Charlottesville Safety Rest Area (Westbound)

This hotspot has been created to consolidate eBird data from one of the over 40 highway rest areas maintained and operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Currently there are rest areas along Interstates 95, 64, 66, 81, 85, and 77 and Route 13. Often (though not always) there are corresponding eastbound and westbound rest areas at roughly the same point; in these cases, a separate hotspot exists for each. Generally speaking, highway rest areas are not ideal places for birding due to both marginal habitat and excessive road noise. Most are relatively open with some tall trees, but may be bordered by more extensive woods or fields. In instances where a particular rest area has unique birding features, efforts will be made to point those out. Notwithstanding the often marginal birding, highway rest stops are of interest for traveling birders looking to drop in eBird lists along their route – hence the creation of hotspots to consolidate reports from rest areas.

Accessibility: All highway rest areas are free and open to the public 24/7. They have ample parking spaces and usually some mix of amenities typically including bathrooms and vending machines. Some may have more extensive facilities including pet areas, picnic areas with grills, and welcome centers with maps and other travel information. Specific information on amenities can be found by following the link below to the VDOT website.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

eBird Hotspot: Charlottesville Safety Rest Area (Westbound)

Charlottesville Safety Rest Area (Eastbound)

This hotspot has been created to consolidate eBird data from one of the over 40 highway rest areas maintained and operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Currently there are rest areas along Interstates 95, 64, 66, 81, 85, and 77 and Route 13. Often (though not always) there are corresponding eastbound and westbound rest areas at roughly the same point; in these cases, a separate hotspot exists for each. Generally speaking, highway rest areas are not ideal places for birding due to both marginal habitat and excessive road noise. Most are relatively open with some tall trees, but may be bordered by more extensive woods or fields. In instances where a particular rest area has unique birding features, efforts will be made to point those out. Notwithstanding the often marginal birding, highway rest stops are of interest for traveling birders looking to drop in eBird lists along their route – hence the creation of hotspots to consolidate reports from rest areas.

Accessibility: All highway rest areas are free and open to the public 24/7. They have ample parking spaces and usually some mix of amenities typically including bathrooms and vending machines. Some may have more extensive facilities including pet areas, picnic areas with grills, and welcome centers with maps and other travel information. Specific information on amenities can be found by following the link below to the VDOT website.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

eBird Hotspot: Charlottesville Safety Rest Area (Eastbound)

Chris Greene Lake

Chris Greene Lake, November 2021 ©Drew Chaney

This 53-acre lake located in Earlysville, near the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, is an excellent location to find a wide variety of species, from passerines to waterfowl and shorebirds, to raptors and swallows. The lake, while usually empty, can attract a wide variety of waterfowl, and is probably the best place in the county to look for migrating gulls and terns. Swallows are also especially fond of this lake, and migrant Cliff and Bank are a regular occurrence. The beach can be a good place to look for migrating shorebirds as well. A small marsh below the dam is worth checking for potential rails, bitterns, or Marsh Wren, and a peninsula located on the east end of the lake has breeding Warbling Vireos and both species of oriole. There are trailheads located at the main parking area and at a small one on your left as you arrive at the lake, the latter leads to the back of the lake where wading birds and ducks may be found. Walking these is a good way to find passerines in any season. The list of notable records for this location includes Surf and Black Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Clapper Rail, Common Gallinule (4/16/2007), Herring Gull (2/25/2007), Caspian and Forster’s Terns, Red-necked Phalarope, Sanderling, Cattle Egret, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, and American Tree Sparrow. 

eBird Hotspot: Chris Greene Lake

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Lickinghole Creek

This location has the distinction of having the largest species total (200 as of Feb 2023) of any hotspot in Albemarle County. The main attraction is the Lickinghole Creek Basin, a good-sized, shallow lake. Impressive though the species list may be, this is a hit-or-miss location, and waterfowl are much less reliable than one would think for a body of water of this size. Canada Geese, Mallards, Green-winged Teal, and Wood Duck are regular (the latter largely absent in winter), but others mainly occur with freeze or storm events. Common Mergansers have recently been seen on the lake several times and may take up residence. The large spit of mud at the west end of the lake is the most reliable place in Albemarle to find Wilson’s Snipe, and other shorebirds can be seen here in migration. Wading birds, Belted Kingfishers, and swallows also find the large, shallow body of water attractive. A pair of Bald Eagles nest in a large white pine across the lake from a small wooden blind. Despite the extensive edge and wooded habitat, this location does not seem to attract large numbers of neotropical migrants the way so many others in Albemarle do. Nevertheless, the easy access to water and location close to the heart of Crozet have long made it a popular destination with Albemarle birders, and that coverage has paid off with records such as Ross’s Goose, Long-tailed Duck, Sandhill Crane, Willet, Black and Forster’s Terns, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Evening Grosbeak, American Tree Sparrow, and Connecticut Warbler. The basin can be viewed from a trail system which can be accessed from multiple points in the Western Ridge neighborhood. The closest to the lake is located at 38.0618, -78.6685 (see map). Another access point is at the end of Fairwinds Lane (see map). 

eBird Hotspot: Lickinghole Creek

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Ragged Mountain Natural Area

Canvasback, January 31, 2019 ©Drew Chaney

Covering 980 acres just southwest of Charlottesville, Ragged Mountain offers an extensive system of trails and Albemarle County’s largest lake. At 170 acres, the Ragged Mountain Reservoir is one of the prime places to find waterfowl in the Charlottesville area. The 6.7 miles of trails are also a prime destination for hikers and offer great opportunities to view neotropical passerines. Breeding species include Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Wood Thrush, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, and Louisiana Waterthrush, and Bald Eagles may also nest in the vicinity. In winter, like in much of the Piedmont, waterfowl presence is generally dependent on storm events or freezes, but over the course of any given winter, one can expect a wide variety of species to be found. The oak forests around the reservoir also reliably host Red-headed Woodpeckers from Oct-Apr. Viewing of the reservoir is best accomplished from the area below the parking lot at the end of Reservoir Road, or from the dam. If you are going on a weekend, be sure to arrive early, as this destination is extremely popular with hikers and the small parking lot fills up quickly, especially on a warm day. This location has produced regional rarities including Brown Pelican (5/1/1947), Surf and Black Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Brown-headed Nuthatch (4/1/2004), as well as all expected species of waterfowl in the region. 

eBird Hotspot: Ragged Mountain Natural Area

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Ivy Creek Natural Area

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

January 26, 2023 ©Drew Chaney

Brewster’s Warbler

September 6, 2020 ©Drew Chaney

Ivy Creek is one of Albemarle’s natural areas most popular with hikers and birders, with good reason. This 219-acre preserve offers much in the way of history, both human and natural. ICNA, as it is commonly abbreviated, is located on the historic site of River View Farm, home of the Carr/Greer family, a prominent family in the Black community of Hydraulic Mills that existed here prior to the damming of the South Fork Rivanna River. Much more information about the Carr/Greer family can be found at the website as well as on educational signage on the property. The Ivy Creek Foundation manages the property and has a large map and informational kiosk at the entrance, and also maintains the barn and an educational center for use in various programs. For the birder, ICNA’s mix of woodlands, fields, and edge habitat is a boon for migrating passerines. The paved trail, south field, and area around the feeders and barn, as well as the Peninsula Trail, are all very productive in both migrations. The Peninsula Trail also offers views of Ivy Creek and the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, where Canada Geese, Mallards, Wood Ducks, and occasionally other waterfowl can be found. Eastern Screech-Owls can also sometimes be found occupying the Wood Duck boxes on this trail. Notable species recorded here include Swallow-tailed Kite (5/2/2003), Tricolored Heron, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Marsh Wren, Evening Grosbeak, Clay-colored Sparrow (4/22/2002), Golden-winged, Mourning and Connecticut Warblers (this seems to be one of the better locations for the latter, though this is likely in part due to coverage).

eBird Hotspot: Ivy Creek Natural Area

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Still Meadow Trail

Still Meadow Fields, post burn

April 2022 ©Drew Chaney

This is a large area of fields and riparian edges along the Rivanna River, located north of the Still Meadow development. The river here is a fairly reliable location for Common Mergansers, and there are many brushy areas ideal for sparrows. The trail system wraps around a large mowed field and runs along the edge of a sod farm on the west edge. The sod farm has looked promising for shorebirds, but so far has only attracted Killdeer and Wilson’s Snipe. Swallows flock to this field in migration, with every species being recorded. Formerly, this field was used for hay and was a reliable location to see Bobolinks. There is also a trail that runs around the north edge of the sod farm field which connects to the farm entrance at the end of Dover Court, which allows for viewing of more of the river and sod field, as well as some swampy woods. A pond located between River Inn Lane and Dover Court can be viewed from both this trail and a spur trail off the River Inn Lane entrance, at the bottom of the hill, and the dam can be traversed easily at normal water levels. This pond has hosted a few species of ducks, and is worth checking for wading birds in the summer. A yard backing up to this pond is home to a small active colony of Purple Martins. The trail along the river is one of the best spots to look for migrating Empidonax flycatchers (more info here), with multiple records of Alder as well as Willow and Least. American Woodcocks also have been observed displaying from the large field. Lastly, a railroad trestle at the east end has been home to nesting Common Ravens for many years. Regionally uncommon or interesting species recorded at this location include Common Goldeneye, Willow and Alder Flycatcher, Bank Swallow, and Mourning Warbler. A remarkable count of 38 Vesper Sparrows was observed on 3/31/2022 (checklist here) after the fields accidentally burned, suggesting that prescribed fire would only serve to increase the quality of this location for sparrows! 

The trails can be accessed from a point opposite the Still Meadow Clubhouse at the intersection of River Inn Lane and Pheasant Crossing, by walking down the sod farm driveway at the end of Dover Court, or by walking the Rivanna Trail from Belvedere northwest past the railroad trestle. The first access point is certainly the most convenient, although there are “for residents only” signs posted. I (the author) have parked on the street and accessed these trails from here countless times without any issue, so you are unlikely to be bothered.

eBird Hotspot: Still Meadow Trail

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Rivanna Trail - Dunlora

The Dunlora section of the Rivanna trail is one of Albemarle County’s finest locations to observe migrant passerines, with extensive brushy fields, edges, and riparian woods to walk through. Fall offers a wide variety of sparrows, with this being one of the more reliable locations for  Lincoln’s. Many species of warblers and other neotropical migrants can also be found throughout, though the woods at the north end of Dunlora Farm Road are one of the best areas, and look great for a Mourning or Connecticut. The vine-y tangles and overgrown fields are a great place to look for Empidonax flycatchers in migration. The riparian woods are home to Barred Owls, Wood Thrushes, and Acadian Flycatchers in the breeding season, and Blue Grosbeaks nest in the shrubby fields. Species of note recorded here include Sedge Wren, Yellow-bellied, Alder and Olive-sided Flycatchers, Redhead, and breeding Common Mergansers. The trails can be accessed from a parking area on Dunlora Farm Road by the Dunlora community garden and soccer field (see map). This is marked “residents only”, but as is typical for these locations, birders have been accessing the trails here for years without any issues. This section of the Rivanna Trail can also be accessed by walking north along the Pen Park section of the trail until you cross into Albemarle County from the Charlottesville city limits. 

eBird Hotspot: Rivanna Trail - Dunlora

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Rivanna Trail - Belvedere

Canada Warbler - May 9, 2022 ©Drew Chaney

This substantial section of the Rivanna Trail runs through riparian forest, shrubby edges, and wooded bluffs, providing an expansive area to find a wide variety of passerines, raptors, and many other bird species. The trails run along the Rivanna River for much of the way, allowing the birder the possibility to see Wood Ducks, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Great Blue Herons, Osprey, and Bald Eagles. The river and smaller streams host a breeding population of Louisiana Waterthrushes, and Yellow-throated Warblers may also nest in the riverside sycamores. A shrubby area of young sycamores and autumn-olive at the southern end near the river is a good place to look for sparrows and White-eyed Vireos, and has long been reliable for displaying American Woodcocks. The riverside edges here seem to be particularly appealing to Wilson’s Warblers in migration. A large hayfield is located at the end of this trail. This was at one time accessible to birders, but has been posted in recent years. Dickcissel, Northern Harrier, Vesper Sparrow, Wilson’s Snipe, and American Pipit have all been recorded here. A piney bluff located at 38.0776, -78.4481 (see map) is a reliable place to find Fox Sparrows and Red-breasted Nuthatches in winter.

Notable species for the area recorded here include Northern Bobwhite, Northern Shoveler, Baird's Sandpiper, Alder and Olive-sided Flycatchers, Mourning Warbler, Kentucky Warbler (rare away from breeding locations), and Dickcissel. 

The trails can currently be accessed from a trailhead at the intersection of Huntington Rd and Carrsbrook Dr (see map), which leads over the railroad tracks to the floodplain, as well as by walking south on the trail from Still Meadow under the railroad trestle at the southeast end of that location. As one would expect, this section of trail was accessible from the Belvedere neighborhood, but currently, construction has rendered that access point nonexistent.

eBird Hotspot: Rivanna Trail - Belvedere

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Walnut Creek Park

This 525-acre park offers 15 miles of forested trails, a disc golf course, sheltered picnic areas, fishing, swimming and boating, as well as one of Albemarle County’s most reliable populations of Red-headed Woodpeckers. The habitat consists of predominantly oak-hickory, oak-pine, and oak-heath forests on hilly upland terrain. The aforementioned Red-headed Woodpeckers are particularly fond of an area of burned woods on the Red Trail, just northwest of the smaller of the two large coves on the west side of the lake. Worm-eating Warblers are abundant in the breeding season in mountain laurel thickets, and Acadian Flycatchers, Pine Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrushes, and both tanagers are also frequent. Despite its fairly substantial size (45 acres), the lake does not seem to attract much waterfowl, though a few species like Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, and Horned Grebe have been recorded here. Notable records for the location are few, with a Laughing Gull in October 2018 being the most interesting by far. The lake and small spring-fed streams also host an unusually large variety of dragonfly and damselfly species sure to excite the naturalist and photographer. 

eBird Hotspot: Walnut Creek Park

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Preddy Creek Trail Park

Preddy Creek Meadow ©Drew Chaney

This Albemarle County park is not often visited by birders, but offers 571 acres of forest and 16 miles of trails to explore. The overall landscape is gently rolling and consists of predominantly oak-hickory and oak-pine forests that have grown up following the abandonment of agricultural fields in the mid-20th century. The main feature of this landscape is the eponymous creek, which winds through the middle of the property. The riparian area here is home to breeding Louisiana Waterthrushes and Northern Parulas, as well as Red-shouldered Hawks and Barred Owls. The Creekside Trail is also an excellent place to look for migrating warblers, especially in the fall. Red-breasted Nuthatches (in years when they are present) are frequent here due to a large population of young Virginia Pine-dominated woods. The meadow east of the parking lot is a good place to find various sparrows and Palm Warblers in migration, and also serves as a good hawkwatching spot. Noteworthy records include Merlin, Vesper and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Evening Grosbeak, and Connecticut Warbler.

Note: A portion of the trails on the north side of the creek cross into Orange County, a separate hotspot for these exists.

eBird Hotspot: Preddy Creek Trail Park

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Connecticut Warbler, September 4, 2020 ©Drew Chaney

James River Road Goose Pond

This farm pond often hosts large flocks of Canada Geese in the winter, which are worth scanning for rarer species. So far, the only other goose species found here is Snow, but any of the others are certainly possible. Grassland bird species such as American Pipit, Horned Lark, Eastern Meadowlark, American Kestrel, and Grasshopper Sparrow are possible in the appropriate seasons as well. The pond can be viewed by pulling off on James River Road and scoping. The landowner has been friendly towards birders, but please be respectful and stay along the road unless given permission to venture onto private property.

eBird Hotspot: James River Road Goose Pond

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Pleasant Valley Lake

This small lake is home to wintering Bufflehead, Hooded Mergansers, and Ring-necked Ducks, as well as geese flocks. Gadwall and Canvasback have also been recorded. The pond can be viewed by parking at the entrance to the Colonial Baptist Church and walking across US 250 to view from the roadside, something that should be done with care, as this is a busy road and the shoulder is rather narrow.

eBird Hotspot: Pleasant Valley Lake

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Monticello High School Lake

This lake is located behind Monticello High School just south of the City of Charlottesville, and is one of the more productive spots for winter waterfowl during freeze events in the county. Aythya (genus of diving ducks), Common Goldeneye, mergansers, and American Coot are some of the more likely species, but just about every species expected in the region has occurred. This is also a good place to look for swallows and Green Heron. The trail around the lake can produce warblers in migration. This location can be accessed by walking down the stairs to the right of the Lakeside Apartments clubhouse, which leads you to a small beach and dock ideal for viewing. The other side of the lake is easily accessed by a trail located just to the east of the PVCC tennis courts. In addition to a robust roster of waterfowl, other notable species recorded here include Virginia Rail, Snowy Egret, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Bank Swallow, and American Pipit.

eBird Hotspot: Monticello High School Lake

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Lake Hollymead

This is the largest of the bodies of water in the Hollymead/Forest Lakes neighborhood, and is a good place in migration or during freeze events for waterfowl. Usually Canada Geese, Mallards, and Pied-billed Grebes are all that can be expected, but most of our species of waterfowl have been recorded here at one point or another. The marshy inflow area is a good place to look for Rusty Blackbirds in migration, and several species of warblers have been recorded here over the years. Notable records include Cackling Goose, Caspian Tern, Red-necked Grebe, Virginia Rail, Common Loon, Snowy Egret, and Black-crowned Night-Heron. A paved trail running from the north side of the dam is the best way to view the lake, and gravel pull-offs offer room for a few cars.

eBird Hotspot: Lake Hollymead

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Ed Jones Road

This is a very sparsely trafficked gravel road that traverses a large expanse of clearcut and thinned loblolly pines, which is an excellent place to walk and observe Prairie, Black-and-white, Pine, and Palm Warblers in appropriate seasons, as well as Brown Thrashers, Eastern Towhees, Yellow-breasted Chats, and various sparrows. Northern Bobwhite are abundant in the area as well. The open ford creek crossing can be traversed by a vehicle of reasonable clearance at typical water levels. This area is home to nesting Louisiana Waterthrushes and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Nocturnal birding offers plenty of displaying American Woodcocks and Eastern Whip-poor-wills. A flock of irruptive Red Crossbills was found graveling in the road here in April 2021. Unfortunately for birders, much of the land along this road is in the process of being converted into a large solar farm, and most of this prime early-successional habitat will likely be destroyed in the near future. 

eBird Hotspot: Ed Jones Road

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Jessups Lake

View of Piney Mountain

©Drew Chaney

This 7.75 acre lake in the Mountain Valley neighborhood is adjoined by two smaller ponds to the west and south. Unfortunately, the lake is usually devoid of ducks in the winter months, though Common Goldeneye has been recorded. Wood Ducks are found here in summer. The best birding here is done by walking the road and neighborhood trails for passerines. The shrubby thickets east of the lake and up the mountain to the southwest can offer close views of Prairie Warblers, and both species of tanager are frequent. The lake margins are home to nesting Orchard Orioles, and in winter, a trail to the northeast of the lake just west of the large powerline offers ideal Red-breasted Nuthatch habitat. Another short trail is located towards the top of the hill that connects to Cottontail Way, and features mountain laurel thickets home to breeding Worm-eating Warblers. This location's mix of early-successional habitat, mature forests, and residential areas, with open sky views allows for the opportunity to observe a large number of species on any given day. Albemarle County’s only modern summer record of Blue-winged Warbler comes from this location, a male photographed in young pines up the mountain in June 2020.

Important Note: This location is residential, so please be respectful of homeowners and do not trespass on private property. Birding from the road and trails is permitted, and despite the “residents only” sign, no issues with viewing the lake from the small dock have been reported.

eBird Hotspot: Jessups Lake

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Incarnation Drive Pond

This is a small retention pond located in front of the entrance to the Church of the Incarnation in the Branchlands area of Charlottesville. Mallards and Canada Geese are regular here, and Eastern Kingbirds may breed as well. Wilson’s Snipe have been recorded from the marshy pond edge, and scouring the thickets between the pond and church may turn up an interesting passerine. 

eBird Hotspot: Incarnation Drive Pond

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Clover Lake

This small lake is located in a residential area and can be viewed from the dam at Emerson Drive. This location is only occasionally birded, but looks potentially good for wading birds and migrating waterfowl. This is a reliable location to see Hooded Mergansers in the winter months, and the tall trees along the shore and below the dam can have warblers and other passerines in migration. 

eBird Hotspot: Clover Lake

—Drew Chaney, February 2023

Albemarle Skoga Pond

This pond is located on Bundoran Farm, a 2300 acre farm and residential community, and can be viewed from Edge Valley Road. This lovely valley is home to many Grasshopper Sparrows and Indigo Buntings, and offers expansive views of the Ragged Mountains. The pond itself has yet to produce much in the way of waterfowl or shorebirds, but the extensive marshy inflow area holds promise for an Empidonax flycatcher or rail, and a Marsh Wren was here on 10/6/2007. Red-headed Woodpeckers are sometimes seen here as well. The fields along Edge Valley Road can be productive for sparrows at times, and there is potential for good hawkwatching, as the sky is quite large and the ridges of the Raggeds can have hundreds of Broad-winged Hawks on good migration days. Like the rest of southwestern Albemarle County, this location receives very little coverage. Who knows what you might turn up!

eBird Hotspot: Albemarle Skoga Pond

—Drew Chaney, February 2023