Stafford Regional Airport is located just west of Interstate 95, with access from the highway via two different exits a couple miles north or south of the facility.
As is typical at most airports, access is limited. Viewing is largely through chain link fencing. The main access road to the terminal (Aviation Way) is bordered on the south by the airfield itself, and by a south-facing edge on the north. The edge can be birdy; get to pishing if you see activity, and you might be rewarded with a nice mixed passerine flock. There is a decent pine component to the vegetation, so in winter you have a good shot of more pine-inclined species like Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Warbler, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
The airfield itself has the kind of open-country habitat that is to be expected. It can be viewed, partially, from near the terminal. There is a much better vantage point from Centrepoint Parkway, where a wide pull-off gives you an excellent vista over the entire airfield, albeit from a substantial distance (scopes required!). Scan here for Northern Harrier or, with luck, a Short-eared Owl. During shorebird migration, this may be a worthy location to check for Upland Sandpiper, a species with a proven track record of dropping in on the grassy margins of airport runways–but will always be a challenge due to viewing distance.
On the whole, this hotspot is unproven. It holds out potential, but has been relatively little-birded. One wonders what else could be found here with some attention from birders.
Owner/Manager: Stafford Regional Airport
eBird Hotspot: Stafford Regional Airport
—Matt Anthony & Todd Day, February 2025