Carters Line Road Pond

This pond can be a good spot to look for shorebirds depending on the water level and has hosted waterfowl and herons as well.  Loggerhead Shrikes and Dickcissels have also been found further down the road to the east.  Unusual sightings include: Sandhill Crane (4/26/2016), Dunlin (5/6/2013), White-rumped Sandpiper (5/4-5/8/2017), Snow Goose (3/21/2014, 2/10-3/4/2016) and Cackling Goose (12/18/2014).

Accessibility: Viewable from Carters Line Road. Please do not leave the road as the property is privately owned.  Parking along this road is a tricky, the best bet is to pull off and park near the railroad crossing and walk back down the road to the pond. It's best to scan the pond from both the gate near the silo and from the low point of the road at the bottom of the hill.  This will allow you to view the pond from two different angles and birds are often only visible from one of these vantage points.

eBird Hotspot: Carter's Line Road Pond

—James Fox

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Bordens Spring

This pond was formerly the go to hotspot in Clarke County for wintering waterfowl as the pond is spring fed and does not freeze in the winter.  Notable records include Greater White-fronted Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Long-tailed Duck, American Bittern, and Yellow-crowned Night Heron.  In cold winters there were often impressive rafts of Canvasback and scaup on this pond.  Sadly, hunters gained access to the pond and have been hunting it for a few years now.  As a result very few waterfowl use the pond anymore during duck hunting season, which was formerly the best time to visit this pond.

Accessibility: Easily viewable from Bordens Spring Road, please do not leave the road as the property is privately owned.

eBird Hotspot: Borden's Spring

—James Fox

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Snickers Gap Hawkwatch

The hawkwatch is conducted most weekends and some weekdays from September to November. Broad-winged Hawk migration peaks from about 16-24 September, with thousands of birds seen on easterly winds. There are usually folks at the site during those days. People typically gather along the southern edge of the parking lot, just east of the trailhead for Bear's Den (a popular hiking spot that links to the Appalachian Trail). Twelve of Virginia's 15 expected annual hawk species are seen during the hawkwatching season (Rough-legged Hawk is unexpected; Northern Goshawk is sometimes missed; and Mississippi Kite has never been recorded). Golden Eagles are possible on northwesterly winds in late October through November. Migrating Common Loons, Tundra Swans, and Double-crested Cormorants are often seen. Flights of Red-headed Woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-shafted Flickers, Blue Jays, and hummingbirds are regular in fall. It can be worthwhile to explore the trail to Bear's Den from the parking area, where migrant songbirds can be found in spring and fall, with Kentucky and Hooded Warblers breeding in the area. Notable autumn sightings over the years include: several Swainson's Hawks, Sandhill Crane, Red-throated Loon, Common Goldeneye, Great Black-backed Gull, American Golden-Plover, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

Worth noting is that Snickers Gap straddles the county line between Clarke and Loudoun. The majority of the parking area is in Clarke, nearly all species observed will be seen in Clarke. However, many observed birds can also be seen in Loudoun County as well.

Accessibility: Located at the commuter parking lot owned by VDOT on the south side of Route 7 at the intersection with VA 601 at Snickers Gap, just west of the Clarke/Loudoun County line. 

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation, Hawk Migration Association of North America

eBird Hotspot: Snickers Gap Hawk Watch

—Todd Day, James Fox

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Shenandoah University River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield

Formerly a golf course, the Cool Spring Battlefield was purchased by Shenandoah University several years ago and they now maintain the trails for the public.  Most birders take the paved trails north from the parking lot, although the south trails are worth exploring if you have the time as well.  The trail that runs along the Shenandoah River is often particularly productive, Warbling Vireo is almost impossible to miss, and breeding Common Mergansers have recently been found along this stretch of the river.  If you look across the river you will notice a Great Blue Heron rookery in the spring.  The brushy areas where the golf course formerly was are now excellent habitat for sparrows and other field birds during migration.  The northernmost portion of the trails past the small bridge is often the most productive area for migrants.  Yellow-throated Warbler has been found along the river here and this area has hosted Olive-sided Flycatchers several times.

Accessibility: The entrance is located at 1400 Parker Ln, Bluemont, VA, 20135. Open from dawn to dusk.

Owner/Manager: Shenandoah University

eBird Hotspot: Shenandoah University River campus at Cool Spring Battlefield

—James Fox

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Blandy Experimental Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia

Most birders start at "The Quarters", which you will see to the south if you enter from the main entrance.  There are feeders outside the Pittfield Learning Center and in the conifer grove behind the Quarters which often attract Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadees during irruption years.  Much more rarely the conifer grove has hosted Crossbills, White-winged Crossbills have been recorded at least three different winters and Red Crossbills have been present at least one winter.  The scrubby area around Lake Georgette just to the south of the grove is also worth checking, it can host a variety of passerines.  If you head east across the field from here you will come to the Native Plant Trail, which circles Rattlesnake Spring.  This field is excellent for sparrows in migration and winter, it it one of the most reliable spots to find American Tree Sparrow in the area and is also one of the few remaining places in the area where Northern Bobwhite can be found.  Rattlesnake Spring itself has hosted several notable birds such as American Bittern, Virginia Rail, and Sora.  Across Blandy Farm Lane from Rattlesnake Spring there is a large seasonal pond known as Lake Arnold.  Some years this pond will be almost completely dry, but other years it will be full enough to attract a variety of ducks, herons and shorebirds.  Notable sightings here over the years include Glossy Ibis, Black Tern, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Red-necked Phalarope.  It is also home to a large Purple Martin colony.

Taking the Loop drive that starts just east of the main parking area will take you to several more spots worth visiting.  The north fields around the community garden are another fantastic spot for sparrows in the winter, and are another good spot to find Bobwhite.  Loggerhead Shrike and Rough-legged Hawk have also spent the winter here some years.  Formerly Willow Flycatchers bred in the scrubby area to the east of this field but they have become more difficult to track down in recent years.  If you park next to the large brush pile at the northeast corner of the loop you can walk some of the bridle trails in the treeline along the east end of the property, this area can also be good for migrant passerines.  The fenced-off Chestnut Grove and the fields to the east of it along the south side of the loop are another good spot for sparrows, Vesper Sparrow is found most often in this area.  The farm fields to the south often host Horned Larks and American Pipits in the winter and there are usually a few American Kestrels cruising the fields.  The last spot worth visiting is the bridle trails south of the Ginkgo Grove off Tuleyries Ln.  Walking these trails as well as the portion of Tuleyries Ln that passes through the southwest woodlot is often very productive for finding migrant warblers and thrushes in the spring and fall.  Notable migrants found in this area include Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, and Wilson's Warbler.

Accessibility:  The main entrance is Blandy Farm Lane off US 50 just east of Waterloo.  Additionally there are two back entrances: Tuleyries Ln and Blandy Farm Ln off Berrys Ferry Road (Rt. 628) on the south side of the property.  Hours are from dawn to dusk and there is no entry fee.

Owner/Manager: University of Virginia

eBird Hotspot: Blandy Experimental Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia

Sub-Hotspots: Blandy Farm--Lake Arnold, Blandy Farm--Pavilion

—James Fox

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