Description

Aptly named, Buckner-Bumpass Park is situated approximately halfway between the small villages of Buckner and Bumpass. This 19-acre park hosts a playground and a baseball diamond as well as a pleasant nature trail. The park is partially wooded with a large central playing field. Check the field for foraging northern mockingbirds and chipping sparrows as well as the occasional killdeer. If you feel like you’re being watched, it’s probably from eastern bluebirds and occasional eastern phoebe lining the fence posts.

Take the nature walk to the beaver pond and search for beavers along with eastern painted turtles and green frogs. While you’re in the woods, scan for migrant warblers such as black-throated blue and chestnut-sided amongst the numerous Carolina chickadees and northern cardinals. If you happen to hear concentrated cawing of American crows you may want to investigate for a potential barred owl or perhaps a red-shouldered hawk being mobbed by the aggressive crows. Careful searching on a regular basis is likely to turn up a wide variety of bird species as well as a sprinkling of butterflies, dragonflies and the occasional raccoon or Virginia opossum.

Directions

From Walton Park, return to US 522 and go north 0.3 miles to its intersection with SR 22. Stay on US 522/E 1st Street by turning right and continue 0.1 miles; stay on E 1st Street. After 0.6 miles E 1st Street joins Fredericks Hall Road. Turn right and follow Fredericks Hall Road for 9.4 miles to Rt. 601/Bumpass Road. Turn left and go 0.3 miles to Buckner-Bumpass Park on the right.