After checking out the RAS A Birder's Guide to Metropolitan Richmond from
the library, I decided to explore some of the places mentioned in the book,
thus prompting my visit to Harrison Lake Nat'l Fish Hatchery, off of Rt 5,
just east of Shirley Plantation, Charles City County. I walked around the
perimeter of the fish hatchery ponds, and then walked the nature trail
through the woods along Herring Creek. Before leaving, I also drove the
road to Herring Lake. The nature trail is very shaded and extremely
beautiful. I didn't encounter anyone else; the place seemed very wild and
wonderful to me, as well as a prime fishing spot. I heard, rather than saw,
many birds, and although I'm very much an amateur at birding by ear, I was
able to identify quite a few species. Here is the list for the entire
visit, from 10 AM - 2 PM:
Osprey (3)
Bald Eagle (2 adult, 1 immature)
Barn Swallows
Bluebirds
Tree Swallows
N. Rough Winged Swallow
Canada Goose
Great Blue Herons
N. Mockingbird
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
N. Cardinal
Downy WP
Pileated WP
Red-bellied WP
Red-tailed Hawk
Blue Grosbeak
Grackles
Starlings
Cowbirds
Tufted Titmice
Carolina Wren
Baltimore Orioles (1 female, 1 immature male)
House sparrows
Chipping Sparrows
Red-eyed vireo
Warbling vireo
Thrasher
Carolina Chickadee
Killdeer
American Black ducks
Pine Warblers
Brown-headed Nuthatches
White-breasted Nuthatches
Hooded Warbler
Ovenbird
Wood Pewee
Eastern Kingbird
Also: One deer, 2 Ground Hogs, 3 large black snakes
Rachel Echols
Chester, VA
