Chickahominy Reservoir
Seasons
Checklists
Location
Located north of Hwy 20 approximately 30 miles west of Hines, Chickahominy Reservoir materializes out of the desert and you have to pay attention or you can miss it. It’s not always easy to see the water from the road so one should keep an eye out for the ubiquitous motor homes that stand out against the skyline. Access the area at the sign for Chickahominy.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
Stop at the Dam and look for sparrows, Canyon and Rock Wrens. Continue on and work your way around the north side of the lake.
There are numerous pullouts that give you good views of the shoreline and the waterfowl in the lake. In the lake itself, large numbers of American Coots, grebes, ducks, and even loons can be found in season.
In the fall, the water levels drop and this becomes a hotspot for shorebirds. Snowy Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, and phalaropes can be found. Western, Least, Pectoral, Bairds, and Spotted Sandpipers can be present and the occasional Sanderling, Solitary Sandpiper, or Stilt Sandpiper are all possible. Both yellowlegs and dowitchers (mostly Long-billed) can be numerous.
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