Located directly adjacent to the Haymarket Gainesville Community Library, the centerpiece of this charming little park is a 1791 home that has been fully restored and relocated to this site. The house is being prepared as an interpretive historic site. Though the park is tiny, it is not without its draws for birding. Behind the house is a small wooded pond edged with brush and tangles, which yield a mix of suburban dwellers including cardinals, chickadees, Carolina Wrens, mockingbirds, and thrashers. In winter, these denizens are joined by the typical winter passerine suite. There is a short paved trail that winds behind the library, along with a few picnic tables. The trail continues into the neighborhood behind the library, but beyond that point is clearly marked for residents only. In the evening, you may also see dozens of vultures headed to roost nearby. While the birding here is somewhat routine, this is a nice spot to submit a quick eBird list alongside a visit to the library, or while checking out the historic house.
Owner/Manager: Prince William County
eBird Hotspot: Bushy Park Historic Site
—Matt Anthony