You could be so busy birding that you won’t notice it’s still a bit chilly out on this bird hike at Waredaca Brewing Company. Now is the best season for seeing woodpeckers. Pileated woodpecker, northern flicker, yellow-bellied sapsucker, red-headed woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, and downy woodpecker are all possible at Waredaca. We could see some raptors, such as bald eagle, red-shouldered hawk, merlin, and Cooper’s hawk. The pond attracts hundreds of Canada geese and several species of dabbling ducks such as mallard, bufflehead, common merganser, and lesser scaup. Then there are the usual suspects: cardinal, blue jay, several sparrow species, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, bluebird, white-breasted nuthatch, house finch, goldfinch, Carolina wren, and red-winged blackbird. Possible early spring migrants include the tree swallow and Eastern phoebe. And with our hike ending in the taproom, those cold fingers will thaw while enjoying lunch with a tasty beverage. The total hike length will be two to three miles.
The Waredaca site was originally a boys camp named the WAshington REcreational DAy CAmp, or Waredaca. The site grew into a premier equestrian center and is now the first farm brewery in Montgomery County. The property is certified by the Maryland Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program, one of 20 horse farms in the state to receive the designation.