Located within the Magic Triangle, Webb Royce Swamp has historically been a great birding location with a variety of breeding ducks, Great Blue Herons, and Red-winged Blackbirds. The swamp is much drier than it was in the past due to the loss of dam-building beavers, but it can still be a productive area spring through fall.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 0.3 miles, round-trip
• Wheelchair accessible

Birding

The surrounding forests and forest edges provide habitats for a variety of birds such as breeding Baltimore Oriole and Eastern Kingbird, and the marshy area itself can be good for Virginia Rail, Red-winged Blackbird, and if there is water, puddle ducks.

Webb Royce Swamp is reached by a 700-foot-long accessible trail. This hardened trail travels through a field in the early stages of succession, then crosses a hedgerow into another field that is actively mowed before ending at a raised pad overlooking the swamp. The pad provides unblocked views across a large expanse of the swamp and serves as a turn-around spot for wheelchairs. The variety of habitats seen from the access trail provides an opportunity to view a wide range of bird species and other wildlife.

Keep your eyes open! You might even spot an elusive Ring-necked Pheasant. 

How to get there

From the intersection of Route 9N and Route 22 in Westport, follow Route 22. Continue for 0.5 miles to Lake Shore Road on the right. Follow Lake Shore Road for 4.9 miles to Clark Road on the left. Drive Clark Road for 0.8 miles to the trailhead on the right.