Mud Level Road
Cumberland
DESCRIPTION: This stretch of road features grasslands and several fields which get flooded by heavy rains in August and September and attract migrating shorebirds. Grasshopper, Savannah, and Vesper sparrows breed here and Dickcissel have bred here in invasion years. In winter, this area can yield Rough-legged Hawk and Short-eared Owl as well as field birds such as Horned Lark and Snow Bunting.

DIRECTIONS: From US 11 and PA 696 in Shippensburg, go 1.8 miles north on PA 696 and turn right (east) on Mud Level Road. The next 4.5 miles to the T with Running Pump Road and the 0.5 mile section of Running Pump Road north to Ridge Road are the best areas to bird. Measuring the distance from PA 696, the following spots are particularly good. At 2.4 miles on the left is a field which frequently floods, but also has had Dickcissel and Barn Owl. At the intersection with Duncan Road (2.9 miles), the fields on the northwest and northeast corners are good for Horned Lark, Snow Bunting, and Lapland Longspur in winter. Go another 0.4 miles to a small parking area on the right (next to an electrical transfer station). The field on the north side of the road here is frequently flooded in spring and fall. The field on the south side of the road is good for grassland birds in spring and summer. The section from 3.5 to 4 miles on the south side of the road gets flooded periodically by the stream paralleling the road. Running Pump Road is good for general grassland species, depending on which crops are planted each year. There is a Purple Martin colony 0.3 mile north of Ridge Road on Running Pump Road.

 

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Posted: 2009-10-24 00:00:00
Updated: