Calvert Cliffs Regulars, Some Help Planning Please

[JimTh]

It looks like work will be sending me to DC in 2 or 3 weeks. I really want to visit the Calvert Cliffs to do some collecting. From my reading, there are 4 possible points:

1. Calvert Cliffs State Park

2. Flag Ponds

3. Matoaka Cottages

4. Brownies Beach aka Bayfront Park

Assuming I get to DC on the 23rd around noon, high tide is around 1pm which is about 1 hour before I could get there. Is collecting at high tide even doable? I assume I would be wading in about a foot of water the whole time, plus whatever waves come in. Is any one of these places better for collecting at high tide than the others? Would I be better off trying to sieve/screen if it's high tide? I'm assuming I would have a hard time seeing anything through the moving water. Low tide is not until 7pm, I'd really like to make use of as much time as I can.

Also, I realize I'll need to ask this again closer to the date, but any jellyfish or algae bloom issues?

[Troodon]

I've found Brownies beach far better than the rest as long as you go far right towards the cliffs when you enter the beach area. Teeth can be pristine if from a recent fall. Large teeth are rare. Collecting at high tide can be problematic depending on the moon and wind direction and can be impossible if everything works against you. You can use a screen most of the time except low tides and its easy. My best results however is walking the beach and periodically screening for smaller specimens. Every year is different but jellyfish are around especially later in the summer but are just nuisance.

The collecting area at Calvert Park beach is small and usually full of people, not worth the long hike to the beach.

Flags pond always delivers teeth, mostly small. Lots of worn teeth since there are no cliffs and the teeth come from the cliffs further north.

Makoata is not best for teeth but shells.

Edited July 9, 2014 by Troodon

[Scylla]

Even at high tide you will find fossils. I agree with what Troodon said above. If small teeth are OK with you then you can just sit by the stream running out at Brownies beach and will find a couple of hundred in a day as the waves and stream current constantly wash the sand around. I did that once, but now I mostly walk the beach along the cliffs.

[Scylla]

PS, I will be in the DC area the weekend of the 19th. I might be able to swing a day at Calvert.

[AvalonFB]

If you dont want to a pay a fee to enter brownies beach you can use a hiking trail thats near the parking lot of brownies beach, the trail will bypass the people collecting money. This will save you about $12 per person. After a while the fees start to add up so using this trail can be very helpful.

[Auspex]

Collecting at high tide will restrict the areas that you can get to (waves breaking on the face of the cliffs prevent passage to the next beach), and is not optimal for the areas you can get to. If it is your one shot, by all means go, but with more limited expectations.

[Troodon]

On the fees, its expensive but other than using the trails I like to get there before it opens at 6am and avoid them completely. Parking is very limited another reason to get there early.

[Scylla]

I don't mind the fees. I figure if fossil hunters contribute to the local economy they are less likely to close the site to us.

[JimTh]

I had a nice reply typed up then I hit Backspace and lost it!!! Argh!

Anyway, thanks for the help so far. I think I'll start with Brownies then maybe Matoaka if I have the time.

I'll plan on walking some and screening some. For screening, I assume scooping sand/digging small holes on the beach between high and low tide lines is allowed?

Shorts and Crocs clogs/sandals proper attire?

Troodon, are you referring to fossilized shells at Matoaka? I'd like to find some of those too.

[Troodon]

JimTh

You should have something on your feet it can get very slippery where there is no beach sand and there can be broken glass around. I typically wear a bathing suit so If I get wet not a problem. The shells at Matoaka are from the same formation as Brownies so its all Miocene.

[Auspex]

BTW, it's jellyfish season; I have no recent intelligence on their presence, but when wind and tide conspire the results can be...impressive.

[Scylla]

I usually wear boots or waders, the kids wear crocs. I wear long pants and long sleve shirts for sun protection, but shorts are more common. Just fill in any holes you make.

[Chesapeeker]

No matter the tide state, I've had a lot of success at Brownie's by raking accumulated pebbles/stones from just inside the waterline up onto the beach and letting wave action do the sorting. Keep your eyes peeled and be ready to grab whatever is exposed before the next wave washes it away. Good luck!

-Mark

[Wolffish]

Everything noted by the folks above is correct. I'm a surface scanner who frequents Brownies and the rake / kick the debris line material onto the higher reaches of the waves will always yield a lot of teeth here, albeit most are small.

Plan the trip according to the tides, but be prepared for anything - yesterday, the high tide was supposed to peak at 5:30 PM and be a moderately high tide. I like a falling tide, about half way down, so the late evening looked good. Except - no one told the Bay Gods. Stiff winds from the SE pushed the high tide higher than expected (add in a full moon) and it literally never went back out. Tough evening collecting - but still better than not going at all!

Matoaka has teeth, but not nearly as plentiful as Brownies. But - great shells at Matoaka. BIG pectans, nice variety.

[Optimist]

There was no jellyfish yet this past weekend.

[sithga]

Can anyone tell me if the Matoaka Cabins area remains open to the public (for a day fee)? I called the telephone number on its website to find it is "no longer in service." Further browsing indicates Matoaka may be closed due to a family health issue. Appreciate any info (and, most importantly, hope the Matoaka owners/family get through whatever travails they experiencing.)

[mkrofdrms]

Hello everyone,

Pretty much agree with all it's said here but just to add ; I was at Matoaka last week, so it's open, I hope the old man isn't sick as I didn't see him, and yes Matoaka its shell area, although I have a great 2 1/4 make from there, Brownies gave me a beating last weekend, it was high tide and rough, now that was early in the morning,and last as for the fees if you arrive before 7AM it's free, I hate to pay 16 bucks for parking, a yes parking at the shopping center its an option then walking to the boardwalk park, 17th street I believe ... I'm in the area this week, but so far I'm not liking the winds, ENE at 11 mph, that could be bad...

MK

[JimTh]

Unfortunately, I never made it out there in July/August. Now I'm scheduled to be out there around Oct 15. What are the cool weather methods? Knee boots? Hip boots? How do you collect in winter on the beach? Is there enough exposed sand at low tide that I can stay dry?

[obsessed1]

The water is typically warmer in October than is was in May. This time of year I'm still wet wading. When I can get out this is.