Birding Great Falls Park in Virginia
National Park Near Washington, DC Offers Suburban Bird-Watching
May 16, 2009
This 800-acre national park is open every day except Christmas, and provides a peaceful retreat for hikers, picnickers and birders along a stunning stretch of Potomac River waterfalls. No overnight camping is permitted, but picnic tables and grills, a visitor center and restrooms make it an attractive place to spend the day.
Birding Habitat in Virginia's Great Falls Park
The park offers a bird-rich habitat of trees, brush, grass and wildflowers, rock outcroppings and cliffs, canyons, river and a canal. A large variety of trees are found in the park, including magnificent old-growth White oaks that are more than 260 years old.
This varied habitat attracts a wide range of species: water and shoreline birds, eagles and hawks, woodpeckers, brush and woodland birds.
Birding the Visitor Center Area of Great Falls Park
A complete visitor center and restrooms are a short walk from the main parking lot. On the far side of the visitor center lies a large open grassy area with picnic tables and grills. Although more visitors congregate in this area than along the trails, birders should not pass it by. Many birds can be observed in the trees of the picnic area, including Tufted titmouse, Northern cardinal, Red-bellied and Downy woodpeckers, Carolina chickadee, Carolina wren, American robin, Northern mockingbird, American goldfinch and Common grackle.
Birding the Trails of Great Falls Park
The park has 8 trails that open all habitats to the birder. Access to all of these trails is available from the parking lot near the visitor center, and detailed trail maps are available at the center. The most popular trail is the River Trail, which parallels the Potomac River for over 2 miles. The visitor center lies at about the mid-point of this trail, and you can choose to walk either north or south along the river, returning on the nearby Matildaville Trail.
The River Trail provides short spurs to spectacular waterfall overlooks and Mather Gorge, areas to look for Osprey, Bald eagle, Turkey vulture, Northern Rough-winged swallow, Great blue heron, Belted kingfisher and Double-crested cormorant, among others. Rocky, treed sections of the trail are good habitat for Eastern bluebird, Pileated woodpecker, Eastern wood-peewee, Wood thrush, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated vireos and Song sparrows.
Slower water along the northern section of the River Trail attracts Canada goose, Mallard, Ring-billed gull, Common and Hooded mergansers and Bald eagle, as well as other water and shorebirds.
The Bird Seasons at Great Falls Park
A bird list available at the park's visitor center lists 169 species of resident and migratory birds that have been seen at the park. More than 30 species of warblers have been recorded in the spring, one of the better times to bird the park. A dazzling display of wildflowers is an added reason to visit the park in the spring. Good birding exists throughout the year, however, with certain birds more commonly found in each of the four seasons. Examples include Cerulean warbler in the spring, Green-backed heron in the summer, Dark-eyed junco in the fall and Brown creeper in the winter.
Great Falls Park Safety and Regulations
Swimming and wading are prohibited at the park, due to the danger of swift water. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed, and there are the usual restrictions on picking wildflowers, collecting objects or feeding wildlife. Camping and overnight parking are prohibited as well. For a complete, up-to-date list of regulations, activities, operating hours, fees and other information, visit the park's web site.
Getting to Great Falls Park
Take Interstate I-495 south (Capital Beltway) from Washington, D.C. Exit at Highway 193 west (Georgetown Pike) and follow 193 west to the park entrance. There is a small fee to enter the park, which is waived if you carry an annual national parks pass.
Great Falls Park offers a wide range of activities, including first-class birding, just a short drive from the major population centers of Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia.
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