Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve
Virginia · Southeast
About This Location
Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve is a productive birding destination in Virginia, with 250 species recorded on eBird. This coastal habitat attracts Canada Goose, Turkey Vulture, and Pileated Woodpecker among many others. Mild winters attract waterfowl and sparrows, while spring and fall migration bring neotropical songbirds.
Location
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Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group)
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Virginia Rail
Rallus limicola
Red Knot
Calidris canutus
Piping Plover
Charadrius melodus
Nelson's Sparrow (Interior)
Ammospiza nelsoni
American Woodcock
Scolopax minor
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Northern Bobwhite
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
White Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Crested Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Horned Lark
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
Birding Tips
- 1
Check rocky shorelines and jetties at low tide for shorebirds.
- 2
Scan offshore waters with a spotting scope for seabirds and waterfowl.
- 3
Check for wintering sparrows in brushy edges from November through February.
Amenities
More in Virginia
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Virginia's iconic barrier island refuge with 320+ species, wild ponies, and Atlantic Flyway migrants.
Huntley Meadows Park
DC area's premier wetland with boardwalk access to nesting herons, rails, and diverse marsh birds.
Great Falls Park
Potomac gorge park with breeding Cerulean Warblers, dramatic river views, and rich spring migration.
Virginia Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Virginia →