Canada Warbler - May 9, 2022 ©Drew Chaney
This substantial section of the Rivanna Trail runs through riparian forest, shrubby edges, and wooded bluffs, providing an expansive area to find a wide variety of passerines, raptors, and many other bird species. The trails run along the Rivanna River for much of the way, allowing the birder the possibility to see Wood Ducks, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Great Blue Herons, Osprey, and Bald Eagles. The river and smaller streams host a breeding population of Louisiana Waterthrushes, and Yellow-throated Warblers may also nest in the riverside sycamores. A shrubby area of young sycamores and autumn-olive at the southern end near the river is a good place to look for sparrows and White-eyed Vireos, and has long been reliable for displaying American Woodcocks. The riverside edges here seem to be particularly appealing to Wilson’s Warblers in migration. A large hayfield is located at the end of this trail. This was at one time accessible to birders, but has been posted in recent years. Dickcissel, Northern Harrier, Vesper Sparrow, Wilson’s Snipe, and American Pipit have all been recorded here. A piney bluff located at 38.0776, -78.4481 (see map) is a reliable place to find Fox Sparrows and Red-breasted Nuthatches in winter.
Notable species for the area recorded here include Northern Bobwhite, Northern Shoveler, Baird's Sandpiper, Alder and Olive-sided Flycatchers, Mourning Warbler, Kentucky Warbler (rare away from breeding locations), and Dickcissel.
The trails can currently be accessed from a trailhead at the intersection of Huntington Rd and Carrsbrook Dr (see map), which leads over the railroad tracks to the floodplain, as well as by walking south on the trail from Still Meadow under the railroad trestle at the southeast end of that location. As one would expect, this section of trail was accessible from the Belvedere neighborhood, but currently, construction has rendered that access point nonexistent.
eBird Hotspot: Rivanna Trail - Belvedere
—Drew Chaney, February 2023