Sully Woodlands is one of two eBird hotspots located in Fairfax County’s largest tract of county parkland, Elklick Preserve. The other eBird hotspot is Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve, located about a mile to the south. Both locations are distinct from the Sully Historic Site, another county park located 4 miles to the NE.
Sully Woodlands features around 100 acres of managed grass meadows with juniper (“red cedar”) edges, Elklick Run (a stream in the woods), and adjacent woods extending south about 2.5 miles.
Fairfax County is currently (2018-20) managing the meadows with a goal to restore native vegetation and attract grassland species. The project had quick success with Grasshopper Sparrows breeding during 2019, just in time for the last season of the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas. The management includes periodic prescribed burns and intensive removal of invasive plants. The meadows are home to a locally rare (in Virginia) native species of milkweed.
The area around the meadows turns up many good species during migration and is home to a good variety of winter residents including most winter sparrows and Northern Harriers. In summer you will find many Prairie Warblers, and a few Yellow-breasted Chats and Blue Grosbeaks. There are raptors there all year - Kestrels and Sharp-shinned Hawks during migration, and the common larger hawks year-round. The Christmas Bird Count usually records Barred and/or Great-horned Owls here. There is a small pond across Pleasant Valley Road which sometimes harbors both Great Blue and Green herons and various duck species during appropriate seasons.
The strategy to bird at Sully varies a lot, depending on the county’s management of the meadows. When they have been mowed or bush-hogged, you can walk comfortably in sneakers. Other times, you may want wellingtons or hip waders to wade through the tall grass. Ideally, for a first visit I’d recommend starting from the west end of the gravel entrance road and make your way north to the tree line; then work that north edge of the meadow west to the stream. For orientation, Pleasant Valley Road runs roughly north-south, along the east side of the park.
The northwest corner of the meadows often has bird activity; mixed flocks also appear regularly along the west side of the meadows and at the southwest corner. Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks both nest in the woods along Elklick Run. Rusty Blackbirds have shown up in seasonal pools in those woods, and turkeys are often seen here. The hill south of the meadows offers geological interest, an outcropping of unusual rock types different from other parts of the county.
For sparrows and open field species, a better choice would be to head west or southwest from the road into the meadows to a slight rise near the center of the open area. That gives you good visibility to much of the area. The birding anywhere in the park can be fantastic during the week or so following a prescribed burn in the winter. The burned sections are just full of birds in open view, gorging on the barbecue. Otherwise, just follow the cleared or mown sections, concentrating on the edges. Meadowlarks are often seen but are not known to nest here - yet!!
During both spring and fall migration, look for mixed flocks where Pleasant Valley crosses Elklick Run, south of the meadows area.
Sully Woodlands saw a big increase in visits and eBird reports when a Northern Shrike “Sully” took up residence in the meadows for 3 consecutive winters beginning in fall 2016. The numbers of reports and species at this hotspot demonstrate the Patagonia rest stop effect.
Accessibility: Park outside the entrance, a gravel road on the west side of Pleasant Valley Road. Be careful not to block the gated entrance here, because county maintenance and resources vehicles may need to be able to drive in at any time or day of the week. There is plenty of room for cars to parallel park on the shoulders of Pleasant Valley Road. Bring either wellingtons or hip waders. When the county has burned or bush-hogged, you can walk those sections of the fields in ordinary shoes. But when they haven’t, you’ll want good protection against ticks and/or briars.
Elklick Run can be accessed by heading straight west from the road, across the meadows - it is hidden behind the tree line to the west. Or, you can park further south on the shoulder where P.V. Road crosses over the stream. The vegetation there is high and the ground is marshy - you’ll probably want wellingtons at least, or even hip waders.
Check the county deer control website for the most up-to-date information on hunting in the park. There is never any hunting on Sunday. Beware of ticks at this location.
Owner/Manager: Fairfax County Park Authority
eBird Hotspot: Sully Woodlands
—Steve Johnson