Located in a remote area on the southwestern edge of Buckingham County, on the eponymous river, James River State Park is the most birded hotspot in the county (184 checklists as of Dec. 2019). It offers a wide variety of habitats to explore, including upland oak-hickory and pine forest, alluvial floodplain forest, fields, ponds, and wetland impoundments. Many other activities for the outdoor enthusiast are also available, such as hiking, fishing, and canoeing.
The park’s many miles of trails offer birders a chance to experience the avian fauna of the Piedmont Plateau. The upland forests feature the typical suite of breeding species, such as Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Pine Warbler, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. Acadian Flycatchers can be found by Branch Pond, and the old fields are a great place to find Common Yellowthroats, Orchard Orioles, Yellow-breasted Chats, Blue Grosbeaks, and Indigo Buntings. The River Trail has typical species of large-river floodplains, e.g., Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers, American Redstart, and Louisiana Waterthrush (along the smaller streams and ditches). Yellow Warblers also breed in the wetland impoundments; this species is a rather uncommon and local breeder in the south-central region of the state.
Winter birding offers the typical array of woodland species, and of course sparrows in the fields and brushy areas. The wetland impoundments also are worth checking, as all the dabbling ducks have been recorded here, as well as some of the divers that can be found on smaller bodies of water, e.g., Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, and Ring-necked Duck.
Spring birding has potential for various warbler species and other Neotropical migrants. Large numbers of Palm Warblers have been observed along the River Trail in early April, and the areas with mowed grass and scattered trees like the Visitor Center and Canoe Landing are potentially good for Vesper and Savannah Sparrow at this same time. Fall is a good time to look for sparrows, particularly White-crowned and Lincoln’s, as these are both tricky in the region, particularly the latter, since it does not winter in the state. The wetland impoundment area, the marsh by the Canoe Landing, and the fields northwest of the Visitor Center are all great places to look.
Notable records for the hotspot include Common Gallinule (4/29/2000), Caspian Tern (4/10/2004), Black-crowned Night-Heron (5/15/2010), Marsh Wren (4/30/2011, 4/28/2012, 10/19/2015), American Tree Sparrow (3/1/2013), Lincoln’s Sparrow (rare in south-central region, but probably annual at this location), and Golden-winged Warbler (5/10/2010).
The total species count for the hotspot as of now (Dec. 2019) is 167, the most of any hotspot in the county, and certainly one of the better for the south-central region. If you are in the area, this would be a great place to check out any time of year.
Accessibility: Open dawn to dusk. The entrance fee is $5 per vehicle or is free with a valid Virginia State Parks pass.
Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation
eBird Hotspot: James River State Park
—Drew Chaney