Yorktown Wild Birds Unlimited

Not all wild bird stores merit an eBird hotspot, and fewer still could support one with over 50 species. The Yorktown Wild Birds Unlimited benefits in part from having a nice stand of mixed pines and hardwoods backing up to a small lake. Perhaps more importantly, it also benefits from having a fantastic and well-maintained feeder set-up! To the right of the entrance, there is a very short walking path and a series of feeders that are diligently maintained by the owners. This fairly elaborate set-up includes several seed and suet feeders, as well as bark butter spread on the adjacent pines. As with most feeder set-ups, the birding is best in winter. The main claim to fame here is a Western Tanager that paid a few brief visits to feed on bark butter in early March 2019. Normal visitors include a familiar mix of suburban feeder birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, wrens, and finches. In the right year, this would not be a bad place to expect Purple Finches and Pine Siskins. Pine Warblers are around even in winter and, though not reported, an Orange-crowned Warbler would certainly not be unexpected. Of course, just about any feeder rarity is possible! The pines here also support Brown-headed Nuthatches, as well as Yellow-throated Warblers which begin returning by late March.

There is a public parking lot out front of the store, and it is possible to park and watch the feeders from the car. While not required to bird here, paying a visit to the store and making a purchase is always a nice gesture!

eBird Hotspot: Yorktown Wild Birds Unlimited

—Matt Anthony, August 2020

Colonial Parkway--Felgates Creek

Felgates Creek’s position along the York River ensures a constantly changing species composition as land and water birds use the river as a guide for migration and dispersal throughout the year. During the winter months, thousands of ducks and other waterfowl; as well as cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns can be seen on both the York River and Felgates Creek. Additionally, Penniman Spit, due north of the parking area, can host shorebirds, gulls, terns, waders, and raptors; especially at low tide when vast sandy areas are exposed. The backside of Penniman Spit is best viewed just down the road from the Cheatham Annex Overlook. Some species that are more common towards the mouth of the river such as Northern Gannet, White-winged Scoter, Red-throated Loon, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, Sanderling, and Black-bellied Plover can still be found from this hotspot. Much of the action at this location is far offshore meaning a scope is a helpful aid when birding here. In addition to all of the activity surrounding the water, interesting land birds can be found here, as well. Typical migrant as well as lingering neotropical passerines have been found in the bushes and reeds on both sides of the road here and swallows have been seen foraging over the water. Due to heavy commuter traffic, however, searching for passerines is typically more productive during weekend mornings.

Note: All immediate areas fall within York County, however everything further than halfway across the York River is in Gloucester County.

Accessibility: Parking for this pull off from the Colonial Parkway consists of a small parking lot with availability for approximately 15 cars. Access to this pull off is free of charge and is allowed at all times of day and night. During inclement weather, the Colonial Parkway may be closed so be sure to check the NPS website for the most up to date access information.

Owner/Manager: National Park Service

eBird Hotspot: Colonial Parkway--Felgates Creek

—Nick Newberry

Colonial Parkway--Indian Field Creek

Indian Field Creek’s position along the York River ensures a constantly changing species composition as land and water birds use the river to guide them through migration and dispersal throughout the year. During the winter months, thousands of ducks and other waterfowl; as well as cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns can be seen on both the York River and Indian Field Creek sides of the parkway. Species more typical of coastal environs such as Scoters, Red-throated Loons, Common Goldeneye, Northern Gannet, and even Great Cormorant can be found from this overlook with some regularity. Much of the action at this location is far offshore meaning a scope is a helpful aid when birding here. In addition to all of the activity surrounding the water, interesting land birds can be found here, as well. The strip of vegetation along the rocky shoreline near the eastern parking area may hold interesting passerines during migration. The rocky shoreline itself merits careful watching for shorebirds and Scoters both on it and tucked along its edge, respectively. The field at the eastern parking lot often holds Savannah Sparrows during the winter months. Reports of American Pipits and Eastern Meadowlarks seem to indicate the potential for other field birds like Snow Bunting or Lapland Longspur to occur here. Due to heavy commuter traffic searching for passerines is typically more productive on weekend mornings.

Note: All immediate areas fall within York County, however everything further than halfway across the York River is in Gloucester County.

Accessibility: Parking for this pull off from the Colonial Parkway consists of two small parking lots, eastern and western, with availability for approximately 15 cars each. Access to this pull off is free of charge and is allowed at all times of day and night. During inclement weather, the Colonial Parkway may be closed so be sure to check the NPS website for the most up to date access information.

Owner/Manager: National Park Service

eBird Hotspot: Colonial Parkway--Indian Field Creek

—Nick Newberry

Colonial Parkway--Cheatham Annex Overlook

This small pull-off has a lot to offer from both a land and waterbird perspective. Throughout spring and fall migration transient passerines have been known to put in appearances in the trees on both sides of the parking lot and in the shrubby slope the descends down to the York River. A male Kentucky Warbler was once heard singing in the woods across from the parking lot in May where it may have attempted breeding. Additionally, it may prove worthwhile to walk along the mowed edge of the parkway to the east of the parking area to look for interesting migrant passerines in the shrubby regrowth on the slope down to the river. While this perch above the York overlooks much of the same water as can be seen from the Felgates Creek pull-off, it does offer a slightly different perspective. Of particular interest, the north side of Penniman Spit is visible from here, which offers a better chance to detect both the shorebirds and gulls that spend time here at low tide than at the nearby Felgates Creek Pull-off.

A scope is especially useful here as all of the waterbirds will be far out in the river.

As with other nearby pull-offs between Williamsburg and Yorktown, commuter traffic can be quite heavy here weekday mornings and afternoons. Lighting can be good here at most times of day since most viewing is north-facing.

Note: All immediate areas fall within York County, however everything further than halfway across the York River is in Gloucester County.

Accessibility: Approximately 8 cars can park in the paved spaces at this overlook. The best place to scan the water is from the grassy area immediately adjacent to the parking area. This pull-off is accessible at all times of the day and year unless the Colonial Parkway is closed, which is a rare event.

Owner/Manager: National Park Service

eBird Hotspot: Colonial Parkway--Cheatham Annex Overlook

—Nick Newberry

Colonial Parkway--Jones Millpond

The Jones Millpond pull off is positioned along the dam with views both into the pond and down below the dam. Relatively few waterfowl species have been recorded from this location, however regular surveys, especially during freeze events, should provide records for more waterfowl species. In addition to the pond habitat is a small marshy area along the shoreline by the dam; this wet grassy area has hosted a locally rare Lincoln’s Sparrow during fall migration and holds the potential for other transient marsh-loving species, as well. Finally, the outflow area below the dam leads into a tidal forested wetland area, an interesting habitat that may host anything from Red-headed Woodpeckers and Rusty Blackbirds to migrant warblers. Due to heavy commuter traffic searching for passerines is typically more productive during weekend mornings.

Accessibility: Parking for this pull off from the Colonial Parkway consists of a small parking lot with availability for approximately 10 cars. Access to this pull off is free of charge and is allowed at all times of day and night. During inclement weather, the Colonial Parkway may be closed so be sure to check the NPS website for the most up to date access information.

Owner/Manager: National Park Service

eBird Hotspot: Colonial Parkway--Jones Millpond

—Nick Newberry