As is so common in rural birding, a seemingly-typical stretch of road has become a regular stop for birders. This is usually due to the discovery of a rare or uncommon species that frequents the location, which then becomes known as a seasonal or regular spot to observe that species. As birders visit the spot regularly, often other habitat-specific, low-density, or notable species are found there as well. Nowhere in Fauquier County is that evolution more evident than Harrison Road (SR 750).
Lined with expansive, private farmland, and stretching a mile and a half in a roughly east-west direction, Harrison Road was “discovered” in the late 1990s as a reliable spot to scour massive Canada Goose flocks. A world-renowned ornithologist once remarked that he found the geese that wintered along this road to be the wintering epicenter for the species, offering that he’d never known of a spot where more of them congregated annually. For about fifteen years, there would be tens of thousands of geese seen in the general area, often in the cornfields and the one visible pond along this road (as well as spending time at nearby Belvoir Pond). These goose flocks were reliable for containing such scarce species as Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Ross’s Goose, and locally rare Snow Goose. Unfortunately for birders (and perhaps the geese), the landowners began to discourage the geese from congregating here by planting tall vegetation around the rim of the pond. Since geese prefer to be able to walk into or out of a pond from the nearby fields, this tactic was successful. There are still winters where a couple thousand geese might be around, but the days of five-digit counts are in the past. Aside from land-use changes, in general the number of Canada Geese wintering in this part of Fauquier County is considerably less than it was around 2015 and before. That said, it is still a reasonable chance that the state’s first Pink-footed Goose could be found here.
Because of its proximity to Northern Virginia, as well as its wide-open habitat, Harrison Road has always been attractive to birders from the more populated counties to the east. As birders explored Harrison Road, other uncommon and locally rare species were discovered. In all seasons one can find Eastern Meadowlarks, Field and Song Sparrows, Eastern Bluebirds, and often Common Ravens. Aside from the Geese mentioned above, Harrison Road has recently become the most reliable spot near Northern Virginia for Short-eared Owls. It also offers a chance at some other species that aren’t in the densely settled suburbs, such as Vesper Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, American Pipit, Bobolink, and American Kestrel.
How to bird Harrison Road: The time of year you visit will typically dictate what species are most likely encountered, as well as some of the best ways to bird it. Harrison Road is primarily a half-the-year birding spot (late fall through early spring are best), but sometimes offers interesting birding outside of the more productive months. Viewing is often distant, and a scope is a must for waterfowl. Also, Harrison Road has two distinctly different ends to it. The eastern end is usually the spot for waterfowl, as that’s where the lone pond is viewed. There are large fields on both sides of the road here, with the north typically planted in corn or soybeans, and the south used for grazing horses or cattle (often some impressive longhorns). If geese are present, they’ll be grazing on the north side of the road.
As mentioned above, the number of wintering Canada Geese in Fauquier County (especially true here) has dropped considerably in recent years. The pond at the east end of the road is far less visible as well, due to taller vegetation. It is still a spot that can hold a few species of ducks, though typically it is the expected Ring-neckeds, Bufflehead, and Hooded Mergansers. Sometimes Lesser Scaup, American Wigeon, Gadwall, or a few Green-winged Teal might be around. Even less frequently Canvasbacks and Redheads will drop in. This end of the road is also often good for Northern Harriers, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and wintering American Kestrels. Short-eared Owls also winter here, and at dusk and dawn from late November through early March, observers scan the southern pasture searching for these gigantic moths floating aloft. They often alight on the fence posts in the middle of the pasture. In years when there are many, they’ll dot the trees across the field (up to ten have been seen here at once). There’s a gate on the north side of the road about a quarter-mile west of the intersection with Old Tavern Road (VA 245). This spot is easy to park safely, and at dusk one is unlikely to interfere with farming operations (but please don’t stray too far from your vehicle, just in case). In general the shoulders are wide enough (and not too deeply ditched) to get a vehicle off the road.
Also in winter, there is sometimes a large roving blackbird flock that will scavenge in the corn or soy stubble and is able to be scrutinized in this area. There are a couple patches of the eastern-end fields that hold water after rain, and sometimes Wilson’s Snipe can be found probing the mud. Savannah Sparrows are regular here in winter.
The western end of Harrison Road is better for sparrows. At the intersection with Belvoir Road (SR 709), on the north side of Harrison, there is a patch of brush and thicket that is close to the road (but is still on private property and clearly demarcated by a stone wall). Often one can work this area and find Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated, Song, Field, Savannah and sometimes a couple of Swamp Sparrows. In some years, there can be a huge flock of White-crowned Sparrows working the edge along the wall. It wouldn’t be a bad place to discover Virginia’s first Golden-crowned Sparrow. American Tree Sparrows were once regular in appropriate habitat in Fauquier County, but those days are waning. There is still decent habitat for that species at the western end of the road; one was last reported here in 2018.
As spring approaches, late March can be a good time to begin looking for Vesper Sparrows here. Both the west and the east ends of the road will sometimes have flocks of up to a dozen or more of them, usually from the last week of March through about the middle of April. Lucky birders will sometimes even hear them singing here.
When the Tree Swallows arrive and spring begins to settle in, the geese and winter raptors leave; some ducks will linger into April. Bobolinks often stopover and stay for a while in the fields on the southeast end of the field. Grasshopper Sparrows try to nest here, but often the pasture’s grass is cut early (though some years not at all).
Some of the not-so-regular birds that have been found along Harrison Road include Upland Sandpiper, Loggerhead Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk, Lapland Longspur, Dickcissel, and Eurasian Wigeon. The Black Skimmer here in 2003 was displaced by Hurricane Isabel and was present for a few days.
eBird Hotspot: Harrison Road
—Todd Michael Day