Grayson County

Red-breasted Nuthatch, © Eric Hynes

Grayson County is on the southern border of Virginia, adjacent to both North Carolina and Tennessee. Its total land area is approximately 443 square miles, more than 50 percent of which is forested. The state’s highest mountains and oldest river offer wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation, including birding. Birders will find excellent opportunities to see breeding warblers here; at least 18 species can be found without too much effort. With a little luck, several other warbler species might be found.

The county is largely mountainous, especially in its western and northern sections. Elevations in the county range from 2,130 feet, where the New River flows into Carroll County, to 5,729 feet on Mt. Rogers, the highest elevation in the state. The New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, drains the largest portion of the county. The landscape is one of high ridges and deep hollows with a mix of forests and lands cleared for agriculture. All rocks found in Grayson County formed long before the uplift of the Appalachian Mountains over 200 million years ago. Cranberry Gneiss in the central and western parts of the county, at 1.1 billion-years-old, is among the oldest rocks found in the eastern United States. The Mount Rogers Formation in the western part of the county includes volcanic rocks formed about 760 million years ago. The 650 million-year-old Konnarock Formation in the western part of the county was formed by glacial action after the volcanic period.

Grayson County’s ancient landscape has been highly modified by human activity, particularly farming and timbering. Agricultural lands in the county today are primarily high pastures and hay fields, many of which now grow Christmas trees. However, substantial portions of the county are forested public lands, including Grayson Highlands State Park, New River Trail State Park, Matthews State Forest, Jefferson National Forest, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Conservation efforts on private lands, particularly along the New River, contribute to good birding opportunities. Birders can visit diverse natural communities, including spruce forests, Southern Appalachian shrub and grass balds, northern hardwood forests, boulderfield forests, cove forests, mixed oak-hickory forests, oak-heath forests, eastern white pine-hardwood forests, and outcrop barrens.

Grayson County has much to offer as a birding destination and attracts birders looking for unusual breeding birds at its highest elevations. Breeding birds of particular interest include Black-billed Cuckoo, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Alder Flycatcher, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Vesper Sparrow, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Mid-elevation farms and forests between 2,500 and 3,500 feet elevation offer good birding opportunities also, albeit for more familiar species. At lower elevations, New River riparian habitats support many birds of interest including Bald Eagle, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Common Raven, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Northern Parula, and Yellow-throated Warbler.

Grayson Highlands State Park is the most popular hotspot in the county and offers easy access to high-elevation habitats. Much of the park is over 5,000-feet elevation and good birding areas are accessible by any vehicle. There are a multitude of trails through the park and a trail map is an advantage if you are planning to hike out to the Mount Rogers hotspot. One could spend several days birding the park and environs. Elk Garden Trailhead, Scales Campground, and Whitetop Mountain hotspots also offer vehicular access to high-elevation habitats. Elk Garden Trailhead is reachable by any vehicle, while high-clearance vehicles are advised for Whitetop Mountain. High-clearance 4WD vehicles are advised to reach Scales Campground by vehicle. Weather can change quickly at these locations at any time of year; be prepared with warm clothing, water, and sunscreen. Homestead Road in Fairwood Valley offers vehicular access to mid-elevation forests up to about 3,700-feet. This dirt road has minimal traffic and provides birding in pastures and woodlands in Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area. It is particularly productive during spring and fall migrations. The Blue Ridge Music Center at Fisher’s Peak on the Blue Ridge Parkway also offers access to mid-elevation habitats, as well as a diversion for non-birding members of your party. Bridle Creek Boat Ramp and New River Trail State Park offer access to riparian woodlands and pastures along New River.

Check out the eBird bar charts for Grayson County hotspots for detailed information about your target birds.

—Allen Boynton

Hotspots

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