Miami River County Park

Tips for Birding

There are several places to park that give access to the Miami River County Park.

There is a parking area on Carmody Boulevard near the intersection with OH-4 which provides access to the Great Miami River Trail. Walk over the hill to view the river. In the summer you can see good numbers of Cliff Swallows, that nest under the OH-4 bridge. Next, walk towards the woods and look for breeding birds such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Northern Parula, and Yellow-throated Warbler. Further back in the woods is a good place to look for Prothonotary Warblers. Exit the woods and walk to a field of old windmills and watch for Grasshopper Sparrows and Blue Grosbeaks. On the west side of the field, there is a small stand of willows where Willow Flycatchers sometimes breed.

During the fall migration, this is a good location to look for migrant warblers. On the second rock island, there are often good numbers of White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows. Sometimes there are also shorebirds like Yellowlegs, Least, and Pectoral Sandpipers. This is also a reliable area to find Green-winged Teal, Great Egrets, Osprey, Bald Eagle, and occasionally Merlin. In the winter check this area for waterfowl like Tundra Swans, Goldeneye, and all 3 Mergansers as well as American Pipits, Field Sparrows, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. More rarely Eastern Phoebe may be in this area in the middle of winter and in the field, you might see Snow Buntings. In the spring you can see all 6 Swallows, Horned Grebes, and rarely Common Loons.

There are parking lots on Verity Parkway (OH-73). There is a gravel pull-off and two parking lots that give access to the Great Miami River Trail bike path. This area can be reliable for Pileated Woodpeckers and Red-shouldered Hawks.

You can bird this whole area from any of the parking lots. You just have to do a lot of walking.

About this Location

Take the gated southern path from the parking lot to access the river view.  Another entrance/parking area is further south on OH-73. 

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

  • Roadside viewing

Content from Daniel DeLapp

Last updated February 9, 2023