Forest Grove Road Pond

This is one of the better ponds in Warren County for dabbling ducks. Almost all the regular dabblers have been recorded here at one time or another. Depending on water levels the pond will occasionally attract shorebirds as well, both Semipalmated Plover and Wilson’s Snipe have been recorded. There is also a record of Great Egret, with more coverage an unusual heron might eventually turn up here.

Accessibility: This pond is located on private property but is easily viewable from Forest Grove Road. There is ample room to safely pull off the road here as well.

eBird Hotspot: Forest Grove Road pond

—James Fox

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Front Royal Fish Hatchery

When full the ponds attract the occasional duck and herons and when drawn down Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers have shown up. Currently, most of the ponds are completely dry allowing a good deal of grass and brush to grow in them, providing ample sparrow habitat for species such as Savannah, Chipping and Swamp Sparrows. During migration the edges of the woods surrounding the hatchery can be good for warblers. There are typically a few Louisiana Waterthrushes along the creek throughout the spring and summer.

Accessibility: The hatchery itself is only open during regular business hours during the week, but there are pull offs on both sides of the road with room for several cars where people can park at any time and go in.  The ponds and edges on both sides of 619 are worth exploring.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Fish & Game

eBird Hotspot: Front Royal Fish Hatchery

—James Fox

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Bentonville Boat Ramp

The Bentonville boat ramp is a great starting point for kayak trips along the Shenandoah River. During the summer months this stretch of river is popular for kayaking and canoeing. The Downriver Canoe Company is located on the opposite side of the river and offers canoe and kayak rentals along with providing shuttle service to points on the river from near Luray to Front Royal. Kayaking the river is a great way to find Prothonotary and Yellow-throated Warblers, Common Mergansers, Bald Eagles etc. In the winter the boat ramp is also a good vantage point to scan for ducks, there are usually some Common Mergansers around and in colder weather a wide variety of species are possible.

Accessibility: This is a public boat ramp maintained by VDGIF. Open dawn to dusk.

eBird Hotspot: Bentonville Boat Ramp

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

—James Fox

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Lake Front Royal/AT Trailhead

This parking area offers a convenient access point for the Appalachian Trail near Front Royal if one does not wish to pay the entry fee to enter Shenandoah National Park.  Hiking the trail in either direction from the parking area can be very productive for birding, especially during migration and during the breeding season.  Lake Front Royal, a private lake owned by the subdivision bearing the same name, can also be viewed by continuing down 522 a short ways past the parking area, but the occasional Ring-necked Duck is about all that lake seems to attract beyond the expected Canada Geese and Mallards.  During migration the most productive stretch of the trail is the part just to the east of 522 that skirts a small stream along the southern edge of the Smithsonian Conservation and Biology Institute.  This stretch of the trail has hosted uncommon migrants such as Olive-sided Flycatcher and Wilson's Warbler as well as a wide variety of other migrants.  During the breeding season, this is also a good place to look for Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat and White-eyed Vireo.  Hiking in the opposite direction, heading west from 522, is often especially productive during the breeding season.  Once you reach the thicker woods at the top of the first hill you enter prime breeding habitat for many of the lower elevation Blue Ridge specialties such as Cerulean and Kentucky Warbler.  Hooded Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler and Acadian Flycatcher are all abundant in this area as well.  If you hike far enough in this direction you will eventually enter Shenandoah National Park where there are many more birding opportunities.

Accessibility: There is a small dirt parking area off 522 just before the entrance to the Lake Front Royal subdivision.  Open 24/7 365 days a year.  No entry fee.  For more information about the Appalachian Trail in general check out the Appalachian Trail Conservancy web site.

Owner/Manager: National Park Service

eBird Hotspot: Lake Front Royal/AT Trailhead

—James Fox

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Ashby Station Road Pond

This pond can be a good spot to look for shorebirds depending on the water level and will occasionally host dabbling ducks as well.  Red-headed Woodpeckers, Grasshopper Sparrow and Wild Turkey can also be found along the road near the pond.  Notable sightings include three Stilt Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Plover.

Accessibility: Viewable from Ashby Station Road, please do not leave the road as the property is privately owned.  Parking along this road is a little tricky but there is a gate on the north side of the road across from the pond that one car can be parked in front of.

eBird Hotspot: Ashby Station Road pond

—James Fox

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Morgan's Ford Boat Ramp

This site is most productive in migration and winter, it is one of the better sites in Warren County to find diving ducks and other waterfowl. Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Common Goldeneye, Canvasback and Red-breasted Merganser have all been observed. It can also be a good place to look for swallows staging for migration in the late spring and late summer.

Accessibility: Open dawn to dusk, VDGIF access permit or fishing license required.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

eBird Hotspot: Morgan's Ford Boat Ramp

—James Fox

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Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. Shenandoah River State Park

The Visitor Center is a good starting point for anyone visiting the park for the first time, there are several feeders there that are worth checking if they are filled.  The trails on the ridge around the visitor center can be productive for migrants.  Formerly Northern Saw-whet Owl banding was conducted here in the late fall and early winter but that ranger is no longer at the park so this no longer happens. The trails around the day use picnic area are one of the more popular spots to bird in the park. Yellow-throated Warbler is regular around the picnic area in the early spring, along with Louisiana Waterthrush. Occasionally you will see waterfowl on the river here as well, most commonly Double-crested Cormorants and Common Mergansers. The Bluebell trail which follows the river south from the picnic area and the trails to the east of the rustic campground are both worth exploring for migrants as well.  The trails in the more open areas around the modern campground on the other side of the park also provide excellent birding. A wide variety of sparrows can be found there, and Lark Sparrow has even been found once. The dead tree behind the bathroom building at the modern campground that used to host a Red-headed Woodpecker nest has unfortunately either fallen or been cut down, but they are still occasionally found in this area or near the cabins.

Accessibility: Open 8 a.m. to dusk; overnight camping also available.  The visitor center is open from 8:00-12:00 and 12:30-4:30 daily throughout the year. Access fee or annual pass required. Rates vary depending on time of week and time of year, see above website for details.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

eBird Hotspot: Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. Shenandoah River State Park

—James Fox

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Shenandoah NP--Dickey Ridge Visitor Center

The Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is the starting point for many visitors to Shenandoah National Park entering through the Front Royal Entrance Station at the north end of the park. There are two trails that begin at the visitor center, the shorter Fox Hollow Loop (1.2 miles) and the Snead Farm Loop (3 miles). The Fox Hollow Loop is the more popular trail for birders and has its own eBird hotspot.  This trail is productive for both breeding warblers such as Hooded, Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers, and a wide variety of migrants. The best spots for migrants are the open area at the beginning of the loop across from the visitor center and the area around the spring and the steam that flows out from it along the northern part of the loop. Another productive spot for migrants is the area around the overflow parking area north of the visitor center. The picnic area can also turn up some interesting birds on occasion. American Woodcocks can be found displaying in the open area around the visitor center in the spring as well.

Accessibility: The trails and Skyline Drive are open 24 hours a day, with the exception of some nights during deer hunting season and when the drive is closed for inclement weather. The visitor center is open 9-5 daily from the first weekend in April to the last weekend in November. An entry fee of $25 for a week or $50 for a year pass is required.

Owner/Manager: National Park Service

eBird Hotspot: Shenandoah NP--Dickey Ridge Visitor Center

Sub-Hotspot: Shenandoah NP--Fox Hollow Trail

—James Fox

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