47th Street Mini Park

Comprising just .3 acres of mostly open space at the corner of 47th Street and Warwick Boulevard in downtown Newport News, the 47th Street Mini Park is surely one of the smallest hotspots in Virginia. The park is almost exclusively open greenspace, with a row of trees planted along Warwick, as well as several benches on the western edge. The dearth of habitat means that essentially only urban-dwelling species are likely to be found here. Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, House Finch and House Sparrow represent some of the species most likely to be encountered. The proximity to the James River does also allow for the possibility of spotting flyover Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant, gulls, and maybe even the occasional Bald Eagle. During migration, the unobstructed sky here might be good for spotting migrant raptors or Common Nighthawks.

Owner/Manager: City of Newport News

eBird Hotspot: 47th Street Mini Park

—Matt Anthony, August 2020

Stoneybrook Monk Parakeet Roost

The Stoneybrook Estates neighborhood would not merit an eBird hotspot at all, were it not for the fact that Virginia’s last known Monk Parakeet colony was at this location. The parakeets were present here since at least the early 2000s, with the last reports coming in 2010. During its heyday, the colony here was fairly robust – the parakeets’ raucous chatter, as well as their massive stick nests on utility poles, easily announced their presence. The exact reasons for the colony’s disappearance are not known, though it is probably that the nests were eventually removed by the power company, as is often the case with Monk Parakeet nests on powerlines. Since the parakeets disappeared, there is nothing to draw birders here, and the hotspot is essentially only used for historical data entry. It is worth noting that in 2008 a pair of Eurasian Collared-Doves, a fairly notable rarity in Newport News, was reported with photos from this location.

eBird Hotspot: Stoneybrook Monk Parakeet Roost

—Matt Anthony, August 2020

Stony Run Athletic Complex

Formerly a city dump, this location has proven to be a valuable asset in the local birding arena. It is likely to be the only place on the lower peninsula where Grasshopper Sparrows breed. This park is good in the winter for dabbling ducks and sparrows. Savannah Sparrows seem to enjoy the short grasses around the pond. There are resident Red-shouldered Hawks and American Kestrels for most of the year. Ospreys nest on the light poles of the softball fields. Eastern Meadowlarks and Killdeer are more regular here than anywhere else in the city. Stony Run Park has records of Wilson’s Snipe, Common Nighthawks, Common Merganser, and Red-throated Loon, all birds that can prove tough to find elsewhere in the city.

Accessibility: The park is free and is open Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm.

Owner/Manager: City of Newport News

eBird Hotspot: Stony Run Athletic Complex

—Jason Strickland

Riverview Farm Park

This park is a mixed-use area, with a paved two-mile biking/walking loop, soccer fields, playgrounds, a skatepark, and a pier near the mouth of Deep Creek on the Warwick River. The pier usually has Bufflehead and Common Loons in the winter, with a few other random waterfowl mixed in, varying from year to year. The large open areas south of the picnic pavilions flood after heavy rains, and local birders know to check here during shorebird migration. The trees around the main parking area have had Pine Siskin in irruption years.

Accessibility: The park is free and open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Owner/Manager: City of Newport News

eBird Hotspot: Riverview Farm Park

—Jason Strickland

Denbigh Park

The area of the city known as Denbigh boasts a park with a unique ecosystem. Denbigh Park is the only public area of Newport News with extensive salt marsh. It supports Clapper Rails, Brown-headed Nuthatches, and Boat-tailed Grackles, all of which can be challenging to find elsewhere in the city. There are also small rafts of ducks typically present in winter, and some migrant passerines in spring. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and can be observed nesting here.

Accessibility: Denbigh Park is free and open to the public.

Owner/Manager: City of Newport News

eBird Hotspot: Denbigh Park

—Jason Strickland

King-Lincoln Park

Best visited in winter, this park has two piers that offer good views of the mouth of the James River and Hampton Roads harbor. One of the piers, which is concrete, extends roughly a quarter-mile into the river. This is the best observation point in the city for wintering sea ducks, grebes, and loons. One can also find Brown Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants in high numbers here at various times. Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, and Dunlin are easier to observe here than anywhere else in town.

Accessibility: The park is free and open daily, sunrise to sunset.

Owner/Manager: City of Newport News

eBird Hotspot: King-Lincoln Park

—Jason Strickland

Mariner's Museum Park/The Noland Trail

This park can be productive due to its variety of habitats. The Lions Bridge is always a good place to start. It has views of the James River and a large freshwater lake. The Noland trail encircles the lake with a five-mile loop. The trail is in deciduous and pine forest crossing many coves on short bridges. These crossings are often the most productive places. In spring, singing warblers can fill these woods with song. Black-throated Blue Warblers, American Redstarts, and Northern Parulas are the most abundant species, with an occasional Blackburnian or Cape May Warbler making an appearance. Scanning the river in winter, one can typically observe Red-breasted Mergansers, Bufflehead, Canvasbacks, and sometimes Common Goldeneyes.

Accessibility: The park and trail are free and open daily from 6:00 am - 8:00 pm, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Owner/Manager: The Mariners' Museum

eBird Hotspot: Mariners' Museum Park/The Noland Trail

—Jason Strickland

Newport News Park

This has always been the hotspot which boasts the highest species diversity. In the winter, an observer is likely to see Gadwall, American Wigeon, Redhead, Ring-Necked Duck, and Ruddy Duck. This park is also great for finding all the local woodpeckers. The powerline cut near the interpretive center is usually good for sparrows, with an occasional raptor perched on the poles. Spring and fall can be particularly good for migrating passerines here. The summer months are filled with the songs of nesting Prothonotary Warblers, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and Acadian Flycatchers. There are bird walks here, led by the Hampton Roads Bird Club on the first and third Sundays of every month.

Accessibility: Newport News Park offers free admission and is open to the public year-round, from sunrise to sunset, daily.

Owner/Manager: City of Newport News

eBird Hotspot: Newport News Park

—Jason Strickland