Situated in the extreme eastern part of Spotsylvania County, not far from the Publix Sportsplex, Ruffins Pond is an excellent part of any Spotsylvania itinerary at nearly any time of year. As one of the largest bodies of standing water in eastern Spotsy, it is a good place to check for waterfowl without having to make the trek out to Lake Anna. However, the southwest end of the pond also has exposed mats of vegetation and mudflats that, when water levels are right, can be attractive to shorebirds and waders. Birding the pond can be a bit tricky, as there is no single vantage point where everything can easily be seen. Sometimes a slow pass along the Rt. 2 bridge is enough to see whether birds are present and potentially save a stop.
When birds are around, the best place to start is where the Rt. 2 bridge crosses the pond near the south end. There are pull-offs on either side of the road that afford access to Ruffins. When water levels are low enough, the small section of the pond southwest of the bridge will have excellent mats of vegetation and exposed mudflats. In spring or fall, this is a must-check spot for anyone hoping to round out their Spotsy shorebird list. In late summer or early fall the flats can also be good for waders, including more uncommon species such as Little Blue Heron and White Ibis (both reported here). This end of the pond is typically less good for waterfowl, but may sometimes have Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, or other species that like secluded shallows. In the summer months this can be a good spot to listen for singing Prothonotary Warbler, a fairly local and uncommon breeder in Spotsylvania.
On the north side of the bridge is the majority of the pond, which is largely open water with no flats or vegetation and scattered stumps. This is the better side to scan from for waterfowl and gulls, both of which sometimes congregate here in winter. Goose flocks, sometimes containing rare species, roam this section of eastern Spotsy; they can cover a lot of ground and often cycle through multiple spots including the Spotsplex, Slaughter Pen Farm, and the fields in front of the Fredericksburg Moose Lodge, but they will also sometimes hang out on Ruffins. Other waterfowl including Ring-necked Duck, Redhead, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck have all been reported here as well. Large flocks of gulls sometimes congregate here as well, and while it is typically only expected species, it is always worth a quick scan for rarities.
Though much of the pond can be seen from the Rt. 2 bridge, giving it full coverage also warrants checking the back edge which can be viewed from behind the Public Sportsplex.
Accessibility: Ruffins Pond itself is private, but is easily viewable from pull-offs on either side of Rt. 2. There is ample room to get off the road and scan from the edge of the pond here, but take care when entering and exiting as Rt. 2 is a high-traffic and high-speed road. Be sure to take extra caution if crossing the road on foot to go between vantage points. The pull-offs are not paved and can get very washed out or even inaccessible after heavy rains. If attempting to view the back edge of Ruffins from the Publix Spotsplex, keep in mind that the roads around the Spotsplex and adjacent neighborhood are private and towing is aggressively enforced.
Owner/Manager: Private
eBird Hotspot: Ruffins Pond