Dinwiddie Safety Rest Area (Southbound)

This hotspot has been created to consolidate eBird data from one of the over 40 highway rest areas maintained and operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Currently there are rest areas along Interstates 95, 64, 66, 81, 85, and 77 and Route 13. Often (though not always) there are corresponding northbound and southbound rest areas at roughly the same point; in these cases, a separate hotspot exists for each. Generally speaking, highway rest areas are not ideal places for birding due to both marginal habitat and excessive road noise. Most are relatively open with some tall trees, but may be bordered by more extensive woods or fields. In instances where a particular rest area has unique birding features, efforts will be made to point those out. Notwithstanding the often marginal birding, highway rest stops are of interest for traveling birders looking to drop in eBird lists along their route – hence the creation of hotspots to consolidate reports from rest areas.

Accessibility: All highway rest areas are free and open to the public 24/7. They have ample parking spaces and usually some mix of amenities typically including bathrooms and vending machines. Some may have more extensive facilities including pet areas, picnic areas with grills, and welcome centers with maps and other travel information. Specific information on amenities can be found by following the link below to the VDOT website.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

eBird Hotspot: Dinwiddie Safety Rest Area (Southbound)

Dinwiddie Safety Rest Area (Northbound)

This hotspot has been created to consolidate eBird data from one of the over 40 highway rest areas maintained and operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Currently there are rest areas along Interstates 95, 64, 66, 81, 85, and 77 and Route 13. Often (though not always) there are corresponding northbound and southbound rest areas at roughly the same point; in these cases, a separate hotspot exists for each. Generally speaking, highway rest areas are not ideal places for birding due to both marginal habitat and excessive road noise. Most are relatively open with some tall trees, but may be bordered by more extensive woods or fields. In instances where a particular rest area has unique birding features, efforts will be made to point those out. Notwithstanding the often marginal birding, highway rest stops are of interest for traveling birders looking to drop in eBird lists along their route – hence the creation of hotspots to consolidate reports from rest areas.

Accessibility: All highway rest areas are free and open to the public 24/7. They have ample parking spaces and usually some mix of amenities typically including bathrooms and vending machines. Some may have more extensive facilities including pet areas, picnic areas with grills, and welcome centers with maps and other travel information. Specific information on amenities can be found by following the link below to the VDOT website.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

eBird Hotspot: Dinwiddie Safety Rest Area (Northbound)

Appomattox Riverside Park

Just west of the City of Petersburg, this park connects with the Appomattox River Heritage Trail, an extensive network of trails that runs along the Appomattox River. The park itself has an ample parking area with picnic shelters and restrooms around a small fishing lake. The woods around the parking lot are mixed, with several stands of mature pines that can good for Pine Warbler. However, the real birding draw here are the two trails that run along the river and afford access to riparian deciduous woods. An upper trail runs along the top of the riverbank next to an old canal, offering an excellent vantage of the vegetation below. Directly on the riverbank, the lower trail provides a view of the Appomattox River. Both trails can be productive on the right day, but the canal trail may be preferable, particularly in migration, when it gives closer views of warblers in the treetops. The woods here occupy a fairly narrow strip between the river and the adjacent housing developments, so there are no large, intact tracts of woods and species that prefer more extensive woodlands are less likely to be encountered here. Resident species include chickadees, titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, and others. In winter, working flocks here is a reasonable way to find the winter woodland suite, but there is little else to recommend this spot; neither the fishing pond nor the river has much potential for waterfowl. Migration may be the most productive time here, and the combination of riverine woods and an elevated trail to view from make this an excellent spot for migrating passerines. This is also a good spot to seek riparian breeders such as Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireos, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Prothonotary and Yellow-throated Warblers.

County birders will note that the park and half of the Appomattox River are in Dinwiddie, but the far half of the river and opposite bank are Chesterfield. Though it is located in Dinwiddie County, the park is managed by the City of Petersburg.

Accessibility: The main park has ample parking, as well as picnic shelters and restroom facilities. The lake is popular for fishing. Both trails are primitive but fairly well-maintained. The upper trail is wider and more easily accessible, while the lower trail is fairly narrow, prone to flooding, and somewhat overgrown at sections.

Owner/Manager: City of Petersburg

eBird Hotspot: Appomattox Riverside Park

—Matt Anthony, April 2021