Cecil Birding Hotspots
Cecil County Landfill
| Current conditions | No recent report. Please send reports to mww@udel.edu. |
| Description | Cecil County Landfill is a public landfill - that is, it is open to county residents and businesses for routine trash disposal and recycling. Birders may ask permission to enter the landfill during normal business hours in order to view the thousands of gulls that congregate there. The landfill may also be a good place for raptors and crows, jays, and other trash-loving birds. It may be a good idea to call before coming to assure permission to enter. |
| How to get there | From Elkton, take Rt. 7 west toward North East. The Landfill
is located about 3.5 miles from the Rt. 7/Rt. 40 junction, on the south
(left) side of the road.
From North East, take Rt. 7 east toward Elkton. The Landfill is located about 1.3 miles from the Rt. 7/Rt. 272 junction, on the south (right) side of the road The landfill entrance road is marked with a large sign and is near the top of Bacon Hill. There is a little white wooden church on the corner. |
| Map reference | De Lorme MD State Atlas Book: map page 77; grid B6.
ADC Cecil County Map Book: map page 11; grid K9 (entrance road). |
| What to do after arrival | Drive straight ahead on the entrance road to the guardhouse and get
in the lane marked "Residential Vehicles." Stop at the guardhouse
and ask if you may enter to look at birds and where they would like you
to park. The usual spot is at the top of a closed cell; to
reach this point, drive straight ahead from the guardhouse, up a hill;
near the crest of the hill, look for a gravel road on the right.
Turn right here and follow the road to the edge of the hill, where you
can park and look out over the landfill activities below. Gulls will
be swirling and feeding near the landfill machines, and will be resting
in other areas, probably including around your car. It is best to
stay in the car and use it as a blind.
On your way out, stop at the guardhouse until they wave you out. |
| Birds to look for |
|
| Hours/Fees/Amenities | Open Monday through Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No fee for birding. County residents can dump their trash while they bird. The nearest public restroom is in the North East Town Park. |
| What to bring | A spotting scope will be useful. |
| Difficulty of walking | No walking. It is best to stay in the car. |
| Personal safety | Very safe. No hunting is allowed, and landfill workers are always on duty during access hours. |
| Nearby sites | North East Town Park, Elk Neck State Forest, Meadow Park in Elkton.. |
| For more information | Call the Landfill at 410-996-6275. |
|
The Cecil Bird Club thanks veteran gull-watcher Gene Scarpulla for his help with this site guide. Copyright 1998, 1999 Cecil Bird Club; All rights reserved. May be printed for personal use but may not be reproduced in any form for mass or commercial distribution without permission of the Executive Committee of the Cecil Bird Club. |
|
Turkey
Point Hawk Watch