Sunken Meadow Pond

Just outside the Town of Claremont, this large wooded lake is primarily birded for waterfowl in the winter months, with the vast majority of eBird lists input between mid-November and early-April. During these months, this pond attracts hundreds of ducks of many species, especially Wood Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, and Hooded Merganser. Less frequent visitors include Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, and Ruddy Duck. Blue-winged Teal typically turn up for a few weeks in late March into early April. There are also historical records of Eurasian Wigeon from three different years. Canada Geese and Tundra Swans are also regular in winter, and since the early 2000s this lake has been a reliable location for Mute Swans. Other waterbirds frequently encountered here include Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Bald Eagle, and Belted Kingfisher.

The southern end of the pond has some marshy areas and mudflats, which should be scanned for Wilson’s Snipe and possibly other species of shorebirds during the appropriate season. Playing for rails is worth a minute’s effort, as the habitat seems appropriate for Virginia Rail or Sora. The surrounding woods are good for the full winter woodland suite, while March and April bring returning White-eyed Vireos, Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers, Northern Parulas, and Summer Tanagers, among others. Swallows often forage over the water; Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged have all been recorded, but Cliff and Bank are possible as migrants. Data from the summer months is essentially nonexistent, but this pond is worth checking in late July and into August when waders begin to disperse. Finally, the brushy foliage and tangles along the edges is worth working in late fall, as it seems ideal for Orange-crowned Warbler, or perhaps a lingering passerine or vagrant.

Accessibility: The pond is private, but easily viewable from public roads. There are vantage points at both the north and south ends; both are worth checking to make sure no birds are missed. View from Beaverdam Road (626) at the south, and Sunken Meadow Road (609) at the north. Both roads have light traffic and wide spots where it is possible to pull off.

eBird Hotspot: Sunken Meadow Pond

—Matt Anthony, March 2021

Claremont Town Beach

The Town of Claremont maintains a small strip of public beach at Sloop Point. Bounded by private land on either side, this narrow beach is primarily of interest to birders as a vantage point for viewing the James River. In winter, scoping the river is a good way to find waterfowl including large rafts of scaup (both species), other Aythya ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, and occasionally sea ducks such as Long-tailed Duck or any of the three scoters. Common and, less frequently, Red-throated Loons can be spotted on the river, as well as Pied-billed and Horned Grebes. Bald Eagles patrol the James year-round, while Ospreys are a conspicuous presence beginning in March and continuing through the breeding season. Depending on the season, gulls on the river include Ring-billed, Herring, Great Black-backed, Laughing, and Bonaparte’s. There is little birding to be had at this site apart from views of the river. The beach is not substantial enough to attract shorebirds, and while it is possible to detect singing woodland birds to the south, there are much better places for woods birding in Surry. For county listers, this spot often has House Sparrows, which are uncommon and quite local in Surry.

Accessibility: The beach has a parking area off Villa Road that can accommodate about three or four cars. Property on either side is private, and clearly marked. There is a sandy bank where birders can set up scopes to view the James, and there is also a single picnic table.

Owner/Manager: Town of Claremont

eBird Hotspot: Claremont Town Beach

—Matt Anthony, March 2021

Jamestown-Scotland Ferry (Surry Co.)

The ferry across the James provides a quick, easy, and free connector between the populated areas on the Peninsula and birding sites in Surry including Hog Island and Chippokes Plantation SP. In addition to being expedient, it is an excellent addition to a birding itinerary because it adds the opportunity to view birds on the James River. Birding from the ferry is at its best beginning in the fall and continuing through winter, when large flocks of gulls follow behind the boat. Typically, the species composition includes all the usual suspects such as Ring-billed, Herring, and Great Black-backed, and this is also one of the more reliable local spots for Less Black-backed. However, over the years the ferry has attracted a few rarities, including Sabine’s Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake in September, and Iceland Gull in March. Though it can be difficult to pull a single gull among the hundreds that follow the ferry, these rarities are sometimes chaseable. Birding from the ferry in the winter also offers the chance to see large rafts of scaup (usually including both species) on the James, as well as loons, grebes, and other ducks including Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, and Ruddy Duck. Scanning birds on the water may sometimes turn up locally rare species such as Red-necked Grebe or any of the three scoters. Bonaparte’s Gulls are a common sight on the river beginning in the fall and remaining through winter and into spring; during spring, it is worth checking the large Bonie flocks for rarities such as Little Gull, which has been recorded here in April. The spring months also bring returning breeders such as Osprey, Laughing Gulls, Brown Pelicans and Royal Terns, as well as transient species including Caspian Terns and the occasional Black Tern. Summer is less productive here, as the large flocks of gulls dwindle, but it can still turn up some surprises. For birders who keep month lists, scanning the James in summer might yield a lingering loon or duck. June has offered up a few surprises in the past, including a locally rare Black Skimmer loafing with the gulls and terns, as well as a record of Franklin’s Gull. At both ferry terminals, there are any pilings at the dock that are a favored spot for birds at all times of the year. In winter, hundreds of cormorants are often resting here, and diligent scanning may turn up a Great. The gulls also like to roost here, and scanning during the few minutes prior to disembarking offers a shot at less common species. During the summer months, terns also perch here and scanning the birds on the piling may yield a Least or Common, or perhaps something rarer, mixed in with the Royals and Laughing Gulls.

Note: For those birders who keep county lists, the James City/Surry line runs roughly down the middle of the river, meaning that half of the ferry trip is in either county.

Accessibility: The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry is a free transportation service provided by the state of Virginia, which takes passengers and vehicles across the James River between James City and Surry Counties. It runs seven days a week, 365 days a year including all holidays. Ferry schedules vary seasonally, and information on the current schedule can be found at the VDOT website. Passengers are required to stay in their vehicles during boarding and disembarking, but are permitted to exit their cars and roam the deck while the ferry is in motion. The stern of the boat is often the best spot for watching the gulls that gather in the ferry’s wake. There is also an upper deck which boasts a more expansive vantage of the river.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation

eBird Hotspot: Jamestown-Scotland Ferry (Surry Co.)

—Matt Anthony, August 2020

Hog Island WMA

Once in the WMA, you will see a large impoundment on your right at the entrance. The most significant species often seen on this impoundment is the American White Pelican, which in recent years has been consistently observed here from early fall into late spring, with occasional over summering birds. Although this first pool is typically the most reliable spot, the pelicans move around quite a bit and can be found anywhere on the property. The high count so far has been 77 birds on March 15, 2018. As you move further north along the entrance road, you will see the James River to your left. With most of the refuge closed off from September 30 through the Sunday after the first Saturday in February, it is worth scanning the river for wintering waterfowl and gulls from the main road (always open) from a few different vantage points. There are often large flocks of Scaup on the river and they should be checked for any possible rarities mixed in. Brown Pelicans can also be found here in the winter. Probably the most productive section of the WMA at all seasons is the north end which contains numerous open fields, impoundments, and marshes. In winter, a variety of waterfowl can be seen in this area including Tundra Swans. Large numbers of Canada Geese are ubiquitous here with the occasional rarer goose mixed in. There is a series of trails that lead east down into the marshes from the parking area but these cannot be accessed in fall and winter as they are closed so as not to disturb the waterfowl. In late winter these trails reopen and birders once again has access to all the nooks and crannies that these marsh areas provide. Spring heralds the return of Royal Terns to the area and they can be seen flying back and forth to the river all summer. Least Terns can also be found here in good numbers throughout summer. In late summer, Caspian Terns sometimes stage here in large numbers. The high count for the area is 832, recorded on 9 September 2011. In recent years, Least Bitterns have been found by patient or lucky observer from the viewing platform next to the small gravel parking lot about a quarter mile south of the northern terminus of the road. As expected, this is also a good area for large numbers of waders and, depending on water levels, shorebirds. Although shorebirds can be found here in spring, the best time to search for them is from July through September when water levels tend to be at their lowest. Good diversity and numbers of shorebirds are possible at this time including many potential rarities, but finding them requires time, luck, and patience with the birds. Hot months bring deer flies and mosquitoes, so come prepared with bug spray and long sleeves and pants. The intrepid birder who takes on these challenges is often rewarded.

FALL (JULy-NOVember)

With the onset of shorebird season around the second week of July, fall at Hog Island begins in earnest even as much of the rest of the state still feels like it’s in the throws of summer. While productive at all times of year, Hog shines its brightest from early July through September 30. Even though productive shorebird could be had after this date, particularly for the likes of Hudsonian Godwit and American Golden-Plovers, the WMA is closed Mon-Sat until early February, and when it is open on Sunday all trails off the main road are closed, which severely limits birding success. Opportunities for shorebirds, and therefore shorebirding, varies widely from year to year depending on the water levels in the impoundments. When low, as in July 2018, shorebirding can be epic with 10s of thousands of shorebirds of all stripes throughout the WMA. When high, there can be a small fraction of those numbers, but rarities can and do appear nonetheless.

The first pool on the right after entering the WMA often hosts shorebirds along its edges that are sometimes identifiable (and sometimes not, depending on the lighting, heat shimmer and distance) from the gravel road. The four subsequent pools on the right offer additional views of the impoundments but require some persistence to see all the birds since vegetation near and far can obscure portions of the water. The third pool in particular can hold dozens of waders (think Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Snowy Egret, Green Heron) with high counts of Great Egrets topping 100 at points in the fall.

When water levels are generally high throughout the property, there is still often a small island with exposed mud in the 5th pool. While this island is partially viewable from the road, it is really worth hiking out to view it from the crossdike. This is done by parking next to the viewing tower in the small gravel lot about a quarter mile from the end of the gravel road/ranger station trailer, then walking past the yellow gate through the agricultural fields to the crossdike. In 2019 renovations to the impoundment on the right resulted in the addition of several small rock piles, which are readily used by Least Terns and occasionally other related species like Black, Gull-billed, and Forster’s Terns. The island in the middle of the impoundment has proven again and again that it is a must visit location at Hog Island, hosting at various points over the years Red Knot, Hudsonian Godwit, and Wilson’s Phalarope. A juvenile Sora was seen off and on during the fall of 2019 from this vantage point as it worked the edge of the reeds, so don’t neglect scanning the edges here. A Roseate Spoonbill was seen here from 7/25/2018 through 8/4/2018 (a second bird was found on this date).

Accessibility: The most heavily birded section is the Hog Island Tract, which is connected to the Dominion Energy Surry Nuclear Power Plant. Due to special hunts conducted on the property, the WMA is only open on Sundays from October through January. From early February to the end of August, the property is open seven days a week. It is closed on Wednesdays in September for managed Canada Geese hunts. To access this section, birders must pass through a heavily-secured checkpoint at the power plant where a quick vehicle search is performed. No alcohol or firearms are permitted inside vehicles. Photo identification and a valid WMA access permit (In a pinch, can be purchased at the Bacon’s Castle Market) must be presented at this checkpoint or access to the WMA will be denied. Please adhere strictly to the 15mph speed limit between the checkpoint and the entrance to the WMA.

eBird Hotspot: Hog Island WMA

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

—Adam D’Onofrio