Ladysmith Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center (Northbound)

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 northbound and southbound 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: Ladysmith Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center (Northbound)

Ladysmith Safety Rest Area (Southbound)

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 northbound and southbound 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: Ladysmith Safety Rest Area (Southbound)

Port Royal Landing

Port Royal Landing is a publicly accessing boat launch and fishing pier that sits at the end of King Street, a location that has had a public pier since as far back as the 1700s. This point provides an excellent vantage of the Rappahannock River right about where it widens from a mere trickle to a more substantial river. As such, this can be a particularly productive spot to scope the river. In winter, this a good spot to see diving ducks including large rafts of Ruddy Ducks and Aythya, sometimes including Canvasback and both scaup. Groups of Common Merganser are also often along the river here. While some of these ducks are right off the fishing pier, often the large rafts can be quite distant, and a scope is a huge plus at this spot. Occasionally the river will draw huge flocks of gulls totaling into the hundreds or more. In winter, these are mostly Ring-billed Gulls, but diligent scanning could net a Herring or better. In spring, especially April and early May, this might also be a good spot to look for groups of Bonaparte’s Gulls following the river north. While the Rappahannock does not quite have the might of the Susquehanna or Potomac, perhaps it experiences smaller-scale movements of Bonaparte’s that could bring rarer hooded gulls. In summer, the main draw here is the Cliff and Barn Swallows that nest under the Rt. 301 bridge. At the end of summer, check the river for swallows staging before heading south, and you may luck into a good species diversity, perhaps including a Bank Swallow or two. Bald Eagles are present along the river at all times of the year, while Osprey begin arriving in March and stay through the summer. Apart from waterbirds, this spot offers little else, but there is enough vegetation around the parking area to attract a feeding flock in winter. As at any riparian location, it is always worth a few extra minutes to work a winter flock here on the off-chance of finding an overwintering warbler, or other rarity.

Accessibility: This facility is operated by the Town of Port Royal, and is open to the public from dawn to dusk. There is a wooden fishing pier, as well as launch facilities for non-motorized boats. Parking is somewhat limited, but there is a paved lot with room for about six vehicles, and the lot is rarely full. There is also a designated handicapped parking area. Other facilities are scant; there are waste receptacles, but no bathrooms.

Owner/Manager: Town of Port Royal

eBird Hotspot: Port Royal Landing

—Matt Anthony, March 2021

Wrights Boat Ramp

This little sliver of land sits within the boundaries of the Department of Wildlife Resource’s Mattaponi WMA, however it appears not to be included within the WMA. Since the ramp area is surrounded by the WMA, one could presumably access that property from here.

The habitat is mostly mature loblolly pine, but with a relatively dense understory. The Mattaponi River is quite close (as is Paige Road), as the entire parking area probably measures under an acre. Species associated with these tall pines and rivers are expected to be found here. Summer Tanager, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Parula, woodland flycatchers, woodpeckers, Barred Owl, and Eastern Screech-Owl are reasonably (and seasonally) expected.

The ramp area itself is small, and only small electric-motored boats, canoes, or kayaks are likely to be launched here. There is a parking area that could comfortably hold maybe a dozen vehicles. The area is also accessed by anglers traveling on foot.

eBird Hotspot: Wrights Boat Ramp

—Todd Michael Day, August 2020