Immature bald Eagle
(photo by Bob Anderhalt)
The following photos courtesy of Bob Anderhalt . . .
#2 Codorus State Park
Property Manager: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (717) 637-2816
GPS address: 2600 Smith Station Road, Hanover, PA, 17331
Hours: Dawn until Dusk
Parking: There are many parking areas within the largest state park in the county. Most are good for birding. Popular accesses are the Marina Day Use Area, Main Launch Day Use Area, LaHo Trailhead, and the two Black Rock Road parking areas (Black Rock Launch) (Mary Ann Furnace Trail).
Restrooms: The Main Launch Day Use Area and Marina Day Use areas have restrooms available year round.
Safety Reminders: Hunting and waterfowl hunting is permitted in some areas of the park. Wear orange during hunting season. Cell phones do not always work in this park. Always carry a map. Mountain biking and horseback riding are permitted here in some areas.
Best Birding: All seasons, dawn until dusk.
Site Description: Codorus State Park is an amazing birding location. Lake Marburg is a 1,275 acre lake that sits inside 3,500 acres of state owned land in southwestern York County. This park is the largest and most diverse birding location in York. Codorus State park has many miles of walking paths but does not have a walking trail that loops all 26 miles of the lake’s shoreline (that would be a long hike). To best scan the park for birds it is typically necessary to visit a few of the parking areas as the lake has many coves not visible from one location. It takes a sustained effort to scan this entire property for birds on a given day.
Along with common Atlantic Flyway waterbirds recent sightings (in the last 5 years) from the open water on Lake Marburg include Red-necked Grebe, Eared Grebe, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, American White Pelican, Surf Scoter, Black Tern, and Black Skimmer. At the Black Rock Flats (a shallow cove at the southwest corner of the lake) the following uncommon to rare for York shorebirds and waders have been recorded in the last 5 years American Golden-Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Stilt Sandpiper, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, and Tricolored Heron. Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, both yellowlegs, and Spotted Sandpiper are typically reported here in spring or fall as long as the flats are exposed and water levels are not too low or high. The Mary Ann Furnace Trail which gives great looks of the Black Rock Flats is likely one of the best trails for shorebirds, songbirds and woodland birds in the county too. If you aren’t impressed with the birding resume of this park I will mention a mega-rarity recorded from a few years back at Codorus State Park. In October of 1991 a record of Ross’s Gull was made here, fewer than 5 records exist in the state in recent years. The large amount of open water draws migrants of many species making this a must visit for any birder in York County.
At the Marina Day Use Area there is an observation area known as the eagle viewing area by local birders. It sits on top of a hill that looks down at two islands. This area on top of the hill is great to view a large portion of the eastern half of the lake. The closer longer island (Long Island) is often good for surprise shorebirds, ducks, or waders. Birds on the water behind Long Island and Round Island won’t be visible but sometimes boaters, changing viewing angles, and patience gives a birder chances to view what may not be visible from a given vantage point at a given moment. This location is known for Bald Eagles, as many folks were aware of the famous webcam eagles from Codorus State Park. They are often visible from this hill. The marina and docks to the south of the hill were good for large numbers of American Coots in past winters. A sidewalk connects the docks and is a good way to get different views of the area south of the marina. The coots would often be viewed within the cove by Dock A. Eagles have been viewed attempting to grab the birds off the water. Ring-billed Gulls often perch indiscriminately on the docks in the winter time as well. Scan through them to be sure other species of gulls haven’t joined them. During migration spring and fall scan the lake areas to the south for ducks, grebes, and loons.
The La Ho Trail has parking off of PA-216 and other access points on secondary roads. The trail goes around the Wildasin Flats cove. The Old Wildasin Cemetery is not far from the lakes edge along the trail. The path has Hermit Thrush and typical winter species in the cold months and is productive in May for spring songbird migrants. The back of the cove is great edge habitat and a great place to stop, look, and listen for a few minutes. From the La Ho Trail parking continue East on PA-216 making a left on to Sinsheim Road will take you to the next great area for birding. Sinsheim Road has the horse friendly Ranger Trail going through good habitat. It covers serious ground including ground near the Main Launch area on Sinsheim Road. The Main Launch area is another good location to view waterfowl on the lake, and it has a feeder station maintained (October-March) by the York Audubon Society and local birders. By the pull off along Sinsheim Cove a portion of the Ranger Trail goes into a thick stand of Norway Spruce. Barred Owl has been viewed here in winter among the spruce trees as well as many great spring migrants in the warmer months. The cove itself is certainly worth checking for ducks. One can see more of the lake at the Main Launch Day Use Area and a scan of the lake there is likely to turn up something interesting on the water.
The Mary Ann Furnace Trail may be the best trail for birding in York. Park at the small lot on Black Rock Road. After crossing a small foot bridge over a little creek you will be surrounded by a thicket that is often bouncing with birds year round. Sparrows in winter, warblers in spring and fall, Common Yellowthroat and other breeding birds during summer, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak among others during migration. After a walk on a small boardwalk take time to scan the Black Rock Flats from the small observation deck. Continue up the hill and stay left, peak out at the flats when the trail lowers back down to the level of the lake further down the trail. The Mary Ann Furnace Trail is a series of figure 8 loops weaved around each other through forest and edge habitat between the camping area and Black Rock Road. The trail can be accessed from the camping area as well. The camping area has great birding as well. Black-and-white Warbler and Swainson’s Thrush can be found there during migration in good numbers. After you complete the hike while parked near Black Rock Road one can drive up the road to see Cliff Swallows as they nest under the bridge (mid-May to the end of June) over the creek entering the lake just west of the Black Rock Boat Launch. This creek is called Furnace Creek it sometimes has exposed mudflats and can be good for shorebirds and waders.
The Mountain Bike Area on Bankert Road has potential for woodland birds but is an area with a lot of tick activity. Wearing long pants when birding is always a good idea. The fashionable tucking the pants into the socks is helpful here, and good birds await the adventurous here. The cove near the Visitor Center can be good for songbirds, but is not nearly as popular among birders as Mary Ann Furnace. The Friends of Codorus help maintain bird feeding stations at the visitor center. The annual York Christmas Bird count circle is centered on Codorus State Park and the visitor center is often a meeting place for counters on that day, and a great place to get information about bird sightings in the park. Other less popular options for birding at Codorus include scanning from the following locations; Smith Station Launch on Smith Station Road and the launch on Hoff Road. Birding by boat is also successful here. Hidden Cove near the sailboat area can have some surprises in it as well. This area closes from Oct. 31- Apr. 1st. One can park out near the gate and walk back, but please do not block the gate. This area is great for viewing the eagles as well. This park is so big it is difficult to choose where to go. When in doubt the Marina Day Use Area and Mary Ann Furnace Trail rarely disappoint birders.
Property Manager: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (717) 637-2816
GPS address: 2600 Smith Station Road, Hanover, PA, 17331
Hours: Dawn until Dusk
Parking: There are many parking areas within the largest state park in the county. Most are good for birding. Popular accesses are the Marina Day Use Area, Main Launch Day Use Area, LaHo Trailhead, and the two Black Rock Road parking areas (Black Rock Launch) (Mary Ann Furnace Trail).
Restrooms: The Main Launch Day Use Area and Marina Day Use areas have restrooms available year round.
Safety Reminders: Hunting and waterfowl hunting is permitted in some areas of the park. Wear orange during hunting season. Cell phones do not always work in this park. Always carry a map. Mountain biking and horseback riding are permitted here in some areas.
Best Birding: All seasons, dawn until dusk.
Site Description: Codorus State Park is an amazing birding location. Lake Marburg is a 1,275 acre lake that sits inside 3,500 acres of state owned land in southwestern York County. This park is the largest and most diverse birding location in York. Codorus State park has many miles of walking paths but does not have a walking trail that loops all 26 miles of the lake’s shoreline (that would be a long hike). To best scan the park for birds it is typically necessary to visit a few of the parking areas as the lake has many coves not visible from one location. It takes a sustained effort to scan this entire property for birds on a given day.
Along with common Atlantic Flyway waterbirds recent sightings (in the last 5 years) from the open water on Lake Marburg include Red-necked Grebe, Eared Grebe, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, American White Pelican, Surf Scoter, Black Tern, and Black Skimmer. At the Black Rock Flats (a shallow cove at the southwest corner of the lake) the following uncommon to rare for York shorebirds and waders have been recorded in the last 5 years American Golden-Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Stilt Sandpiper, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, and Tricolored Heron. Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, both yellowlegs, and Spotted Sandpiper are typically reported here in spring or fall as long as the flats are exposed and water levels are not too low or high. The Mary Ann Furnace Trail which gives great looks of the Black Rock Flats is likely one of the best trails for shorebirds, songbirds and woodland birds in the county too. If you aren’t impressed with the birding resume of this park I will mention a mega-rarity recorded from a few years back at Codorus State Park. In October of 1991 a record of Ross’s Gull was made here, fewer than 5 records exist in the state in recent years. The large amount of open water draws migrants of many species making this a must visit for any birder in York County.
At the Marina Day Use Area there is an observation area known as the eagle viewing area by local birders. It sits on top of a hill that looks down at two islands. This area on top of the hill is great to view a large portion of the eastern half of the lake. The closer longer island (Long Island) is often good for surprise shorebirds, ducks, or waders. Birds on the water behind Long Island and Round Island won’t be visible but sometimes boaters, changing viewing angles, and patience gives a birder chances to view what may not be visible from a given vantage point at a given moment. This location is known for Bald Eagles, as many folks were aware of the famous webcam eagles from Codorus State Park. They are often visible from this hill. The marina and docks to the south of the hill were good for large numbers of American Coots in past winters. A sidewalk connects the docks and is a good way to get different views of the area south of the marina. The coots would often be viewed within the cove by Dock A. Eagles have been viewed attempting to grab the birds off the water. Ring-billed Gulls often perch indiscriminately on the docks in the winter time as well. Scan through them to be sure other species of gulls haven’t joined them. During migration spring and fall scan the lake areas to the south for ducks, grebes, and loons.
The La Ho Trail has parking off of PA-216 and other access points on secondary roads. The trail goes around the Wildasin Flats cove. The Old Wildasin Cemetery is not far from the lakes edge along the trail. The path has Hermit Thrush and typical winter species in the cold months and is productive in May for spring songbird migrants. The back of the cove is great edge habitat and a great place to stop, look, and listen for a few minutes. From the La Ho Trail parking continue East on PA-216 making a left on to Sinsheim Road will take you to the next great area for birding. Sinsheim Road has the horse friendly Ranger Trail going through good habitat. It covers serious ground including ground near the Main Launch area on Sinsheim Road. The Main Launch area is another good location to view waterfowl on the lake, and it has a feeder station maintained (October-March) by the York Audubon Society and local birders. By the pull off along Sinsheim Cove a portion of the Ranger Trail goes into a thick stand of Norway Spruce. Barred Owl has been viewed here in winter among the spruce trees as well as many great spring migrants in the warmer months. The cove itself is certainly worth checking for ducks. One can see more of the lake at the Main Launch Day Use Area and a scan of the lake there is likely to turn up something interesting on the water.
The Mary Ann Furnace Trail may be the best trail for birding in York. Park at the small lot on Black Rock Road. After crossing a small foot bridge over a little creek you will be surrounded by a thicket that is often bouncing with birds year round. Sparrows in winter, warblers in spring and fall, Common Yellowthroat and other breeding birds during summer, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak among others during migration. After a walk on a small boardwalk take time to scan the Black Rock Flats from the small observation deck. Continue up the hill and stay left, peak out at the flats when the trail lowers back down to the level of the lake further down the trail. The Mary Ann Furnace Trail is a series of figure 8 loops weaved around each other through forest and edge habitat between the camping area and Black Rock Road. The trail can be accessed from the camping area as well. The camping area has great birding as well. Black-and-white Warbler and Swainson’s Thrush can be found there during migration in good numbers. After you complete the hike while parked near Black Rock Road one can drive up the road to see Cliff Swallows as they nest under the bridge (mid-May to the end of June) over the creek entering the lake just west of the Black Rock Boat Launch. This creek is called Furnace Creek it sometimes has exposed mudflats and can be good for shorebirds and waders.
The Mountain Bike Area on Bankert Road has potential for woodland birds but is an area with a lot of tick activity. Wearing long pants when birding is always a good idea. The fashionable tucking the pants into the socks is helpful here, and good birds await the adventurous here. The cove near the Visitor Center can be good for songbirds, but is not nearly as popular among birders as Mary Ann Furnace. The Friends of Codorus help maintain bird feeding stations at the visitor center. The annual York Christmas Bird count circle is centered on Codorus State Park and the visitor center is often a meeting place for counters on that day, and a great place to get information about bird sightings in the park. Other less popular options for birding at Codorus include scanning from the following locations; Smith Station Launch on Smith Station Road and the launch on Hoff Road. Birding by boat is also successful here. Hidden Cove near the sailboat area can have some surprises in it as well. This area closes from Oct. 31- Apr. 1st. One can park out near the gate and walk back, but please do not block the gate. This area is great for viewing the eagles as well. This park is so big it is difficult to choose where to go. When in doubt the Marina Day Use Area and Mary Ann Furnace Trail rarely disappoint birders.