Willis Wharf is a small, unincorporated village in northern Northampton County, a few miles east of Exmore and only a stone’s throw from the Accomack line. The saltmarshes and tidal flats draw an impressive mix of shorebirds, including the charismatic Willets, Whimbrels, and Marbled Godwits that have made this spot famous among birders. From late fall through the winter, the flats host several hundred Marbled Godwits, as well as Short-billed Dowitchers, Dunlin, American Oystercatchers, and Ruddy Turnstones. The number of birds is truly impressive, and they are a sight to behold when they take to the air. Hundreds of Willets are present year-round, treating birds to their dapper black-and-white wing patterns and garrulous call. Whimbrels are present for a shorter window, turning up in late March and lingering through the end of May, then passing through again between late June and the end of September.
Though these shorebirds are the main draw at Willis Wharf, it has much more to offer. The saltmarshes are filled with Clapper Rails, serenading birders with their grunting calls and occasionally offering a quick glimpse. Saltmarsh, Seaside, and Nelson’s Sparrows have all been reported very infrequently in the late fall, though perhaps they would be spotted more regularly if the marshes were more accessible. When large congregations of shorebirds are amassed, keep an eye to the sky for a Peregrine Falcon hunting them. During the summer months, breeders including Laughing Gulls, Black Skimmers, and Common, Royal, and Gull-billed Terns may be seen coursing over the marshes and flats, while waders including Great and Snowy Egrets, and Little Blue and Tricolored Herons may be hunting the shallows.
Apart from shorebirds, winter also brings ducks and other waterbirds. Checking the water on both side of Willis Wharf Road by the marina will likely give you looks at Common Loon, Pied-billed and Horned Grebes, Red-breasted and Hooded Mergansers, and Bufflehead. If you’re lucky, you may see a more uncommon species such as a goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, or scoter. There are typically gulls hanging around the marina, so take a moment to scan these. Though waterbirds certainly steal the show, resist the temptation to neglect passerine birding, especially during fall and winter. The vegetation around town is perfect for harboring overwintering passerines such as Blue-headed Vireo or a warbler. Some of the houses have feeders that attract winter feeding flocks, and anything could join up with these groups. Even the large groups of House Sparrows that hang out by the docks are worth checking to see if a Dickcissel has joined up with them.
Accessibility: To get to Willis Wharf, go east from Exmore on Rt. 603 (Willis Wharf Road) until you come to the bend in the road opposite the post office. At this point, you will see the mudflats and marshes unfolding before you, so you’ll know you’re in the right place. Birders sometimes park at the post office and walk over to the water to scope, but this is generally discouraged and should be avoided. For better access and viewing, continue on 603 until the marina and turn into the gravel parking lot. You will see a wooden observation platform ahead. Park near the platform and scope the marshes and flats from there. It is also worth walking back across 603 to peek into the water on the other side of the road. If you have the time, it is also worthwhile to back towards the post office and check some of the edges around town for passerines. This area is generally low-traffic, and walking on the side of the road is fine so long as you take care to so safely.
Birding at Willis Wharf is heavily lighting and tide dependent. In order to see any shorebirds, you must go at a time when the tide is low enough to expose the mudflats; if you go during high tide, you are almost certain not to see any shorebirds. When the tide is fully out, the exposed flats are quite extensive and the birds may be further away. If you time your visit right, you can catch the birds on an outgoing or incoming tide for closer views, but always make sure to bring a scope. When you scope from the wooden platform, most of the birds will be to the northwest, while from the post office you are looking almost directly east, so keep this in mind when considering time-of-day and lighting. Parking in the gravel lot by the wooden platform is free and open to the public, but apart from this, most other areas in the village are private property.
eBird Hotspot: Willis Wharf
—Matt Anthony