New Kent Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center (Eastbound)

This hotspot has been created to consolidate eBird data from one of the over 40 highway rest areas maintained and operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Currently there are rest areas along Interstates 95, 64, 66, 81, 85, and 77 and Route 13. Often (though not always) there are corresponding eastbound and westbound rest areas at roughly the same point; in these cases, a separate hotspot exists for each. Generally speaking, highway rest areas are not ideal places for birding due to both marginal habitat and excessive road noise. Most are relatively open with some tall trees, but may be bordered by more extensive woods or fields. In instances where a particular rest area has unique birding features, efforts will be made to point those out. Notwithstanding the often marginal birding, highway rest stops are of interest for traveling birders looking to drop in eBird lists along their route – hence the creation of hotspots to consolidate reports from rest areas.

Accessibility: All highway rest areas are free and open to the public 24/7. They have ample parking spaces and usually some mix of amenities typically including bathrooms and vending machines. Some may have more extensive facilities including pet areas, picnic areas with grills, and welcome centers with maps and other travel information. Specific information on amenities can be found by following the link below to the VDOT website.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

eBird Hotspot: New Kent Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center (Eastbound)

Cumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve

Cumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve is a gem along the Pamunkey River. Upon arriving at the main parking lot there are two trails. The trail to the right (northeast) is approximately a quarter of a mile long and ends in an overlook platform over dense wetlands surrounding the Pamunkey River. These wetlands are difficult to access but provide essential habitat for migratory Sora and wintering waterfowl. If a visit is planned in accordance with proper tides (see tide chart), observers may be fortunate to find small groups of shorebirds utilizing tidal mudflats. The observation platform offers a great evening setup to observe thousands of Red-winged Blackbirds flying to their evening roosts out in the marsh. The trail to the left offers a longer hike, hugging the banks of the Pamunkey River and bordering an agricultural field. The trail then enters a mature woodland consisting mainly of Sweet Gum and American Holly. In summer, the loop trail hosts Hooded Warblers, Ovenbirds, and Summer Tanagers. In spring and fall, it is a great place to search for migratory thrushes utilizing the dense holly.

For those interested in not only birds but insects, Cumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve is the place for you. In the fall, wingstem is in golden bloom all along the left (southwestern) trail hosting large quantities of colorful insects including Long-tailed Skippers, Florida Stink Bugs, Cocklebur Weevils, and many other unique species. Scanning the edge of the field in early September often yields Fine-lined Emeralds, an uncommon coastal plain dragonfly. If that’s not enough, then scan the wild rice grass when on the observation platform at the end of the right (northeastern) trail and you might be lucky enough to see the rainbow-colored Handsome Meadow Katydids.

Owner/Manager: The Nature Conservancy, but managed in collaboration with Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation

eBird Hotspot: Cumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve

—Andrew Rapp, January 2021

Goddins Pond

Tucked in the woods along Holly Fork Road, this large wooded millpond is easily viewable from the road. The surrounding woods here are good for a variety of woodland birds including woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice at all times of the year. During the breeding season, this spot will be alive with the songs of Acadian Flycatchers, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos, and a variety of warblers such as Hooded, Yellow-throated, Pine, Black-and-white, and Ovenbird. The pond itself provides suitable habitat for breeding Wood Ducks, Green Herons, and Prothonotary Warblers. Whistling for screech-owl here has a decent shot of getting a response. Lack of eBird effort during the winter months means there are few reports of waterfowl, but it is reasonable to expect that, as with many wooded ponds, ducks can be hit or miss.

eBird Hotspot: Goddins Pond

—Matt Anthony, August 2020

Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area

Ware Creek WMA is an undiscovered gem of New Kent. Sitting pretty at 2600 acres, it is more than double the size of Cumberland Marsh NAP, yet it has attracted very little birder attention. Its position along the York River along with the mix of wetlands, pine and mixed hardwoods, and open fields indicate enormous potential for high species counts. While birders should probably avoid this WMA during active hunting days (Sundays are always closed to hunting on public land in Virginia, but see WMA website at bottom of this page for more details), full advantage should otherwise be taken of all 2600 acres. Old forest roads form a network of easily walkable trails throughout most of the property (see map). Extensive exploration is still needed to figure out the best ways to bird this massive property. Specialties that are likely to be found here include rails, Rusty Blackbirds, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Prothonotary Warblers, and waterfowl. Of particular interest is that this is the furthest downstream, publically accessible stretch of the York River in New Kent so tough species in the county like Scoters, and some Tern species (Royal, maybe Common and Sandwich) could be found here.

eBird Hotspot: Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

—Nick Newberry

New Kent Safety Rest Area (Westbound)

Just as the name says, this hotspot is one of the many rest areas maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) on Virginia highways. This stop is located along I-64 in New Kent County, not quite halfway from Richmond to Williamsburg at mile marker 213. Like most rest areas in the state, it has a building with restrooms, vending machines, and travel information, as well as paved walkways and a pinic area. Open to all classes of vehicle, the facilities here are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Like many of the state’s rest areas, this one features some landscaped areas near the building with a sparsely wooded picnic area. At this particular location, the picnic area has a stand of tall pines that could be a good spot for species like Pine Warbler or Brown-headed Nuthatch. The back side of the rest area adjoins a more substantial woods. Birders can expect the typical suite of woodland and edge species, though as with all highway rest stops, road noise is a near-constant issue here. Nonetheless, for a traveler looking to fill in some color on their eBird profile, throwing in a quick checklist during a bathroom break is worthwhile!

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

eBird Hotspot: New Kent Safety Rest Area (Westbound)

—Matt Anthony