Nestled between I-64, Oastes Creek, and residential neighborhoods, Forest Lawn Cemetery is a calm, publicly-accessible oasis in northern Norfolk. This hotspot has a wide variety of habitats that show potential to attract a broad assortment of species from waders and hawks to shorebirds and passerines. Interesting species can likely be found here year round. The abundant evergreen vegetation and proximity to water suggest the possibility for unusual overwintering passerines and the water itself may present opportunities for dabbling ducks, which can be challenging to track down elsewhere in the City of Norfolk. In springtime, the mixture of old live oaks, pines, ornamental trees, and mixed hardwoods in this 70+ species arboretum creates excellent opportunities to find various passerines and, given the general built-up nature of the surrounding area, this cemetery may serve as something of a migrant trap. The summer months are under-surveyed, but those reports that do exist paint a picture similar to most other semi-wooded parks in the area, which host species like Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, and Brown Thrasher. Fall promises to be productive for warblers, sparrows, and other passerines. With the open sky and varied habitats, this may not be the worst spot for an October Big Sit.
A few species have been recorded here that have proven tough at other publicly accessible locations in Norfolk. Pileated and Red-headed Woodpeckers have just enough habitat to subsist here, although neither is a gimmee, and while Hairy Woodpecker also comes to mind as a possibility, there is may not be enough continuous woodland habitat for that species, but the jury is still out . Swamp Sparrow can be found during the right time of year in the marshes to the east and north. Savannah Sparrow may be found during migration along any of the roadways. There are several scrubby edges that may be productive for other sparrows during migration and maybe someday Norfolk’s first eBird record of Vesper Sparrow will be recorded here.
Oastes Creek, accessed by an overgrown trail in the northeast corner offers opportunities to see waders, waterfowl, shorebirds, and marshbirds. A Tricolored Heron found here in early April is a good indicator that other waders may also occur here. At low tide mudflats become exposed that are viewable from both this trail and a similarly overgrown trail about 300 yards to the west. This is one of very few areas in Norfolk where tidal mudflats can be viewed from public land. Thus far, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, and Least, Semipalmated, Spotted, and Solitary Sandpiper have been recorded here. Beware of poison ivy growing along both trails and throughout the cemetery.
Accessibility: Forest Lawn Cemetery is owned and managed by the City of Norfolk and is free and open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset. There is a public restroom onsite. Please be courteous while visiting, as you would at any other cemetery. Use common sense and avoid things like stepping on graves and being noisy while funeral proceedings or visits are taking place. You may park anywhere along the network of roads, but make sure to pull all the way over to the side so that cars and landscaping vehicles can pass by. This cemetery is frequented by local residents and it is common to see walkers and joggers around.
Official Website: Forest Lawn Cemetery
eBird Hotspot: Forest Lawn Cemetery
—Nick Newberry