Battlefield Locations.
BlkVulture@aol.com
Fri, 16 Apr 1999 15:26:26 EDT
Hello all,
The Defeunct Shopping Center, or as the NPS refers to it, the Disturbed Area,
is located on the west side of Groveton Road about a mile from US 29. From
the Stone House (Which is at the crossroads of US 29 and VA 234, about 1 mile
north of I-66), take 29 South (actually heading west) until the intersection
with Groveton and Featherbed Roads (a couple miles, max). Groveton is a left
turn, heading south. The beginning section of this road is wooded, with some
private homes and streets on the left, and mostly Park Service Property on
the right. Shortly the right hand side, west, opens to a field. In a couple
hundred yards there is a road that leads right that is fenced off. This is
where I park. You can explore this area, and aside from the noise off of 66,
you will most likely be undisturbed. There is a field north of the closed
off road, and a stream south of it. At the end of the paved part, if you
keep walking you will come to a large "bowl", with mature trees along the
perimeter, and new growth in the center. Often very birdy. This entire area
can be good. The Vespers from a couple weeks ago were seen in the field
north of the paved road, near some mulch piles. There should be tons of
Field Sparrows singing, a few pairs of phoebes, bluebirds, and a resident
pair of Red-shoulders that lives across Groveton Road and chases off any
migrant that might venture across this area. It might be a good spot for an
Indigo Bunting to show up this weekend.
The NPS Stables are off of US 29, a short distance west of the Stone Bridge
(which is the eastern most boundary of the park, and crosses Bull Run, the PW
and Fairfax County Line) and before the Stone House. As you pass the Stone
Bridge, in a few hundred yards, you will approach a crossing of Youngs
Branch. There are two driveways and a parking lot on the right. The second
driveway (100 yards after the first one) leads to the stables, as well as the
home of the Chief Ranger.
I do not know if the park service encourages parking at the stables. They
certainly do not advertise it. The space there is limited with Park Police
cars, as well as people using the stables. If you do park there, I suggest
informing one of the Rangers of your intent. They are located in the Stable
Building. There is good birding near the stables.
Two other alternatives exist. You can park at the lot that is near the
driveway. It is a quarter to a half mile up to the stables. However, the
large field on your right is where much of the birding is. There are a bunch
of snipe hanging out in that field, as well as Savannah Sparrows. This is
one of the locations that I have had Vesper. You need to walk in the field.
It is wet, but not soaking. A few puddles that you can avoid. The only way
to see the snipe is to flush them. At the north end of this field, a small
stream runs through it. This area can also be quite productive.
The other alternative is to start at the Stone Bridge. This is often my
approach. I walk in along Bull Run to Farm Ford Crossing (can be good, but
sometimes slow at first light) , then take a left (west). This will take you
up a small hillside, and join another trail about 20 yards from a large field
on the left. (If you go right on this trail, and follow it in a circular
fashion to the left, it will join the large field as well, and there is some
good habitat along the way, my preferred route). When you get to the large
field, if you look west, you will see a tree line/hedgerow that has a gravel
road running along side it (I have also seen turkey sprinting across this
field). This is the other side of the field with the snipe that is described
above. The buildings you see to the northwest are the Chief Ranger's house
and the Stable. I usually walk north along the pines near you, then work my
way across the large field, NW toward the tree line, then walk the tree line
south. There is an opening in the tree line that takes you to a pond, and
the stream mentioned above. I follow the stream until it hits the paved
driveway that leads to the stables. Depending on the birds, I often walk the
driveway toward US 29 a bit, then cut across the field. Everytime I do this,
I am convinced the snipe have left, but without fail, they flush. When you
reach the tree-line on the far side of the field, you continue east, and will
eventually pick up a trail that leads back to the Stone Bridge. It has a
boardwalk along US 29, which may have common yellowthroats on it. However,
the cars on 29 can be noisy. All told, the Stone Bridge Loop might be three
miles.
As I reread this, I realize that it looks confusing. If you have more
specific questions, let me know.
Regards,
Todd Day
BlkVulture@aol.com
Jeffersonton, VA