Located just 5 miles west of Franklin, in eastern Southampton County, Hercules Boat Ramp is an easily accessible, and often very birdy, spot to get a taste of Southampton County birding. Like most public boat ramps in the state, birding here is fairly straightforward; it mostly consists of looking and listening for birds in the riparian woods along the Nottoway River. This spot is most productive in spring and summer, when it will be alive with the songs of Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos, Summer Tanagers, and a variety of warblers including Northern Parula and Hooded, Yellow-throated, and Prothonotary. Aerial insectivores frequent the river as well, and you can often see Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts coursing above the waters. The Barn Swallows likely nest under the SR-671 bridge. In migration, this spot would be worth checking for other swallow species.
In addition to the expected woodland species, the parking area and adjacent baseball field offer edge habitat where species like Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Chipping and Song Sparrows, and Blue Grosbeaks may be kicked up. As an added bonus, the back edge of the ballfield has a stand of large pines that is frequented by Brown-headed Nuthatches; listen for their squeaky-toy calls at all times of the year.
Winter birding is less rewarding at this spot, as the river here is not large enough to hold much in the way of waterfowl. However, this is as good a spot as any to look for expected winter woodland species.
Accessibility: This boat ramp is only a short 10-minute drive from Franklin, nearly straight west on SR-671 (General Thomas Highway). Continuing west on 671 leads to the towns of Newsoms, Boykins, and Branchville; eventually, it will take you to Little Texas, and for many birders coming from the east, this route is the gateway to southside birding, making the Hercules Boat Ramp an excellent first stop on a southside itinerary. It is also only a short ways from US-58, making it a good stop for travelers looking to boost their Southampton list.
As befitting a public boat ramp, this spot has ample, free public parking (some of the spaces are marked as for trailers only). At the launch point, there is also a short wooden pier that you can walk out on to gain a better view of the river.
Owner/Manager & Official Website: Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
eBird Hotspot: Hercules Boat Ramp
—Matt Anthony
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