If you would like a day of solitary birding, but don’t want to walk miles to get away from the people who are gathered near the entrance/parking areas of other parks, then I would recommend trying Carolanne Farms Neighborhood Park. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood along the Elizabeth River, this park has a surprising amount of habitat variety packed into a little area. This park has many year-round residents, but is also a migrant trap during spring and fall passerine migration.
As you enter the park, to your left and right you will notice great edges to bird. If you visit here between September and April, the grasses are mowed and relatively short. However, the grasses are allowed to grow all summer and can be as high as three feet. But don’t worry, the city mows under the powerlines that travel along these edges and gives accessibility to those who want to walk this area. Eastern Bluebird can be seen along these powerlines and Osprey build their nests on the top of the towers. As you walk these edges keep your eyes open for year-round forest denizens like Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Song Sparrow and Brown Thrasher. During spring and fall migration, you can see American Redstart, Northern Parula, and Black-throated Blue Warbler, among others. During winter this is a good area to see White-throated and Fox Sparrows. In summer, be on the lookout for Great-crested Flycatcher, Blue Grosbeak, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
As you make your way up the main path, which is paved and enters the wooded area, keep your eyes open for Pileated and Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Tufted Titmouse, and Blue Jay. In summer you can find Ovenbird foraging along the forest floor. When you come to the end, there is a loop at the boat launch. As you look over the water, you can see Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, and Great Egret. In the winter, you can see Pied-billed Grebe, Ruddy Duck, and Bufflehead. In summer, the reeds across the water are brimming with nesting Red-winged Blackbirds.
There is a dirt path coming off the paved loop that travels between the Elizabeth River and Turtle Lake. This stretch of trail is my favorite spot to bird. This path is narrow and on the cusp of being overgrown, but you can get up close and personal with the birds here. During spring and fall migration, the warblers tend to bunch in the bayberry and cedar trees as they forage. American Redstart, Black-throated Blue, and Blackpoll Warblers are often seen here. In winter, you can find Hooded Merganser in Turtle Lake with the other resident waterfowl. This is also where a Wood Stork was seen in 2020!
Accessibility: There is plenty of free street parking along Gainsborough Road. There is a paved walking path from the street to the kayak launch along the Elizabeth River, which is accessible for wheelchairs. Other trails are dirt, but all are relatively flat and easy to walk. The park is open from sunrise to sunset.
Owner/Manager: City of Virginia Beach
eBird Hotspot: Carolanne Farms Neighborhood Park
—Brandon Holland, March 2021