South River Greenway

Open from sunrise to sunset, the South River Greenway Trail runs for 1.2 miles along the South River from the Loth Springs Parking area on Arch Avenue (behind the YMCA) to the Port Republic neighborhood near West Broad Street). Parking at this end is available at the Shiloh Baptist Church auxiliary parking lot right at the trailhead or at Constitution Park. There is also parking available downtown at the Arch Avenue Parking Lot and the Invista lot. The trail is paved and provides an easy walk along the river where a wide variety of birds can be found such as Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Canada Goose, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Catbird, Kingfisher, etc. Belted Kingfishers fly up and down the river often, and Osprey can be seen plucking fish out of the river during warmer months

Owner/Manager: City of Waynesboro

eBird Hotspot: South River Greenway

—Vic Laubach

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Ridgeview Park

Ridgeview Park is a public park with the South River flowing through the middle and a walking bridge connecting the north and south sections. The north section has a swimming pool, softball fields, tennis courts, a children’s playground as well as some picnic pavilions. The south section has several soccer fields surrounded by woods and walking paths. The best birding is done in the south section early in the morning, before park visitors arrive, along the trails and along the river. There are some nice walking paths through the woods alongside the river. In the winter you can find plenty of woodpeckers (Brown Creeper, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Downy, Hairy, Pileated, Red-bellied, White-breasted Nuthatch), sparrows, Kinglets, Dark-eyed Junco, Eastern Towhee and even Merlin. In the spring you can find plenty of migrants such as warblers, vireos, orioles, tanagers, and thrushes.

Accessibility: A large parking lot is available in the north section. Alternatively, you can park in the cul-de-sac at the end of River Rd. There are restrooms next to the north section parking area. Open sunrise to sunset.

eBird Hotspot: Ridgeview Park

—Vic Laubach

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Ivy Street Ponds

The Ivy Street Ponds refers to two ponds on either side of Ivy Street in a residential area that often have good waterfowl or waders, especially in the winter. Along with the Invista Ponds, this is one of the premiere waterfowl spots in Waynesboro. A wing-tagged Trumpeter Swan was a semi-regular visitor here during the winter months from Jan 2018 through the winter of 2019-2020.

It's best to park along curb of Claybrook Drive and walk. It's not safe to park out on Ivy Street.

eBird Hotspot: Ivy Street Ponds

—Vic Laubach and Nick Newberry

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Invista Pond

This is private property, but if you park alongside Lyndhurst Rd and walk in and stay on the sidewalk, you will be fine. It lies adjacent to a park alongside the South River. Photography is prohibited. This pond is spring-fed and does not freeze in the winter. The pond always has Canada Geese and is well known for its resident Black-crowned Night Herons. It can also hold surprising waterfowl and waders such as American Coot, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, and Pied-billed Grebe. Be sure to also walk along the South River to watch for more waterfowl, herons, and kingfisher. The open areas often hold Eastern Phoebe, swallows, finches, and sparrows.

eBird Hotspot: Invista Pond

—Nick Newberry

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Constitution Park

This is a small, grassy park in downtown Waynesboro next to the South River. It is mostly an open area with scattered trees. A large parking lot is nearby. Typical birds found here include Northern Cardinal. American Goldfinch, House Finch, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, among others. The river can sometimes hold interesting waterfowl or waders.

eBird Hotspot: Constitution Park

—Vic Laubach

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Mulberry Run Constructed Wetland

Completed in 2016, a manmade haven for both wildlife and the community is thriving at Waynesboro’s Mulberry Run Wetlands. The project was created to prevent polluted runoff from entering the South River and Chesapeake Bay. “Mulberry Run Wetlands has become a valued and well-used resource for local residents seeking a quiet place for a walk, as well as nature lovers looking for the variety of insects, birds, and plants that a restored ecosystem offers,” said Trafford McRae, the stormwater program manager for Waynesboro Public Works. As the wetlands mature, it will continue to look different as plants grow in and become more established. See the full story in the News Leader.

This relatively new complex of ponds and wetlands has yet to be surveyed year round, however, it has already produced promising waterfowl diversity with Blue-winged Teal and Redhead highlighting the list. Shorebird migration should also prove to be productive here if water levels do not dip too low. Already, the four most expected shorebird species for the area, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, Wilson’s Snipe and Killdeer have been reported here, but the potential for yellowlegs or even a phalarope is there. Spring 2020 produced a calling Sora so rails are on the menu here, too. Birders should also be on the lookout for interesting waders, sparrows (LeConte’s anyone?), and flycatchers.

Accessibility: A small paved parking area at the intersection of Randolph Ave. and Ohio St. is the only available parking area. 

Owner/Manager: City of Waynesboro

eBird Hotspot: Mulberry Run Constructed Wetland

—Nick Newberry and Vic Laubach

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Coyner Springs Park

Throughout the year, this park can produce good birding in habitats that are rare within the Waynesboro City limits. This is the largest (occasionally overgrown) field publicly accessible in the city, however, the constant presence of off-leash dogs often puts a damper on field birding success. That said, the dense bushes along the periphery and the few islands of scrub and small trees sprinkled throughout the field can be great for sparrows (Fox, Savannah, Field) in the winter and warblers during migration. The fields to the right (northeast) of the entry drive are the most reliable location in the city for displaying American Woodcocks during February and March. If you follow the road as it loops to the right and down a hill to a large pavilion, there is a wooded marshy area. This holds some of the most reliable habitat in Waynesboro for Swamp and Field Sparrows, and holds potential for Barred Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, and Red-headed Woodpecker. For the intrepid, this relatively expansive floodplain holds interesting scrubby habitat, however, be prepared to bushwhack and get feet wet since there aren't any maintained trails in this area. The Wildlife Center of Virginia occasionally releases rehabilitated birds here, as it did with a female Peregrine Falcon in 2013.

Other: A well-maintained Frisbee golf course is located in the woods and along the edge of the fields. This park is also well-known for its excellent kite flying conditions.

Accessibility: Open from sunrise to sunset, this park has ample parking and large fields for running dogs off-leash.

Owner/Manager: Waynesboro Parks & Recreation

eBird Hotspot: Coyner Springs Park

—Nick Newberry

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Target Shopping Center Pond

From the onset of fall shorebird migration through the end of shorebird migration in the beginning of June, this pond can be a satisfying place to stop, even for only a few minutes. The best viewing will vary greatly based on the lighting, however, do not forget to check both arms of this L-shaped pond. It is often advisable to bird from the car here to avoid scaring off any waterfowl or shorebirds that may be present. Since this pond is so small and shallow, it is one of the first to freeze in the immediate area, although keep in mind that it may also be one of the first to thaw. During the fall and spring the shoreline often hold shorebirds like Least, Semipalmated, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, and Semipalmated Plover. The lucky and motivated observer may one day find rails or an American Bittern in the reeds along portions of the pond's shoreline. During the winter months, geese flocks and many types of ducks (both diving and dabbling) often steal the show under the right conditions, but other species such as Wilson's Snipe and Northern Harrier are always a possibility. Notable waterfowl species found here include Cackling Goose, Redhead, and both Greater and Lesser Scaup. The agricultural fields that surround the pond offer an opportunity to look for field birds (e.g. American Kestrel and Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Cliff Swallow), which can be difficult targets to track down elsewhere within the city limits due to a lack of accessible habitat. There is another smaller stormwater pond more directly behind the Petsmart that has the potential to host shorebirds when not dried up. Note: Most birds seen from this location will fall within the city limits, however birds further away than the top of the hill seen when facing south and southwest may be in in Augusta.

Accessibility: To access this pond (open 24/7), go to the southwest (back right) corner of the shopping center where you will find ample parking.

eBird Hotspot: Target Shopping Center Pond

—Nick Newberry

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