Birders and wild bird enthusiasts in and around Williamsburg, Virginia. Header image by Judy Jones
The Williamsburg Bird Club field trip to Dutch Gap Conservation Area is scheduled for next Saturday, January 18. We'll meet in the parking area for the Henricus Historical Park at 9 a.m. Rose Ryan will then lead our group around the impoundment area, where there are usually large numbers of wintering ducks. There's been only …
Rexanne Bruno will lead us at various sites along the York River. In the past, this trip has provided an opportunity to see several winter resident species, including Tundra Swan, Bonaparte's Gull, an occasional Clapper Rail, and several deep-water ducks. The fields around the Yorktown Battlefield also are good habitat for Eastern Meadowlark and American Kestrel. …
On Saturday, March 15, we’ll visit Machicomoco State Park in Gloucester County for a morning of birding. Deborah Humphries will lead us through the different habitats at the park, with viewing spots along the York River as well as fields and forests. I look forward to seeing the myriad Field Sparrows at the park, but …
For the Club’s April field trip, we’ll go to Chippokes State Park in Surry County. Nancy Barnhart will lead the group. Some summer breeders should have arrived, including Ovenbird, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Northern Parula. The park also has a good population of Eastern Meadowlark. The trip from Williamsburg will require a ride on the Jamestown-Scotland …
For the May field trip, on Saturday, May 17, we’ll have a small group birding at Ford’s Colony, my own neighborhood. Ford’s Colony has diverse habitat, resulting in a pretty wide variety of birds visible in the community. Over the past several years, I’ve been able to see more than 100 species annually. The species counts on recent bird …
We’ll meet at Jamestown Beach Event Park for a couple of hours of casual birding. Bring your coffee and your chair (oh, and binoculars) for a meetup at 8:00 a.m. It might be casual birding, but last year the group still recorded 43 species.
Mark your calendar for our club’s annual birding trip to the Eastern Shore on Saturday, October 18. Club members usually identify 50+ species during this field trip, since we’re able to take advantage of a variety of habitats during fall migration. The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch is always a highlight. In addition, some folks have expressed interest …
On Saturday, November 15, Nancy Barnhart will lead us at Grandview Nature Preserve in Hampton. This trip usually provides early views of wintering waterfowl, with loons, scoters, buffleheads among others riding the waves off the beach, while shorebirds scuttle across the sand. And the walk through the marsh to get to the beach frequently has …
For our field trip in January, we’ll visit Dutch Gap Conservation Area in Chester, VA on Saturday, January 17. Rose Ryan will lead our group. Dutch Gap is a reliable location to view wintering dabbling ducks. Last year, the group identified 10 duck species, plus Wilson’s Snipe and American Coot, and 50 species in total. …
The next Williamsburg Bird Club field trip will be Saturday, February 21, when Rexanne Bruno will lead us at various sites along the York River. In the past, this trip has provided an opportunity to see several winter resident species, including Tundra Swan, Bonaparte's Gull, an occasional Clapper Rail, and several deep-water ducks. The fields …