Located near The Plains along State Road 709 (Belvoir Road), this pond is sometimes shown on maps as Bowmans Pond. It is a private farm pond, and access is from the road only. There is a wide pull-off at a gate on the southern end of the pond where two cars can park easily. (There is a second pull-off about a half-mile north of the one described above [just across from the western end of Harrison Road]. It is more distant from the bulk of the water, thus the birding from this spot isn’t quite as productive as parking at the other gate. This gate also gets more use from the farmers who are working the property. Also, it can be treacherous to back out of this spot onto Belvoir Road. It is best to use the parking spot described first!) The entire property is posted with no trespassing signs, so wandering closer to the pond isn’t allowed without permission. The pond is relatively large, and the upper reaches are quite far away. This pond is best birded with a scope.
Waterfowl is the primary quarry here, and fall, winter, and spring are the best times to visit. Some 30 species of waterfowl have been reported here (though only 28 are logged into eBird). Rarer species include Ross’s, Snow, White-fronted, and Cackling Geese, as well as Black and Surf Scoters. Other notable waterbirds include Red-necked Grebe, and a Leach’s Storm-Petrel after Hurricane Isabel! Throughout the years, the water level of the pond is sometimes quite low, offering exposed mud. In those instances, it can be good for shorebirds and even bitterns and rails. There have been counts close to 100 Wilson’s Snipe seen here during those times. The drop in water level is unpredictable and not typically tied to weather conditions. On several occasions the water level had dropped because the dam failed!
There is a large Purple Martin colony at the home just to the west, and the pond is a good place to scope for other swallows in season. Orchard Oriole and Red-headed Woodpecker are other interesting birds that can sometimes be found here. The silo (which requires permission to access) has never produced Barn Owl, though Black Vultures have nested in it.
eBird Hotspot: Belvoir Pond
—Todd Michael Day