Chipping Sparrow - Photo by Bob Crawford
Thumbnail Photo - Blue Grosbeak by Doug Pfeiffer
Plan to join us May 16-18, for the VSO field trip to southeast Virginia’s Gloucester County, featuring Machicomoco State Park! Field trips will be offered Friday afternoon, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning.
VERY Important! All VSO field trips are open to members at no charge. If you have not renewed your dues for 2025 or have not joined yet, you can RENEW or JOIN here.
Species we usually have in one or more of our destinations include both Summer and Scarlet Tanager, Northern Bobwhite, Grasshopper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-headed Woodpecker, and a nice variety of warblers, vireos, and flycatchers.
Thanks in advance to members of the Hampton Roads, Middle Peninsula, and Williamsburg Bird Clubs for assistance with the field trips!
TRIP REGISTRATION
Please register online HERE.
Provide the names of participants in your party with each person’s telephone number and email address so we can contact you as needed. If you have any questions, contact Meredith Bell, trip coordinator, at merandlee@gmail.com or 804-824-4958.
HEADQUARTERS
Holiday Inn Express Gloucester is the host hotel (6639 Forest Hill Ave, Gloucester, VA 23061). Room rate for the VSO block of rooms on Friday and Saturday nights is $119/night (plus tax, King) or $124/night (plus tax, 2 Queens). For those arriving a day early or staying an extra day, the rate for Thursday and Sunday nights is the same. There are microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and Keurig coffeemakers in all rooms. The hotel is pet-friendly with a fee of $25/day/pet. Register by APRIL 15, to get the special rate and state you’re with VSO.
Two ways to reserve your room:
BY PHONE: Call (804) 695-1900 and mention the Virginia Society of Ornithology
ONLINE – Click here
There are a few other hotels/motels in Gloucester County and lots of other lodging options in nearby Williamsburg or Newport News.
And if you’re up for camping, Machicomoco State Park has overnight facilities for RVs, tent camping, and 3 yurts. You can call 1-800-933-PARK or make reservations online:
https://reservevaparks.com/web/Facilities/SearchViewUnitAvailabity.aspx
MEALS
A complimentary hot breakfast buffet is included for those staying at the host hotel (starting at 7:00 am on Sat and Sun, 6:00 am weekdays). You’ll need to bring snack, lunch, and beverages for Saturday. Dinners are on your own. There are a variety of restaurants in the area, and we’ll provide you with a list closer to the date.
SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, MAY 13
We’ll hold a Zoom video call at 7:30pm to overview the weekend. We’ll record the call and send a link for the recording to all registrants afterwards.
FRIDAY PM, MAY 16 – Beaverdam Park, Main Entrance (10-min drive)
This local park has great birding around the parking lots in addition to more than 9 miles of hiking trails that follow along the edge of Beaverdam. There are mostly easy-to-walk slopes along with flat areas.
Info about the park: https://www.gloucesterva.info/497/Beaverdam-Park
SATURDAY, MAY 17 – Machicomoco State Park (15-min drive)
This is one of the newest State Parks in Virginia, and we’re going to devote the entire day to exploring all the great birding spots it holds! Be sure to bring lunch, snacks and beverages. It’s mostly flat, easy walking. The staff takes pride in keeping the grounds immaculate while maintaining wildlife-friendly habitats. We’ve reserved one of the picnic shelters for the entire day so we’ll have lunch and hold the tally at the end of the day there .
Info about the park: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/machicomoco
SUNDAY AM, MAY 18 – Woodville Park (15-min drive)
This local park has easy walking trails. One of them is a boardwalk that takes you through a wooded area where you’ll hear (and maybe see) Ovenbird and White-eyed Vireo singing.
Info about the park: https://www.gloucesterva.info/1297/Woodville-Park
If you have any questions, contact field trip coordinator Meredith Bell at (804) 824-4958 or merandlee@gmail.com.