Dinwiddie County

Dinwiddie county is located to the southeast of Richmond, and just west of the Tri-cities region. It encompasses 507 sq. mi. and is home to 28,000 people. Despite its proximity to populated areas, the county is relatively rural. It's largest, and only incorporated, town is McKenney, but the seat of government is in the town of Dinwiddie. The county is known for its Civil War history, with six notable battles having been fought there. This history is presented conveniently for tourists on the Dinwiddie Civil War driving tour, a route which takes visitors through the sites of most of the major battles.

This county is rather sparsely birded, in part due to the lack of public hotspots. The total county list is 175 species. Appomattox Riverside Park is the most notable hotspot in the county, offering mostly woodland birding with some opportunities for water birds along the river. Lake Chesdin, a huge reservoir on the northern side of the county, is another good birding site but it can prove difficult for county birders, as it straddles the Chesterfield line. Shorebirds are very difficult in this county, and only a handful of species have been recorded. There are also significant gaps in the waterfowl list, though this may be due to lack of coverage at areas like Lake Chesdin, rather than actual rarity.

One of the newest eBird hotspots, discovered in 2017, is the Western Front Civil War Trail, a unit of the Petersburg National Battlefield in the northeastern section of the county. This historical trail has only been birded lightly, but so far seems to be a productive spot. Habitats include open fields, small marshes, woodland and lots of edge-type habitat. There is a wet area towards the end of the trail that has been most productive. You know you’re at the wet area when you reach a short stretch of boardwalk along the trail. This section of the trail has been attractive to multiple sparrow species including Lincoln’s, and a Nelson’s Sparrow was discovered here in October 2017. The open fields that abound in this area are a magnet for open country birds like Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Meadowlark among others. This is probably the best public area in the county to look for such birds and it’s certainly the best area to look for sparrows year round with fall and winter being the most productive time.

Notable records for Dinwiddie county include Rufous Hummingbird, Yellow Rail, Purple Gallinule, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman's Sparrow, and Nelson's Sparrow.

—Adam D’Onofrio

Hotspots 

Amenities

Since some of the more productive hotspots are in the northeastern part of the county, I would recommend three places that serve good food and are nearby. You have a choice of Mexican at El Caporal on route 460 west near the Dinwiddie Airport, Italian at Giuseppe’s on route 1, about a mile west of the intersection with 460 west and seafood at Joe’s which is also on route 1 just east of the intersection with 460 west.