Birding at Newell's Run

Newport, Ohio

Visiting this Site

Newport, Ohio

General Information

Address

Newport, Ohio.

County/Counties

Washington

DeLorme Page Number and Coordinates

(7th Edition and earlier) page #73, Inset – slightly below and left of center of inset.

Nearest Town or City

2.1 miles southwest of Newport, about 11.4 miles northeast of Marietta, Ohio.

Directions from Nearest Town or City

From Newport, follow Ohio route 7 south about 2.1 miles. An island will appear in the Ohio River, and just before you get to the island take a right just past a produce stand. (Newells Run Rd). The backwater is now on your left. If you miss this turn, there is another right after about 1/4 mile, (Mud Lane) just past the Spinning Wheel bar. Now the backwater is on your right. Follow the road around the backwater and scan for waterfowl.

From Marietta, take Ohio route 7 north. About 8.3 miles from the I-77 overpass you will come to Willow Island lock & Dam. Another 3.1 miles will bring you to Mud Lane, on the left. Turn left onto Mud Lane and follow the road around the backwater, which is on your right.

About Newell’s Run

The site is a backwater of the Ohio River. The backwater is maybe 8 acres. The blacktop road runs around three sides of the backwater and crosses two bridges.

Heading south (backwater on your left) you can pull off as far as possible to the side of the road and scan. There is little to moderate traffic on this road, so pull off as far as possible. Heading south (backwater on your left) the first bridge is over Newell’s Run just past the church you see on the hill in front and to your right. There are two pulloffs after the bridge over the run (on your left). At this area you can scan up the creek and out over the backwater.

Another 1/4 mile brings you to the second bridge over a small drainage area. You can stop on the bridge and scan both directions. The above caution about traffic and pulling to the side as far as possible holds here as well.

The backwater can be viewed from several locations along the perimeter road. The Ohio route 7 bridge crosses the outfall to the Ohio River. Scanning under the bridge out to the river can be good.

From the northeast end of the perimeter road (where it joins route 7) you can see Broadback island in the Ohio River. While this Island is in West Virginia, it is a good place to scan for Osprey (spring, summer, fall) and Bald Eagles (fall, winter, early spring). The Ohio River at the head of the island can be stand from a pull-off in front of the produce buildings just before the road turns off of Ohio route 7.

The wooded hillsides around the backwater and the brushy lower areas often hold woodland/brush birds.

If you take Newells Run Rd. back along the creek, (A right turn just past the church when southbound, or a left turn just before the church northbound.) There are opportunities to bird fields, woods, and rural yards. This area is particularly good in spring. Three to five miles back the road will cover just about all the habitats. This is a blacktop road.

Visiting Information

Closed hours/season

Open all year during daylight hours.

Parking Areas

The two pull-offs on the perimeter road described above. An open area on the west side of route 7 before the northeast terminus of the perimeter road. The road to the parking area in front of the church, except on Sundays.

Fees/Permits

None.

Restroom Facilities

Nearest are 2 miles north at gas station/restaurant in Newport, and 2 miles south at the Willow Island Lock and Dam (outhouse).

Harmful Insects, Poisonous Plants, or Animals

Mosquitoes in season. Poison ivy if you walk into the woods.

Restaurants in the Area

A couple in Newport. Several across the river from Newport in St. Marys, West Virginia (the bridge is just north of Newport and is well marked.) Quite a few 8-10 miles southwest in Marietta.

Other Useful Information

Watch for traffic on route 7 and perimeter road. Roads can be flooded during bad weather.

Other Birding Spots in the Area

Willow Island Lock & Dam – Ohio and West Virginia sides. Danas Run backwater at Backwater Baits, 1/2 mile south west of Newport. French Creek backwater and boat ramp – south of St. Marys, WV just off West Virginia route 2 at the north end of Belmont, WV.

Birds of Interest by Season

Winter

Common Loon, Grebes (Pied-billed, Horned, and Red-necked – rare), Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Snow Goose – rare, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter – rare, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, American Coot, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Bonaparte’s Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch.

Spring

Common Loon – early, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe – early, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret – rare, Green Heron, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, American Coot, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Forster’s Tern – rare, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Acadian Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow – rare, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Blue-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch.

Summer

Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed hawk, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch.

Fall

Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe – late, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret – rare, Green Heron, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser – early, Ruddy Duck, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Coot, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Forster’s Tern – rare, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow – rare, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch.