While decent birding can be had year round from the trails, this park is at its best during spring and fall migrations. The majority of the park consists of forested floodplain with a perennial stream running through the middle, however a scrubby floodplain area near the Samaga Dr. entrance is a locally unique habitat that merits birding if visiting the park. While the scrubby floodplain can be seen from the trail, the best birding is found by going off trail, which is really only an option during spring, fall and winter due to aggressive vegetation during the summer months. Interesting finds in this area of the park include: Tundra Swans (flyover flock 12/28/2011), 135 Broad-winged Hawks (9/29/2011), Wilson's Snipe (3/18/2009, 10/25/2009), Merlin (11/15/2009, 9/21/2012), Least Flycatcher (5/19/2010), Marsh Wren (10/23/2011), Blue-winged x Golden-winged (hybrid) Warbler (9/7/2012), Grasshopper (5/1/2012), White-crowned (10/23/2011), and Lincoln's (annual fall visitor) Sparrows, and Rusty Blackbird. The rest of the park offers more typical woodland birding available at other parks in the area, but can be really phenomenal on a good migration day. Highlights in the wooded areas include, Golden-winged, Wilson's and Blackburnian Warblers, Warbling Vireo, and nesting Red-headed Woodpeckers.
Accessibility: This park is open dawn to dusk year round and is accessible via the Cross County Trail. Trailheads can be found at the following locations: intersection of Miller Road and Miller Heights Road (parking for up to 3 vehicles); on Miller Heights Road between Lochinver Lane and Lakenheath Way (parking available for up to 4 vehicles); on Miller Heights Road between Lakenheath Way and Blue Roan Road (parking for 1-2 vehicles); along Vale Road between Valestra Circle and Leeds Road; and along Samaga Road between Adel Road and Oakton Mill Drive (parking for 1 vehicle). Check the county deer control website for dates for the current year's hunting, which encourages trail-goers to stay out of the woods to avoid crossing paths with bow hunters in treestands.
Owner/Manager: Fairfax County Park Authority
eBird Hotspot: Difficult Run Stream Valley Park (Oakton)
—Nick Newberry