Lake Moomaw is the second largest reservoir in western Virginia. From Coles Point, a good scope will provide commanding views of almost the entirety of the lake that falls within Alleghany County. On cold winter days, you may have the lake all to yourself. Common Merganser is reliable here, while Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, and Red-breasted Merganser have all been seen in recent years. Note, however, that the road from the dam to Cole's Point is not plowed; four-wheel drive may be required if it has snowed recently.
Despite its large size, not many gulls visit the lake. A handful of Ring-billed Gulls are expected, and an occasional Herring or Bonaparte's may be present in the proper season. A pair of Common Terns unexpectedly showed up in May 2016. More recently, in August 2020, a Black Tern was photographed on the Bath County side of Lake Moomaw, bolstering the supposition that this could be a worthwhile inland body of water.
It is worth stopping at the dam area as you drive in. Dabbling ducks are occasionally in the water below, while Snow Buntings have been seen in the gravel.
Unfortunately, mud flats do not develop when the reservoir gets low--so Lake Moomaw is not a good spot for shorebirds. The shoreline around Cole's Point is wooded and can be good for Spring and Fall warbler migration.
For birders who keep separate county lists, it is worth pointing out that Lake Moomaw presents a bit of a county line issue, as it straddles Alleghany and Bath. Both the dam and Coles Point are firmly within Alleghany County, as is most of the water that can be viewed from either vantage. From the Coles Point ramp, the county line falls to the north and west; the line is fairly close to the opposite shoreline, so most birds on the water are safely in Alleghany. The exception is looking northeast up the finger, where some of the more distant birds may be in Bath.
Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
eBird Hotspot: Lake Moomaw (Alleghany Co.)
—Brad Wood, August 2020
