Winchester Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center

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: Winchester Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center

Timber Ridge Road

The main attraction of this road for birders is Ruffed Grouse, this is the most reliable location in Frederick County to find this species. Sometimes they can be found along the road itself, but if you don’t find one along the road venturing down the Tuscarora Trail will give you additional chances to find this elusive species. That trail can be accessed from the Bilby trailhead which is just south of Wolf Spring Trail, the road that brings you up the mountain. Alternatively you can also access this trail by following the power line cut from where the public road ends. The several dirt roads just off Timber Ridge Road are also worth exploring. In addition to Ruffed Grouse other high elevation breeders found here include Dark-eyed Junco and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Accessibility: This is a public road with with very low traffic, so just use common sense and don’t block the road or park right in from of someone’s house. Be aware the road up to this ridge is fairly steep but paved and in good condition.

eBird Hotspot: Timber Ridge Road

—James Fox

Third Winchester Battlefield

The Third Winchester Battlefield is one of the best spots in Frederick County to look for migrant passerines and is a great spot to bird year round. The battlefield covers a wide variety of habitats, including cow pasture, fields, woods and a small wetland area around Redbud Run, which runs through the middle of the battlefield. There are two mature woodlots, the north woods just south of the northern entrance and the first woods near the Millbrook High School Entrance. Both of these areas along with the wooded area just south of Redbud Run are usually the best spots to look for warblers. Almost every regular species of migrant passerine has been recorded here including less common ones like Cerulean, Yellow-throated, and Mourning Warblers and Olive-sided Flycatcher. The spur trail that leads to the cannons just south of the north woods will take you into a large field bordered by a cow pasture that is an excellent area to look for open country birds. Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Bobwhite, Bobolink and Vesper Sparrow have all been seen in this area. The trail bordering the southern field between Redbud Run is another excellent area to bird, a good variety of sparrows can be found along here including the occasional Lincoln’s and American Tree Sparrows. The brushy area along the edge of this field near Redbud Run can also be good for warblers, including species such as Nashville and Mourning Warblers.

Accessibility: Open dawn to dusk, no entry fee. The battlefield can be accessed from a few different points. The closest parking area to I-81 is off Redbud Ln south of US 11 on the north end of the battlefield. From the south, there are two entrances, one at the end of Averrell Ave in the subdivision south of the battlefield and another at Millbrook High School. Be aware that parking at Millbrook High School is only allowed outside of school hours. The main trails are well maintained gravel, along with several less maintained dirt trails.

Owner/Manager: American Battlefield Trust

eBird Hotspot: Third Winchester Battlefield

Sub-hotspots: Third Winchester Battlefield--North Trails, Third Winchester Battlefield--First Woods

Lake Holiday

Due to the difficulty of gaining access to this lake, Lake Holiday had been little birded despite it's enormous potential until recently.  Spanning 240 acres, it is easily the largest body of water in Frederick County and is one of the largest lakes in Virginia west of the Blue Ridge.  As with most lakes in Virginia the prime time for birding this location is from fall through the spring, during the summer the lake is covered with boats and you probably won't find much.  If you are fortunate enough to gain access there are several vantage points to scan the lake from.  The two vantage points that are generally the most productive are the dam area at the east end of the Lake and the main beach near the clubhouse on the north side of the lake.  Given the size of the lake a scope is a must.  The largest numbers of waterfowl can usually be seen from the dam but the area near the main beach often allows for slightly closer views of some birds and allows you to see some parts of the lake not visible from the dam.  A third vantage point, Beach #2, is located on the south end of the lake.  It will occasionally provide closer views of some of the birds visible from the dam.  This area is also a great spot to look for migrant passerines in the spring and fall.  Most of the south side of the lake has yet to be developed so walking the roads in this area can be very productive.  Less common migrants such as Gray-cheeked Thrush and Bay-breasted Warbler have been found in this area.  Notable sightings include White-winged, Black and Surf Scoters, Red-throated Loon, American White Pelican, and Snow Bunting.  With the exception of the Black Scoters, which were seen in 2013, all the other notable records from this location come from 2018, so with more coverage, more unusual records should continue to turn up.

Accessibility: Lake Holiday is completely surrounded by a private gated community, so access is only possible if you have an invite from a resident.

Owner/Manager: Lake Holiday POA

eBird Hotspot: Lake Holiday

—James Fox

Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve

This site is worth a visit at any time of the year but tends to be the most productive during migration and winter.  There is a paved trail that heads west from the road into the preserve that is a little less than a mile long.  Many birders, however, prefer to walk along the railroad tracks instead as this offers a better view of both the marsh and White's Lake. In the late winter and early spring this is a great place to go to see American Woodcock, they display around dawn and dusk near the short boardwalk.  In the winter you will often see locally uncommon species such as Rusty Blackbird, Fox Sparrow, Winter Wren, and Swamp Sparrow.  During migration warblers can often be found, less common ones sighted at this park include Golden-winged Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler and Northern Waterthrush.  Clay-colored Sparrow has also been found on one occasion.  The marsh south of the railroad tracks has hosted species such as Snipe, Virginia Rail, Sora, and Sandhill Crane.  The pond formed by a small dam on Abrams Creek near the west end of the park, known as White's Lake, is an excellent location to look for waterfowl in these locations as it does not freeze.  Most notably this pond hosted a drake White-winged Scoter for several days one March.  Keep in mind that only the area south of the railroad tracks once you pass the bend in the tracks is in Frederick County, so while marsh birds and waterfowl are almost always in Frederick County the actual trail and many of the passerines seen there are in the City of Winchester.

Accessibility: Open dawn to dusk, no entrance fee.  Park at the Abrams Crossing Commercial Center or along the west side of Meadow Branch Ave just north of the park entrance. The trail is handicap accessible.

Owner/Manager: City of Winchester

eBird Hotspot: Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve

Sub-Hotspot: White's Lake

—James Fox

Lake Frederick

This site is most productive in migration and winter, it is the top location in Frederick county to find diving ducks and other waterfowl.  The lake can be easily scoped from the boat launch, although walking up to the dam can often provide better views further up the lake.  Particularly during migration it can be worth walking down to the marshy area at the base of the dam, this area is good for sparrows and has hosted Marsh Wren in migration.  During the early fall and late spring in particular you will want to visit the lake as early as possible.  The lake is heavily used by fishermen and if there are too many boats on the lake the birds will often leave.  Fortunately this is rarely an issue once the weather gets colder, which is the best time to visit this site.  As one of the larger bodies of water in the northern Shenandoah Valley, Lake Frederick is a magnet for migrating waterfowl.  After storms pass through in the late fall and early spring the lake is often full of a variety of birds waiting out the poor weather.  Notable records include Long-tailed Duck(several records), Surf Scoter(several records), White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Red-necked Grebe(several records), Red-throated Loon, American White Pelican(twice), Band-rumped Storm-Petrel(after Hurricane Isabel in 2003) and American Avocet.

Accessibility: Open dawn to dusk, VDGIF access permit or fishing license required.

Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

eBird Hotspot: Lake Frederick

—James Fox