City of Colonial Heights

Herring Gull, © Matt Anthony

Located on the north bank of the Appomattox River, a short 30 minutes from Richmond on Interstate 95, Colonial Heights—along with Petersburg and Hopewell—forms what is known as the Tri-City Region. At approximately 8 sq. miles in total area, it doesn’t quite rival the micro-cities of Lexington or Falls Church, but nonetheless claims the title of Virginia’s 9th smallest city. The name derives from a possibly apocryphal story from the Revolutionary War. The legend goes that in 1781 Lafayette’s French troops, known as Colonials, set up artillery overlooking the British positions in Petersburg. The eventual name of the town was supposedly born when a British soldier exclaimed, “There are the Colonials, up on the Heights.” The appellation was officially enshrined in 1906 as the name of a subdivision of the Oak Hill Tract. The area that is now Colonial Heights was originally part of Chesterfield County, but incorporated as a town in 1926 against the wishes of the residents, who had instead been seeking annexation by the City of Petersburg. It became an independent city in 1948, and today is the site of the Southpark Mall, a major regional shopping center.

Easily the most celebrated birding spot in Colonial Heights is the Walmart Ponds, two adjacent ponds on the south of the city that first caught birders’ attention in 2016 and have come to be known as one of the best gulling spots in the state. In the winter, the ponds attract massive gull flocks from the nearby Tri-City Regional Landfill as birds traverse between foraging at the dump and loafing on the ponds. Careful combing of these flocks offers birders an excellent chance at finding rarer species such as Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, with the potential for even greater prizes yet to be discovered. In addition to turning up rare species, the flocks here often have larger numbers of species like Lesser Black-backed Gull than other inland locations. The Walmart Ponds are occasionally good for waterfowl, but Temple Lake, located behind the Red Lobster, tends to be better for ducks. When seeking woodland species, a must-visit spot is Fort Clifton Park, located in the northern reaches of the city. The stand of pines near the parking area is often good for species like Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, and, in winter, Golden-crowned Kinglet. The park also has marshy riparian woods where birders can sometimes glimpse Barred Owls and should have no problem getting excellent looks at the Prothonotary Warblers that breed there. The Appomattox River Trail parallels the river and has a wealth of brushy tangles that can be good for edge species like sparrows, and occasionally host overwintering warblers including Orange-crowned and Black-and-white. A cul-de-sac at the end of Windmere Drive gives birders a vantage point overlooking a large swamp where species such as Wood Ducks can be detected, and which has the potential to produce waders and other interesting waterbirds.

In addition to the white-winged gulls that Colonial Heights is known for among birders, notable records include 19 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, and unusual inland records of both Brant and Black-headed Gull.

—Matt Anthony

Hotspots 

Amenities

Much of this relatively small city is residential, so the vast majority of amenities are clustered in the southeast corner. The vast majority of dining and shopping options available are chain restaurants and stores, but birders certainly won't find themselves wanting, as the huge Southpark Mall offers an array of options sure to please the whole group. Hungry birders will find options ranging from fast food joints such as Burger King or Steak 'n Shake, to sit-down restaurants including Buffalo Wild Wings and Ruby Tuesday's. While local flavor might be lacking, visiting birders certainly won't go hungry. History buffs will find much of interest at the Violet Bank Museum, operated by the city, which preserves a mansion built by Thomas Shore on land purchased in 1775, making it the oldest settlement in the city. During the Civil War, the mansion served as a headquarters for General Lee at the Siege of Petersburg, and the museum mostly focused on the Civil War-era. Those in search of a more off-kilter museum experience may instead choose to explore the Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum, which showcases a century's worth of antique farm equipment, all fully restored.

Accessibility and surroundings

Situated just south of Richmond, Colonial Heights is easily and conveniently access from a number of major roads. Birders coming from the north or south can easily reach it using I-95, which bisects the city, or choose US 301 for a slower-paced drive. From the southwest, Interstate 85 merges with I-95 just to the south in Petersburg. VA 144 comes into Colonial Heights from Hopewell and points east, and birders should take note that coming into the city via this route passes directly by the Sleep Inn Ponds, an excellent winter birding site in Prince George County. Coming from the west, the quickest way to the city is via VA 36.

Colonial Heights is surrounded on the north by Chesterfield County, while to the south the Appomattox River divides it from the City of Petersburg. Although it does not actually border them, Colonial Heights is also in very close proximity to Dinwiddie County in the southwest, as well as Prince George County and City of Hopewell to the east. Richmond lies only a short 30-minute drive north on I-95. Fort Lee, a major military installation, is only a few miles to the east. 

Christmas Bird Counts

The Hopewell CBC, conducted since 1954, includes a small part of Colonial Heights in its count circle, though the count is mostly in the City of Hopewell and Chesterfield, Henrico, Prince George, and Charles City Counties.

Sources