Leakes Mill Park

At first glance, Leakes Mill Park may look like a typical suburban park, but intrepid explorers will find that it is actually rich with wildlife and other recreational opportunities. There are over 9 miles of natural surface multi-use trails and small footpaths interwoven through the forest and along Big Lickinghole Creek, so no two visits are ever the same. White-throated sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, kinglets, and yellow-rumped warblers take full advantage of the quiet winter months. In spring, Leakes Mill Park starts bustling again as migrants make their way north. Blue-headed, yellow-throated, and red-eyed vireos can be heard simultaneously during a well-timed visit in May. Ovenbirds and black-and-whites are the most common warblers, but almost any could occur here. During summer, the playground, athletic fields, and grassy expanse to their west are magnets for barn swallows, eastern bluebirds, and flycatchers like acadian and great crested. Large mixed songbird flocks are common throughout this part of Goochland County during fall migration so there’s no telling what patience, persistence, and a little bit of luck might reveal. White-tailed deer, eastern cottontail rabbits, gray squirrels, and eastern chipmunks are the most abundant mammal species in the area. And the deep, moist leaf litter, especially near Big Lickinghole Creek, conceals snakes, toads, frogs, and more.