Once the most reliable spot in Fauquier County for gulls, the Fauquier County Landfill is no longer functioning as a large commercial landfill. Instead, since 2015, the property is only a collection site for garbage and other materials to be hauled to other landfills. It has left quite a gull void for Fauquier’s local larid lovers (as well as roving county birders looking to add a few species) as most encounters of gulls away from the landfill were birds commuting, roosting, or loafing on fresh water—having been drawn to the county because of the landfill.
While this landfill was overshadowed by other landfills in the region, the ten species of gulls found here during its years of operation were impressive. California Gull was the rarest of the finds here, reported in multiple years. Aside from the region’s expected inland gulls (Ring-billed, Herring, and Great Black-backed), the landfill was a somewhat reliable spot for Lesser Black-backed, Glaucous, and Iceland Gulls, with a Thayer’s record as well. Rounding out the gull list was perhaps the rarest gull for the site: Laughing Gull.
Aside from gulls, the landfill was reliable for American Pipit, Common Raven, Bald Eagle, and hosted a large winter flock of Fish Crows. It was covered for years during The Plains/Airlie CBC, often delivering a half-dozen or more unique species to the annual tally.
eBird Hotspot: Fauquier County Landfill
—Todd Michael Day