Fluvanna County

With its humble beginnings as part of Henrico County, then later part of Albemarle County—and later still part of Goochland County!—Fluvanna County came into its own in 1777. At 282 sq. mi. and an estimated population of 26,000 (2016), Fluvanna is among Virginia’s the smallest counties in both measures. The county sits between the James River on the south, and Interstate 64 on the north, with Charlottesville just to its west and Richmond only 60 or so miles east.

Even though Fluvanna is not particularly remote, only 206 species of birds have been logged in eBird (July 2019). In part, the low totals reflect the scarcity of publicly accessible water, which keeps waterfowl and other waterbird numbers low. Most of the viewable water in Fluvanna is found inside the gated community of Lake Monticello. Visits there have produced Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe, and Greater White-fronted Goose. Beyond Lake Monticello, wintering waterfowl can be found at a small pond off of Briery Creek Road and sometimes at Sycamore Landing Pond as well. No productive shorebird spots have been discovered, but many fields in the southern part of the county could potentially flood and offer stopover habitat for migrants.

As for passerines and other landbirds, Lake Monticello harbors a healthy population of Red-headed Woodpeckers as well as one of the few reliable central Piedmont locations for Brown-headed Nuthatches. Throughout the county, regenerating logging clearcuts are brimming with scrub birds such as Prairie Warbler; a number of bobwhite persist as well. Forested areas hold a typical mix of eastern Piedmont breeders, and a few open farmland locations hold Grasshopper Sparrows in summer and the expected suite of open-country winterers. 

The best publicly accessible birding spots in the county are Hardware River State WMA, Pleasant Grove Park, Scheier Natural Area, and Carysbrook Plantation. Hardware River State WMA is great for spring migration due to its thick woods and brushy fields and the confluence of the James and Hardware Rivers. Pleasant Grove Park, which includes the Fluvanna Heritage Trail, features open fields that provide a good place for migrating Vesper Sparrows in March and April, and migrating nighthawks in September. Edge habitat in the park is good for migrant songbirds in fall, and several stands of thick pine woods are worth checking during winter for Red-breasted Nuthatches. The seldom-birded Scheier Natural Area includes wooded areas and several small minnow ponds which might someday turn up an interesting egret or heron. Carysbrook Plantation consists mainly of expansive crop fields that can be birded only from the road, and its stubble fields and brushy areas have produced a variety of good records, including Lapland Longspur and Short-eared Owl in winter and summering Horned Lark.

County records of regional and statewide notability include Black Scoter, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Common Redpoll, Anhinga, Evening Grosbeak, wintering Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Painted Bunting.

—Shea Tiller & Andrew Rapp

Hotspots

ACCESSIBILITY AND SURROUNDINGS

Interstate 64 and the parallel-running US 250 almost serve as the northern border of Fluvanna, and as such offer easy access to the county. US 15 is a longitudinal axis that nearly bisects the county into halves, allowing for direct access to the center of this small county. Virginia State Road 6 runs east/west from Scottsville to Columbia, in relative proximity to the James River. Fluvanna is bordered on the west and south by Albemarle and Buckingham Counties, respectively. Louisa is the northern neighbor. Goochland and Cumberland are to the east and southeast. Charlottesville is about 20 miles from the centrally-located Palmyra. Richmond is about sixty miles to the east along I-64.

Amenities

The county seat is Palmyra, located in the center of the county, but has little to offer the traveler. Scottsville, on the banks of the James in the southwest corner of the county, is a small area with a great vibe. There are a few local eateries, a brewery, coffee shop, convenience store, and a river outfitter. It is definitely worth a visit midday for some lunch and a pint. There are no hotels or motels in Fluvanna, just a single bed and breakfast. Just over county line to the north at Zion Crossroads is a cluster of familiar chain restaurants, stores, and a Best Western hotel.