Letterbox Name: Birder Series
Placed by: Tempus Fugit
Number of boxes: 4
Date: March 15, 2003
Town: Boyds
County: Montgomery
State: MD


Difficulty: Moderate; 2 stream crossings; several steep inclines;
might not be appropriate for small children; about 3 miles round
trip; get an early start; bring water

Trail: Natural surface, hiking/mountain biking/horses; great for
birding; lots of deer
(See http://www.mc-mncppc.org/trails/black_hill.shtm for map)

Driving Directions: From Interstate 270, take exit 18 towards Boyds
(Rte. 121). After about 2 mi., you will see the brown sign indicating
a left turn on W. Old Baltimore Rd. to get to the main entrance of
Black Hill Regional Park. Do not turn left. Instead, make a sharp
RIGHT turn to head west on W. Old Baltimore Rd. (You are going to a
remote section of the park with a 3-loop trail.) Proceed about a half-
mile and turn left on Ten Mile Creek Rd. (gravel). Obey the signs and
park only on the right and before the private drive.

Clues: Just beyond the metal gate is Ten Mile Creek. Depending on the
season/water level/your athletic ability, you may be able to jump
across. If not, carefully use the natural bridge. At the sign for
Turkey Hill Loop head to the right. At the top of the hill take a
rest on the bench. Thirty-three paces down from the bench there is a
deer trail on the left leading to a cluster of evergreen trees. Box
1, Aix sponsa, is at the base of the black pine.

After carefully re-hiding Box 1, return to the trail and appreciate
the downhill stroll. At the bottom find a sign for Lake View Trail
and follow to the left. From the sign reading "To Osprey Heights
Loop" count 19 paces down that trail. Look to your left for a tall
multi-trunked tree about 7 paces off the trail. On the downhill side
of this tree, in a cleft, you will find Box 2, Drycopus pileatus. Be
discrete and carefully re-hide box 2.

Return to the trail, heading downhill. Jump the small stream at the
bottom and head uphill again. Here's where you finally find the
Osprey Loop. Follow to the left. Shortly you will come to a split in
the trail follow to the right. When you get to three cut logs on
either side of the trail, take a rest. Look in the base of the fallen
tree from which these logs were cut. Under a rock and some bark you
will find Box 3, Falco spevarious. Carefully re-hide and continue on
the loop.

Soon you will come to another sign for the loop on your right. Stop
and face left toward a cornfield. Walk about 10 paces, then look for
a stump about 7 paces into the trees on the left. In the base of the
stump, behind some bark Box 4, Raphus cucullatus. A true rara avis!

Complete this loop, going back the way you came. Follow the lakeshore
back to Ten Mile Creek and your car.

I hope you enjoyed your hike!
donnas28@juno.com