Matt Anthony

Bassett Hall Nature Trail

The Bassett Hall Nature trail is a fixture of Williamsburg birding. This single track dirt path winds through scrubby edge, woodland, swamp, riparian and open pond habitats meaning the list of species recorded here is vast and varied. The area around the trailhead is typically very birdy at all times of year and should not be breezed past on any birding trip here; mid-winter Blue-headed Vireos have been found here on more than one occasion (1/23/2015, 1/2/2019). The next portion of the trail winds through deciduous woodland and is excellent for warblers (Hooded, Black-and-white, and Worm-eating to name a few) and thrushes from April through October. A wooded swamp found about a half mile into the walk has been known to be a reliable location for Red-headed Woodpeckers year round and breeding Louisiana Waterthrushes. Continuing on, two ponds associated with the Golden Horseshoe Golf Course are found.

Accessibility: The parking area at the trailhead is shared with the adjacent Inn and can be accessed at anytime throughout the day and year. The trail is single-track dirt with some short steep hills. Access here is free and does not require a Colonial Williamsburg access pass.

Owner/Manager: Colonial Williamsburg

eBird Hotspot: Bassett Hall Nature Trail

—Nick Newberry

College Landing Park

College Landing Park has the year-round potential for good birding and provides the only access to tidal water in the City of Williamsburg. During winter months a scope is helpful for scanning upstream areas for waterfowl, such as Green-winged Teal. Winter evenings spent on the boardwalk often provide the opportunity to see hundreds of waterfowl flying from areas upstream to roosting locations elsewhere. Along with the obvious areas to bird, a careful crossing of the street to the marsh on the other side of the road can occasionally provide views of Wood Duck and other species that prefer marshes (maybe a Least Bittern someday). Spring and Fall migration often bring many migrant passerines to this riparian park and in winter the scrub around the edges of the water can house Kinglets or the odd Catbird. Additionally, during the spring Terns and large flocks of Swallows can often be seen here, both difficult groups to find anywhere else in the City. In the summer of 2016 a pair of Cliff Swallows was seen nesting under the 199 bridge, however they have not been seen in subsequent years despite careful searching. Unfortunately, despite diligent searching, the low tide mud flats have yet to produce any peeps although both Yellowlegs species and Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers have been seen here.

Note: All immediate areas fall within the City of Williamsburg, however everything downstream of the 199 bridge is in James City County.

Accessibility: This small park is accessible via a central parking area that can accommodate approximately 15 vehicles. From there, there is a handicap accessible boardwalk that leads a couple hundred feet into the brackish, tidal marsh. Entrance to the park is free of charge and is allowed from dawn to dusk. For those interested in birding by canoe or kayak, there is a small boat ramp (beware the extreme low tides here which can make it difficult to launch any craft that sits more than a couple inches below the water).

Owner/Manager: City of Williamsburg

eBird Hotspot: College Landing Park

—Matt Anthony and Nick Newberry

College of William and Mary

The campus has three identifiable sections, colloquially referred to by students as Ancient, Old, and New Campuses. Ancient Campus, on the eastern side near Merchant’s Square, is the part most frequently visited by tourists due to the presence of the historic Wren Building. This area is largely open, well-maintained lawns with scattered trees which occasionally attract migrants. In winter, large flocks of Cedar Waxwings often gather here to feast on holly berries, while in summer the gardens by the President’s house usually have Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. The middle section of campus is organized around the Sunken Garden, a large open lawn where students often congregate in nice weather. The open view from the Sunken Garden makes it a good place to watch the sky, both for migrating raptors and aerial insectivores like Chimney Swifts and, if one is lucky, migrating Common Nighthawks. Some of the best birding to be had on campus is on the western portion. Between the Sadler Center and Swem Library is a wooded section with walking paths that connects the Crim Dell gardens to Ukrop Way. Walking these paths on spring mornings can be a good way to encounter migrant warblers, vireos, and tanagers. This section also typically hosts several Barred Owls, which can often be heard calling to each other at night. One of the main draws of birding on campus is the presence each winter of a flock of 300+ Rusty Blackbirds. The flock tends to move around erratically on campus, but is frequently encountered on the lawn in front of Swem Library; by DuPont Hall; near the fraternity houses opposite Kaplan Arena; or in the wet areas between Swem and Sadler Center.

Accessibility: The College of William & Mary campus is centrally located within the City of Williamsburg, and conveniently accessible from most parts of the City. Visitors should note, however, that parking on campus is strictly enforced during the week and fines can be quite hefty. Those looking to bird on campus will want to stop first at Parking Services to purchase a visitor’s pass, except on Saturday or Sunday when parking in Faculty/Staff and Day Student spaces is free and unrestricted. The campus is also easily accessible via a short walk from public parking areas in Merchant’s Square and street parking on Richmond Road.

Owner/Manager: College of William & Mary

eBird Hotspot: College of William and Mary

—Matt Anthony

Matoaka Lake & Woods

Lake Matoaka is one of the main places in the City of Williamsburg to find waterfowl. The main portion of the lake is easily viewable where Jamestown Road crosses the dam. This portion is where the lake is widest, and in winter is often where groups of Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Pied-billed Grebes, and occasionally other species can be observed. However, Jamestown Road often gets high volumes of traffic, and stopping here is not advised. Matoaka can also be viewed from multiple points along the trails in College Woods. The dock behind the Keck Environmental Field Lab is another good point to view the lake, and is often where Gadwall, and Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal are found. Matoaka is also one of the last lakes in the area to remain open during freezing conditions. Under the right conditions, particularly when all but a small portion of the lake freezes, large concentrations and diversity of waterfowl can be seen here. Species such as Redhead, Common Merganser, Northern Shoveler and other difficult species in the City have been found under these conditions. The trails on the east side of Matoaka (or “Near Side,” as William & Mary students call it) can sometimes be productive for migrants, including the vegetation mats north of Keck, which occasionally attract Solitary Sandpipers, yellowlegs, and egrets. The area around the Keck Lab has also recently hosted probable breeding Prothonotary Warblers, a species that is not recorded on campus all years. For migrant passerines, however, the best area is the more extensive collection of trails west of the lake, or “Far Side.” These trails allow for deeper penetration into College Woods, and are an excellent place to find warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. The College Woods are also excellent for Catharus thrushes, and it is not uncommon to find good counts of all expected species on a day of spring birding. Far Side also hosts nesting Great Horned Owls most years.

Accessibility: The woods surrounding Lake Matoaka, on the campus of the College of William & Mary, contain over 10 miles of trails that were originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The trails are generally well maintained, and a full trail map can be found on the William & Mary website linked above. However, the trails can occasionally become blocked by downed branches and there are some wet spots that may be difficult to pass after rain. The Matoaka Trails have a number of access points, including the Matoaka Amphitheater parking lot; the Keck Environmental Field Laboratory; the trailhead on Compton Drive; and the School of Education. Visitors should be advised that all access points are on the campus of William & Mary, and parking on campus is strictly enforced with violators subject to heavy fines. Parking in Faculty/Staff or Day Student spaces is free and available to anyone on Saturdays and Sundays. Anyone wishing to park on campus during the week should check in with Parking Services to purchase a day pass.

Owner/Manager: College of William & Mary

eBird Hotspot: Matoaka Lake & Woods

—Matt Anthony

Tutters Neck Pond

Tutters Neck Pond is primarily of interest in winter, when it is one of the main locations in the City to find wintering waterfowl. The species most frequently seen are Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, and Hooded Merganser, all of which are often seen in large numbers. However, the pond sometimes holds other species, and diligent scanning of the ducks here may yield American Wigeon, Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, or other species. Other waterbirds such as Pied-billed Grebe and American Coot are also possible. In migration, shorebirds including Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs have been seen, but Tutters is not generally a good location for shorebirds. The surrounding woods frequently have typical woodland species such as woodpeckers and nuthatches. In winter, it is a good place to find the winter woodland suite, while in summer species such as Red-eyed Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, and other interior woodland breeders are present. Locally uncommon breeders including Prothonotary Warbler and Warbling Vireo have been recorded here, but they are not regular. The habitat is also appropriate for Anhinga, which has not yet been recorded in the City, but has been found in similar locations further down the Lower Peninsula. Tutters Neck Pond has a historic record of Purple Gallinule from 1967.

Accessibility: This pond is most easily accessible from Quarterpath Road, which runs across the dam and allows for a good view of the water. Parts of the water that are not visible from Quarterpath can be seen from Battery Boulevard, but views here are difficult and largely obscured. Quarterpath Road at the dam is wide, and very infrequently traveled, so pulling off to the side for viewing is easily accomplished. However, be aware that the road is very poorly maintained and may not be advisable in all vehicles. It has a number of extremely deep potholes, and the steep gradient going down to Tutters Pond is also not advisable for many vehicles under snowy conditions.

eBird Hotspot: Tutters Neck Pond

—Matt Anthony