On the eastern side of the Riverside Doctors’ Hospital is a drainage pond that can sometimes be a good birding spot. In the winter, occasionally waterfowl such as Buffleheads will drop in here, but it is not among the best spots for ducks in Williamsburg. Its real draw is as a spot for migrating shorebirds. When the water levels in the pond are low, there are usually exposed muddy banks that make it one of the better spots to find species including Spotted, Solitary, Least, and Pectoral Sandpiper, as well as yellowlegs. Following heavy rains, the water levels will sometimes be too high for shorebirds to drop in. Besides searching for shorebirds, there are breeding Red-headed Woodpeckers nearby, and they can often be seen or heard from the pond. It is also a good spot for swallows, including Purple Martins, during the appropriate season.
About 100 yards away further along the road is a small cattail marsh. This marsh has yet to produce any true marsh species, however it is worth checking for rails and other marsh species on any visit here.
Note: While the majority of the pond is in the City of Williamsburg, the northeastern edge of the water is in James City County. The open field adjacent to the pond is almost entirely in James City County.
Accessibility: At the south end of the pond is a gravel pull-off where birders can park to scan the water and banks. It is ok to park here and walk the edges of the pond, but often a quick scan from the car is all that is necessary to see any birds on the pond.
eBird Hotspot: Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Pond
—Matt Anthony and Nick Newberry