps showing some potentially exciting plans for the future.  

For now, the park offers a narrow sand beach that stretches over a few hundred yards around the namesake point as well as an area around half a mile to the North at Deep Point.  Fishing and picnicking opportunities are on offer and parts of the park are open for hunting in season.  Boaters can also take advantage of access to the river for kayaking and other activities.

Operating from the St. Ignatius Church nearby, Jesuits maintained the area as a farm for around 300 years, beginning in roughly 1640. According the Park Service, the Chapel Point farm and vicinity "included a warehouse, wharf, grist mill, tavern, and store and the community included both African slaves and Irish servants."  It's unclear whether the slaves were maintained by the Church, though it seems highly likely.  Additionally, perhaps echoing the contemporaneous development of Glen Echo Park to the North of Washington, the "Hotel Belleview" was located at the site in the late nineteenth century and parts of the land were developed for the recreational habits of the day.  Much like Glen Echo, an amusement park opened in 1926.  No obvious traces of the park or hotel are visible today.

Birding

Chapel Point offers the possibility of spotting a variety of shore birds, but is of particular interest for its Osprey and Bald Eagle residents.  Both of these sea raptors nest at or near the park and can be seen competing for fishing rights over the river.  

Nearby

Cedarville State Park

With over 20 miles of trails between its North and South Tracts, two small lakes, numerous ponds and the Patuxent and Little Patuxent rivers flowing through its wooded bounds, the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge is another highly accessible Central Maryland natural area. The Patuxent Research Refuge was established in 1936 by executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  It is unique as the nation’s only national wildlife refuge established to conduct wildlife research. Research activities are mostly conducted by the Eastern Ecological Science Center, USGS.  The Refuge in general, however, is managed by the U.S. Fish and  Wildlife Service and at over 13,000 acres is one of the larger of such preserves in Maryland.

The property is split into Northern and Southern Tracts, with the latter being the more frequently visited.  The Southern Tract contains a large visitor center which provides numerous educational programs including a number aimed at children.  The Southern Tract is also the site of two lakes, one of which, Cash Lake, is open to public activity including fishing and canoeing.  Unfortunately, the Refuge has been one of the many sites that has seen an increase in improper and even illegal behaviors by visitors in the pandemic and post-pandemic era, ranging from unleashed dogs left to roam among shoreline nesting sites to fishing or hiking in prohibited areas.

Birding

Due to the lakes, ponds and rivers, opportunities to view waterfowl abound almost throughout the year.  Osprey typically nest in one or more locations within the park and various waders such as Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets are typically present during appropriate seasons.  The opportunity to view song birds, especially Tree Swallows and Blue Birds is excellent as well, thanks to the range of habitat and a significant nest box program.    

At over 1,400 acres Huntley is the largest nature park administered by Fairfax County (Virginia) and is situated on the intersection of several creeks that have been beaver-engineered to create an extensive wetland that is home to an astounding array of flora and fauna.  There is a small but well maintained visitor center and several miles of trails, including a lengthy boardwalk which meanders across the wetland to a two story observation tower on its southern flank.  The wetlands are surrounded by temperate, lowland forest that provides habitat for a variety of mammals and birds.  

The park is located next to "Historic Huntley," a one-time property of the George Mason family that was prominent in Fairfax County during the Revolution and early years of the 19th century.  The restored mansion is also open to visitors at limited hours.  

Birding

Perhaps no other location with such a short drive of the Beltway is as blessed for birding action.  Numbers of impressive regulars, such as Osprey and Bald Eagles, are always on the wing.  But in addition to the over 200 species one might expect to find, Huntley has a reputation for drawing in the odd visitor, such as a Roseate Spoonbill recently cataloged in the park, a species rarely seen outside of Gulf waters.

Elk Neck is a peninsula in the farthest Northeastern corner of the Chesapeake Bay, most of which is now within the state park boundaries.  Park lands are divided between Turkey Point, at the tip of the peninsula, with its lighthouse and sweeping view of the Bay, and the main park which straddles the land between the Elk River and the Bay proper.  A small area of private holdings separates the two, though there are no gates separating the private and public lands South of Rogue's Harbor Road on Route 272.  

The park has several miles of trails, tent and small cabin camping, beaches and put-ins for boats and kayaks.  Fishing and bird watching are staple activities.  

Birding

Elk Neck is a well known raptor watching spot, including Bald Eagles, which fish the waters offshore with glee.    More than 200 species have been reported near the Turkey Point area of the park alone.  Of particular note is the history of consistent owl nesting on the peninsula.