Encompassing roughly 90 acres of mixed open space and reforested land, Chesapeake City Park is the major outdoor recreation hub for the City of Chesapeake, combining sports and exercise equipment with dog parks, a skate park, a concert stage, and of course walking trails. This mixed-use park naturally attracts a wide cross-section of outdoor recreationists, but don’t let that discourage you from thinking of it as a worthwhile birding location! Though it can be bustling with activity, particularly on a nice spring or summer day, this park has much to offer from a birding perspective.
The park is wedge-shaped, bounded by Greenbriar Drive to the east and railroad tracks to the west which form a southward-facing point. Of the park’s 90 acres, 60 are given over to open space which is mostly well-maintained lawns with some scattered shrubs. There is not much habitat available for true open-country species, but this set-up works well for species like Eastern Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and others that do well in these kinds of manicured open spaces. In the summer months, Eastern Kingbirds frequent the park and likely nest in some of the smaller trees around the parking areas. The wide open space here is also conducive to skywatching, making this a fine place to scan for migrating raptors. Mississippi or even Swallow-tailed Kite are not out of the question at the appropriate time of year, and on at least once occasion a soaring Anhinga has been spotted. Aerialists are also in evidence, particularly swifts and swallows, but this is not a bad spot to look for migrating Common Nighthawks. In winter the lawns here sometimes attract large congregations of gulls, particularly when the fields are wet, and these assortments are always worth a careful scan. Lesser-black Backed and Iceland Gull, both uncommon in Chesapeake, have been spotted here.
At the southern end of the park in the tip of the wedge, there is a tract of reforested pines called the “Fun Forest.” The woods here are crisscrossed by a series of primitive trails which are excellent for birding and may provide more solitude than busier sections of the park. Expect the typical woodland suite of woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and White-breasted Nuthatches. The pine woods also support Pine Warblers throughout the year, as well as Brown-headed Nuthatches. In winter, these woods are also a good spot to seek out winter woodland species including Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, both kinglets, Hermit Thrush, and Brown Creeper. Along the western edge of the Fun Forest, a gravel access road parallels the railroad tracks. This area seems to serve as a dumping ground for yard waste from the park, and as such has some nice edge habitat and brush piles. In fall and winter, this may be a good spot to seek out sparrows, lingering House Wrens, and other birds that prefer brushy cover. During the summer months, this provides the best true edge habitat in the park, and is a good spot to find Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and the like.
There is one substantial water feature at this park, a decent-sized lake located in the northwest corner adjacent to the dog park. The lake is at least partially accessible from trails, and has some sparse stands of woods that may be good for migrant passerines. There are few eBird reports of waterfowl at this park in the winter, and given its small size and the abundance of better-suited bodies of water nearby, this lake may not be optimal for attracting ducks. It seems likely that is at least has the occasional Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, or perhaps a Ring-necked Duck, and other species may drop in on occasion. It may also be worth checking in the spring and late summer for waders.
Accessibility: This park is explicitly mixed-use, and has a wide variety of amenities available to visitors. Parking is ample and provided at several locations throughout the park. There are some spaces near the entrance along City Park Drive, as well as by the dog park in the northwest section. The largest parking lot borders the Fun Forest and can accommodate dozens of vehicles. There are also nearly a dozen pavilions and shelters, as well as two restroom facilities on opposite ends of the park. Other amenities include horseshoe pits, volleyball and basketball courts, and an exercise area. In the northwest corner there is a dog park and a skate park. The centerpiece of the park is the Robert G. “Buddy” Bagley Stage, a raised wooden stage for concerts and other performances. The park has a variety of trails. The Fun Forest has a small network of primitive trails, while the main section of the park has a series of paved sidewalks and walking paths including a ¾-mile loop designated as a walking trail. For further information on amenities, consult the park map.
Owner/Manager: City of Chesapeake
eBird Hotspot: Chesapeake City Park
—Matt Anthony