Some Birding Hot spots in Roanoke and Botetourt
County
By Jim Ayers
Carvin’s Cove Boat Landing, Roanoke County
DIRECTIONS: Take U. S. 11 north of Roanoke 1.6 miles
north of the intersection of Williamson and Peters Creek
Roads,
turn left on VA 648 (Reservoir Road) 2.6 miles to the
boat landing parking lot. You must go to the white building
and pay
a fee
which the city now requires for use of the recreational
area.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 630 acre lake (Roanoke’s main reservoir)
surrounded by 13,000 acres of mixed woodlands.
HOW TO BIRD IT: Park
near the left end of the lot and go out on the wooden
deck for good views of large portions
of the lake. Scan surface for waterfowl, trees on shore
line
for hawks, sky above for hawks and incoming waterfowl.
There is a trail from left end of the lot which follows
the shore
line to a view of the dam in the distance (this trail
actually goes all the way to the dam). The best trail
is at the
other side of the lot—a fire trail that goes through
the picnic
area and generally follows the shore line for about
six miles to the Bennett Springs end of the cove. Walk
(bike
or ride
your horse) as much of this as you like. The trail
is hilly but is fairly easy walking. This area can be productive
in all seasons. In spring and summer for migrants and
summer breeders, in fall for migrants and permanent
residents,
and
in winter for permanent residents such as woodpeckers,
nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, juncos, etc.
Arcadia Area, Botetourt County
DIRECTIONS: Take 1-81 north of Roanoke past Buchanan to
Arcadia exit # 168. Turn right onto VA 614 for 1.5 mile
to the bridge
over the James River. Park on the right on far side of
bridge.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This area has at least seven great
spots. Six mountain streams join one another and flow
into the James
at Arcadia. It's a paradise in spring and early summer.
Summer and fall are good, but winter is not recommended.
1) JAMES
RIVER BRIDGE AT ARCADIA: HOW TO BIRD IT: In
spring and early summer, park, look and listen.
The trees and bushes on both sides of the road
usually
yield orioles,
Warbling Vireo, Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrows,
Brown Thrasher, etc. Walk down to the river and
go left through
cow pasture (watch your step) along the river.
Check the trees along the bank for yellowthroated
warbler,
orioles, goldfinch, etc. Watch the fields and hedge
rows for Chipping Sparrows, shrikes, bluebirds,
etc. Check
the sky for hawks or migrating osprey. Walk as
far as you like but eventually you will come to
Jennings
Creek
as it heads for the river. Return to the parking
lot and continue by car .6 of a mile to the Jennings Creek
bridge. Park on the right just over the bridge
and check for warbling vireos, swallows, warblers,
orioles,
etc. Another .6 of a mile brings you to the now
abandoned
Arcadia Store. This is another good spot for orioles,
warblers, etc.
2) SOLITUDE: Just
past the store, turn left on VA 622 and go 1.5 miles to
Solitude swamp on your right
(sorry, no sign) This a woodland swamp which has yielded
Wood
Ducks, Prothonotary Warblers, both Waterthrush,
Wood Thrush (and one record of Swainson’s Warbler!).
Scan over the river
for swallows
and check the wires for Blue Grosbeak. Continue
on this road and you may hear and see Yellow-breasted
Chats,
Blue Grosbeak, Prairie Warbler, etc. The road dead-ends
at a gate, so turn around and go back the way you
came.
3) JENNINGS CREEK: Turn left on VA 614
and drive slowly up Jennings Creek, listening for Louisiana
Waterthrush,
Eastern Phoebe, parula warbler, etc., stopping
along the way to enjoy the mountain stream and scenery.
4) MCFALLS CREEK: Continue
on 614 about 3.5 miles to VA 618. Turn right along McFaIls
Creek. VA
618 goes
all the way to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Powell’s
Gap. The
best birding is along the creek before the road
begins to climb upward. Listen for parula warblers
and waterthrush,
There are foot trails on the left which are great
to explore. Much of the area to the right is
private property
and seriously posted. Just as the road begins
to climb up the mountain there is a road to the left
which makes
a good turn around.
5) NORTH CREEK: Backtrack on 618 to 614
and then 3.1 miles to the National Forest Camp Ground,
North Creek
road. Turn right and go up North Creek. Or,
if you didn’t go to McFalls Creek and are coming
from the
Arcadia store,
turn left at the campground sign (.4 of a mile
from Jennings Creek bridge.) The entire road
is great
birding. Look
for Louisiana Waterthrush, Parula, Black-throated
Green Warblers and Pine Warblers.
Good stops along the way include Colon
Hollow Shelter (it has an outhouse) and Whitetail Trail on
your left and several unnamed trails on
your right (including the Travel Trailer Sanitary Station,
One Way Do Not Enter, usually a good spot for northern
parulas). Continue on North Creek Road for 4.9 miles to a
parking area
at the end of the road where Apple Orchard and Cornelius
Creeks join to create North Creek. North Creek is one
of the most beautiful trout streams in Virginia. Great experiences
are everywhere with wildflowers, birds, ferns, etc. Park
in the parking area and walk back along the road .5 of
a
mile to a gated fire trail to your left. This takes you
gradually up above the creek and you can look down into the
canopy
at the birds therein (such as blackthroated green warblers).
You could also encounter turkey or grouse. In early May
you may be overwhelmed by thick banks of fringed polygala
(gay
wings). Walk as far as you like up this trail. It eventually
peters out after about 2 miles. For some reason I call
this North Creek Trail. Back at the parking area there’s
now a
new set of footbridges and a fine trail up to Apple Orchard
Falls
which offers great spring and summer birding.
6) WARBLER ROAD: From
the end of North Creek road backtrack 2.1 miles to
the first road on your right. This is called
Pine Mountain Road and leads up to the Blue Ridge Parkway
at Sunset Fields Overlook (Mile Post #79). This is
know as Warbler Road because over the years it has
been possible
on a good day in May to experience some 25 species
of warbiers from the intersection of North Creek Road
and Pine Mountain
Road to Sunset Fields Overlook. Drive slowly up this
curvy but otherwise excellent dirt road, stopping whenever
you
hear or see something of interest. In addition to warblers
there could be Scarlet Tanagers, Red-eyed and Blue-headed
Vireos, juncos, turkey, grouse, Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks, etc. There are also wonderful wildflowers on
the
banks beside the road and bobcats have been seen crossing
the road? At the top of the first ridge (2.75 miles
from North Creek Road) you will come to a stop sign
with options
to go to Cave Mountain Lake or to the Parkway. You
want to go right toward the Parkway
on Rt. 812. Stop often as the elevation and habitat
change. Park in the turnouts and walk the road a bit
in both directions.
Keep your eyes and ears open and check everything out.
Even though Warbler Road is probably only 9 miles long,
you will
want to allow plenty of time to enjoy everything it
has to offer.
7) PARKER’S GAP
AND APPLE ORCHARD FALLS TRAIL: At 3.2 miles
up Warbler Road you will come to a sign on the left saying,
“Parker’s Gap” (frequently obscured by vegetation). Turn
right down the road opposite the sign (if you can’t find
the sign, this is the only right turn in the neighborhood).
There is excellent birding along this road with opportunities
in the past for Chestnut-sided Warbler and Rose-breasted
Grosbeak. This area was heavily logged in the late 1980’s
and is still transitional to mature woodlands. At the
end of this road (2 miles) there is a turn-around and
places
to park.
There is a trail at the end of the road which takes
you 25 to 30 feet or so to a well-blazed trail up
to Apple
Orchard
Falls and Sunset Fields. The 1-2 mile stretch up
to the falls is moderately strenuous and requires
waterproof
footwear or a casual attitude about wet feet. Rumor
has it that
there
have been recent improvements to this trail with
a few bridges to cut down on the need to walk in
the creek.
You won’t see or hear too many birds (parulas singing
in the trees over your head and nesting phoebes perhaps
under the falls) but the falls are very impressive,
especially in a wet season. Backtrack to Rt. 812
and continue 3
miles up to the Parkway at Sunset
Fields. Along the way you could encounter Cerulean,
Hooded, Ovenbird,
Worm-eating,
Kentucky, Black-and-white, Pine and Blackpoll
Warblers,
and many redstarts. There is a nice little waterfall
on the left along the way and black-throated warbiers
nest in the neighborhood and Chestnut-sided Warblers
are fairly predictable at Sunset Fields. Just before
you hit the asphalt of the overlook there is a
road sharply off to the left which parallels the
Parkway
almost to
the top of Apple Orchard Mountain. This is veery
country and has been a very reliable area for Canada
Warbler.
The road ends for you at a gate with a fairly good
turn-around opportunity. This is a worthwhile side trip for birds,
ferns and wildflowers.
Take the Parkway to the right (south) to return to
Roanoke. If it’s early June you'll catch the spectacular
rhododendron
show that begins about 7 miles from Sunset Fields.
HARVEY’ S KNOB, BOTETOURT COUNTY
DIRECTIONS: From Roanoke City take US 460 east to Blue
Ridge Parkway. Go north (left) on the Parkway to milepost
92.2, Harvey's Knob Overlook on your left.
HOW TO BIRD
IT: In early to mid September, pack your lawn chair
and lunch and tool on up the Parkway. Park at the upper
end
of the lot or on the right side. You will more
than likely have company, especially on the weekend, and
they
will
gladly share their birding techniques. Of course,
you'll be looking generally into the northern sky, so take
an eye shade and suntan lotion. The gnats can be troublesome
so some insect repellent is suggested. As the Hawk
Lady
says, “The passage of broad-winged hawks builds
up
in early September to peak usually between the second
and third week of September. More than 1900 hawks have
been
sighted in a day. More ospreys pass in September. The
sharp-shinned hawk passage builds up as broad wings
taper off. Migrating Red-tailed Hawks peak in November.
There
are also sightings of Cooper’s, red-shouldered,
harriers and kestrels. Rarities
include Peregrine Falcon, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern
Goshawk, Merlin and Mississippi Kite.” Bald and
Golden Eagles
have become more and more common in recent years.
Hawk watching is best in September and October.
November
is exhilarating.
The spring migration in March and April is less
spectacular but a good way to pass the days just
before the thrilling
passerine influx.
BENT MOUNTAIN AND
POOR MOUNTAIN, ROANOKE COUNTY
DIRECTIONS: Take US 221 south out of Roanoke and go
up Bent Mountain. At the top of the mountain take
Rt. 612
to the right. This will take you to the top of Poor
Mountain. Good birding exists all along this road
in spring and
early summer.
HOW TO BIRD IT: Before you start the
climb up Poor Mountain you will wind through
beautiful, lush
high elevation farm land with abundant bird
life. The road up the mountain is steep and there aren’t
really
too many pull-offs, so you may want to go directly
to the top, bird the plateau, and then bird
the road as
you go back down the mountain. This road is
good for scarlet tanagers, vireos, grouse, nesting Cooper’s
Hawks,
etc. Turn
left on Honeysuckle Rd (Rt. 916). The plateau
usually supports a number of chestnut-sided warblers. Parking
and walking the road and side roads to your
right
can be fruitful, but stay on the road as this
area
supports a number of rattlesnakes as well.
If you make it to a four-way intersection, you will find
the first and only road going down the south
side of Poor Mountain. This road along Laurel Creek
and into the Bottom Creek area offers excellent
birding, and if you have made it to this point,
you might make it all the way down, however
this road is gated from time to time and it is doubtful
that it is open all the way to the Bottom Creek
valley as it once was, so proceed with caution.
Species frequently nesting along this road
include black-throated blue, Canada, and black-throated
green warblers, You may also encounter Veery, turkey
and grouse at high elevations, and as you wind
down along Laurel branch, Chestnut-sided
Warbler, Wood thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush,
Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, White-eyed
Vireo, etc.
Poor Mountain is recommended for spring and
summer birding primarily. No one goes much
in fall, and
winter is not recommended.
The Bottom Creek
Area is another attractive birding
spot in this neighborhood. Backtrack to US 221
and turn right to Rt. 711. Turn right again to
the Bent Mountain Elementary school.
HOW TO BIRD IT: There is a large swampy area
behind the school with a path to the left
and a boardwalk
to the right which gets you out into the
swamp. This area has been good for willow flycatchers
as well as yellow warblers, Common Yellowthroats,
catbird, etc. From the school parking lot
turn
right on Rt. 711 to Bottom Creek Road (Rt.
607). At first the habitat is basic farm land but
eventually you turn right on Bottom Creek Lane (Rt. 637)
and enter a beautiful stretch with the
creek
to your
left. There are old camps along the creek
as it rushes through rhododendron and laurel
thickets. About 2 miles from this area
you come to the
Nature
Conservancy Bottom Creek Gorge site. This
road to your right is gated about 100 yards in and
signage there indicates that you are welcome
to hike into
the reserve. The trail leads eventually
to a
spectacular waterfall as Bottom Creek falls
into a deep gorge.
I believe good boots and strong legs are
helpful here. Backtrack the way you came to US 221.
DALEVILLE POND,
BOTETOURT COUNTY
DIRECTIONS: Take 1-81 north to exit 150-B to
Daleville. About ½ mile past Daleville, take
a left on VA
675 (Glebe Road) and go about another Y2
mile to Rt 1035 (Orchard Lake Drive). Turn right
and
go about another V2 mile to the pond on your
left.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: a 12 acre pond
now completely
surrounded by residential development,
this has been an excellent duck pond with surrounding
habitat that attracted in spring and
summer: flycatchers,
orioles, yellow warblers, kingbirds,
woodcock, osprey, both ibis, various egrets, both
bitterns, rails and herons and was the site of the
last recorded area record of Bewick’s wren. It has
become less
and less productive as residential
development and an extensive carp population have taken
their
toll. This has been good in all seasons. It is included here more for its historical and nostalgic
value than anything else. However,
sometimes when a door closes a window
opens and recently
a new residential development has opened
up near the creek end of the pond and,
for the time being, gives access to
a hundred yards or so of hedge row
along the creek
which has been excellent for sparrows
in fall as well as a couple of migrating
Connecticut
Warblers.
HOW TO BIRD IT: Park on the right in the
pull-off in the big left turn, being
sure to pull all the way off the road. Scan
the water and check out the willows and
bushes along the creek end of the pond.
Also scan the pastures adjacent to the
creek. This is still a good place to
find White-crowned Sparrows in fall and winter.
As mentioned above you can walk along
the hedge row for about a hundred yards unless
houses have been built in that pasture.
DALEVILLE SPARROW
FIELD
DIRECTIONS: From Daleville Pond take
a right on Glebe Road to the next road
to
the right, Holly Mede Road, which dead
ends at a cul de sac with a large sparrow
field on the left.
HOW TO BIRD IT: Park at the cul-de-sac
and work your way along the field
edge to a grassy strip that leads to a small
creek. Also to the left of the grassy
strip is a boggy area and lots of
great sparrow
habitat in fall and winter. This
was a favorite hangout for a large flock
of tree
sparrows in the winter of 1996. This
area is good also for swampies, shrikes,
field,
white-crowned, etc.
ROANOKE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (STP),
ROANOKE CITY (A.K.A. “WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL PLANT”)
DIRECTIONS: In Roanoke City,
take Elm Ave. Exit off of 1-581
east
(US 24)
and go .8
of a mile to 13th Street and
turn right on 13th (watch for
signs,
“Water Pollution
Control Plant”). Go another
.8 of a mile to Carlisle Ave.
(first
street
after
bridge over the river Roanoke)
and turn left.
Go one block to Spruce St.
and turn left. Cross
Brownlee Ave. and watch
for the
open gate on your left. Enter
on the
gravel
road and take the first right.
Park on your right—well out
of the road.
If the
gate is not open, drive around
to the front of the plant building,
go in
the door and
look for someone to ask permission
to birdwatch.
HOW TO BIRD IT: Officially, one
is supposed to announce oneself
at the
front office
and get permission to enter
the facility. Unofficially, the workers
have all
been accustomed to birders
and as long as
we stay out of their way
there hasn’t been
a problem. For that reason
Saturday and Sunday are best days—Sundays
especially. Your best bet
is to park and bird on
foot. Check out the large 30 million gallon concrete
basin on your left for ducks
(in season), kilideer and shorebirds.
Walk the other
dikes to check out the mud
(?) flats. Under no circumstances
should you
walk out on
any of the mud flats, even
if they appear
dry: the sludge is frequently
10 feet deep. At the far eastern end
past the
last lagoon
on the right there are
two patch which can be interesting.
To
the right
takes you up the hill to another pond which in season
has great blue herons and some ducks (and one time
a least bittern). To the
left or straight ahead the
path
is difficult to locate at first but follows the river
bank all the way to Niagara Dam area (I have not
walked this path in many
years, so bird emptor!).
The STP has
been productive in all seasons.
MURRAY’S POND (WATERFALL.
LAKE), ROANOKE AND BOTETOURT COUNTIES:
DIRECTIONS: Take US 11 (Williamson Road) north of Roanoke
just passed Hollins University about 1.6 miles north
of the intersection of Williamson Road and Peters Creek
Road to VA 601 on your right. Turn right and go about
1/4 mile and you will see the pond on your left, Turn
left at Waterfall Lake sign (don’t bother to look for
the waterfall).
HOW TO BIRD IT: Park off the road
on your left at the top of the first hill. Scan the water
and surrounding trees and bushes. This has been an
important pond in the history of bird study in Roanoke
and Botetourt
counties. Despite the heavy residential development
around it, it still is host to numerous species of ducks
and
other waterfowl in season. The area near the shore
down the grassy hill from where you are parked has some
outdoor
furniture and is a “common” area for the home owners
and birders have been made to feel welcome to walk
down to pond side for a better view to the far end of
the
pond.
MILL MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND AND CHESTNUT RIDGE, ROANOKE
CITY
DIRECTIONS: From downtown Roanoke at the corner
of Campbell Ave. and Jefferson St. take Jefferson
St.
south to Walnut
Ave. Turn left on Walnut and proceed up Mill Mountain.
At the top there is the proverbial “fork” in the
road. Take the left tine and go about 1 mile to
the campground
on your right.
HOW TO BIRD IT: In spring and summer take the RV
loop and you will find places to park and
trails at various
points that wind through the woods. In season
this can be a great spot for migrating Swainson’s
thrush, various
warblers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, etc. After
migration
there are usually nesting redstarts, black-and-white
warblers, etc. If you leave the campground
and turn right you will come immediately to an overlook
on
your left
with an exhibit describing several trails.
This
can be fairly productive considering the
dry, monotypic habitat. Both the
campground and Chestnut Ridge can be interesting
in all seasons, although spring and early
summer
are best.
MILL MOUNTAIN PARK, ROANOKE CITY
DIRECTIONS: Backtrack to the “fork” in the road
and go left into Mill Mountain Park. This has
been very
good
in spring and early summer for migrating warblers,
thrushes, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanagers,
etc. Mike Smith had an olive-sided flycatcher there one
year.
HOW TO BIRD IT: From the parking lot, walk
to the observation tower and scan for hawks
or bird activity in the trees and bushes
below you. From here work the wood edges to left
and right. Downhill to the left has always
seemed best and you can bird down along the
old road as far as you like. The wildflower
garden is also good as is the lower road
up to the STAR. Go early in the morning to miss
the crowds.
WOODPECKER RIDGE NATURE CENTER, BOTETOURT
COUNTY
DIRECTIONS: Take U.S. 11 north of Roanoke
to Troutville. Turn right at the Rader
Funeral Home (Stoney Battery Road) and
go approximately
one mile to the top of the hill. Turn left
at 941 Stoney Battery Road and you will
be at Woodpecker Ridge. This is a privately
owned
seventy acre nature center made available
to nature lovers by owner, Barry Kinzie.
HOW TO BIRD IT: Park on the right or left
near the “map sign” and covered information
box.
The map will show you the many trails
available to you and the locations of major features
including hawk watch platforms and
pond areas. WRNC is good in all seasons. In
spring and
early summer it is a migration hot
spot, especially in early morning. In fall
and winter there
are four main feeder stations with
over fifty feeders which are kept fill by
center volunteers.
In spring and summer hummingbird
feeders are
abundant and well-filled. This is also a great
place to observe wildflowers and
butterflies in the spring. WRNC is affiliated with
the Roanoke Valley Bird Club, the
Lynchburg Bird
Club and the Wildflower Preservation
Society.
Greenfield, BOTETOURT
COUNTY
DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of
U. S. 11 and 220, turn left toward
Fincastle and
go 3.5 miles to Rt. 839 and Greenfield
sign. Turn left and park in the gravel
parking
area.
HOW TO BIRD IT: On the left side
of the pond
there is a wooden bridge leading
to a very
well-kept path that follows the
edge of the pond all the way to the dam.
On the
right
from the parking area is a road
that says, “NO TRESPASSING”.
However, birders have been given
permission to walk this road which gives access
to a hill to the left from which
you can see
the
entire
pond, including a wetland area
to the right. A spotting scope will come in handy. This pond
has been excellent for ducks
and waterfowl in season, including an exciting
red-necked
grebe. The trees lining the input
creek are good for orioles and warblers in
spring and
early summer.
MARTIN’S LANE, BOTETOURT COUNTY
DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of
U.S. 11 and 220, turn north toward
Fincastle and go
10.5 miles through Fincastle to Rt.
679 (Martin’s Lane) and turn right.
This
is
a very productive
loop in all seasons with varied rural
habitat and featuring a portion of
Catawba Creek.
HOW TO BIRD IT: Drive slowly and stop at wide spots and pull-offs. There are
ponds off to the right and varied farm land on both sides
of the road. At 1.1 miles there is a “fork” in the road and
you turn left on Poor Farm Road. At 1.4 miles there is a
pull-off to the right at a large stand of maturing hardwoods
where red-headed woodpeckers are often found. In winter
this is a great loop for sparrows, including white-crowned,
white-throated, field, etc. The loop ends at Rt. 220, a total
of 2.9 miles. Turn left to return to Fincastle.
THE LOCHER TRACT, BOTETOURT COUNTY
DIRECTIONS:
From junction of U.S. 11 and VA PR 130 in Natural Bridge,
take VA PR 130 east 2.5 miles to VA SR 759. Turn
right and proceed 1 mile to VA SR 782. Turn left onto
VA SR 782 which becomes Forest Road 3093; parking area
is
at the road’s end.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The
beautiful
Locher Tract, bordered on the north by the James River
and by the James River Face National Wilderness on the
south,
offers river frontage, old fields, pasture fields, pond,
hardwood forest, and beaver swamp for uncrowded wildlife
viewing.
HOW TO BIRD IT: From parking area, hike along the Balcony Falls Trail in early
mornings or late afternoons in spring or summer.
There is also a mowed loop trail through the area. The
James River Face Wilderness is 1.6 miles away.
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