Fairfax County
Least Bittern, © Alex Shipherd
For centuries, Fairfax County has been a nationally-important hub of culture and government. Its location immediately adjacent to Washington, D.C. has shaped the county immensely, both geographically and culturally, giving it one of the most distinct flavors of any county in the state. History is woven into the fabric of Fairfax as much as any other county in Virginia, one of the most storied states in the Union. From some of the first skirmishes between Native Americans and British Colonists as far back as 1608, to Founding Fathers George Washington and George Mason making their homes in Fairfax, to Civil War camps, to the arrival of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, Fairfax County’s historical importance is undeniable.
Straddling the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, and bounded to the north and west by the Potomac River, the geography is as distinct as the history, and in fact they have often shaped each other. The county's geographic extent has been diminished over time, having ceded land to, at various times, Alexandria County (now City of Alexandria), Arlington County, Washington D.C. (although this land was eventually returned to Virginia), Loudoun County, and City of Fairfax. As of 2018, over 1.1 million people call this most populous county in the Commonwealth their home. A vibrant economy flourishes here, composed of seven Fortune 500 company headquarters, government agencies, and government-related industries. It is bordered by Loudoun, Prince William, City of Alexandria, Arlington, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, as well as Maryland and Washington, D.C. The county seat of Fairfax is surrounded by in the independent City of Fairfax, in a non-contiguous patch of land that is home to the government offices of Fairfax County.
Despite being densely inhabited and extensively developed, there are a wide variety of habitats where well over 300 species have been recorded. Being home to the region’s largest population of birders has surely contributed to the gaudy total of species observed. Fairfax's geographic position is located along a major east coast flyway that concentrates birds of all types in spring and fall. Some of the most well known hotspots, like Huntley Meadows Park and Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve/Belle Haven Marina are regionally acclaimed. Species such as Prothonotary Warblers, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Least Bitterns, and Warbling Vireos are found at these locations in the appropriate seasons. Other birding locations such as Mason Neck State Park, Sully Woodlands, Burke Lake, Lake Accotink, and Great Falls Park support substantial numbers of waterfowl, neotropical migrants, and marsh birds.
An impressive roster of notable records hail from Fairfax County. Among these are a single record of ten(!) Common Ground-Doves, the first state record of Bohemian Waxwing, and the second state record of Black-throated Sparrow. Perhaps the most historically significant, and poignant, record is the singing Bachman’s Warbler from Ft. Belvoir in 1958, among the last confirmed records of the species anywhere. Other less eye-catching records (that would be the envy of birders in most other counties) include Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Barnacle Goose, Cinnamon Teal, Western Grebe, a long-staying and remarkably obliging Black Rail, Ruff, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Parasitic Jaeger, Thick-billed Murre (1896), Sooty Tern, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, Anhinga, White-faced Ibis, Swallow-tailed Kite, Snowy Owl, Northern Shrike, Bewick's Wren, Varied Thrush, Bohemian Waxwing, White-winged Crossbill, Bachman's Sparrow (last 1964), Lark Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Bullock's Oriole, Swainson's Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Painted Bunting.
—Nick Newberry
Hotspots
Stakeout Hotspots
The following hotspots should only be used to input historical records pertaining to a specific staked out rarity, as indicated in the hotspots names.