May 11 - 13 2012 RV Trip to Belle Isle State Park, Va.

My wife and I decided to take a three day weekend at one of Va's newest state parks:  Belle Isle State Park, located SE of Fredericksburg along the Rappahannock River--on the Northern Neck.

We discovered a wonderful, well designed park--30 campsites with electricity and water. Our drive-through space required no leveling--perfect. This park offers places to put your own canoe or boat in, or you can rent canoes.

If you want to watch wildlife, birds, and butterflies, plan to rest in a comfortable chair on the back side of the visitor's center. The staff there are growing plants, grasses, and flowers to support a spectacular view of the Rappahannock River!

I stirred up a number of dragon flies when I walke by this marsh

I saw a number of osprey perched high in the trees

This was quite a boon to see--a field of flowers

Pretty back lighting while on the boardwalk

I enjoyed a walk from the campground to Mulberry Creek, where there is a nice accessible boardwalk--great place to watch birds and wildlife. From there, I walked along Mud Creek Trail, a covered gravel trail. However, the highlight of the walking was along the Watch House Trail, which led me to the Rappahannock River and back to the camp store and ancient barn.

Groundhogs were quite prevalent in this park

This bunny froze as I approached it--then it hopped off into brush

I like the lines of this field

This corn looks healthy

This campground was mostly empty on Friday night--but it was overflowing Saturday night, with all of the boaters coming in. Make a reservation if you choose to come over a weekend.

I look forward to returning during birding season!

Occoquan Bay NWR Woodbridge, Va. March 22+23, 2009

I arrived at Occoquan Bay a little before noon--and observed the place just bursting with activity. I didn't know that osprey had already migrated up from way south--they were flying around, sitting in trees, and managing their nests. And, a hawk put on a performance for me, just 3 and then 10 feet away. I was so taken back by all of what I saw, I used the OB NWR bird list to identify all of the birds I saw. The appears below; the pictures follow.

I had so much fun that I took my wife down there Monday morning, just after sun rise. That is when we observed the snow geese flying overhead, plus the smaller hawk just outside the NRW's gate.

Seen at Occoquan Bay NWR

• Snow Geese, flying in formation overhead.
  
• Mallards
  
• Double-crested Cormorant
  
• Black-crowned Night-Heron (lurking in marsh grass; I startled it on foot)
  
• Osprey, about a dozen and a half
  
• Bald eagles (a pair flew right over my head)
  
• Red Shouldered Hawk (put on a show for me)
  
• Northern Flicker
  
• Eastern Kingbird
  
• Purple Martins (by their houses)
  
• Chickadees
  
• Carolina Wren
  
• Eastern Bluebird--into their mating colors now
  
• Northern Mockingbird
  
• Cedar Waxwings [in a cedar tree!]
  
• Song Sparrow
  
• White-throated Sparrow
  
• Northern Cardinal
  
• Red-winged Blackbird
  
• Great Blue Heron [spooked it twice in two days in the marsh along the Driving Tour]
  
• American Black Ducks [towards Belmont Bay]
  
• Numerous turtles sunning themselves
  
• Eastern Phoebe
  

In-bound Snow Geese, in formation

Almost overhead

Directly Overhead

Snow Geese just past overhead

Snow Geese Outbound

Snow Geese departing the area

One of many Osprey on a nest

A pair of Osprey on a nest
Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Phoebe
Cedar Waxwings, just after they left a cedar tree
Mature adult bald eagle

Great Blue Heron in a tree

Cormorants in Belmont Bay

This hawk startled me--just 3' away on the ground
It flew up into a nearby tree and put on a show
I got one more shot, a closeup, before it finally flew away
White Throated Sparrow enjoying a treat

Unknown sparrow-like bird

Turtle by the marsh on Driving Trail
Two turtles swimming in the marsh
Many turtles sunning themselves just past the butteryfly garden
Northern Cardinal
Interesting remnant of wood at the edge of a field
Smaller hawk seen just outside the entrance of the NRW