U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Merifield Wildlife Management Area

Old National Highway descends into the depths of John H. Kerr (Buggs Island) Reservoir. It once made its way across the stateline into North Carolina. Here, along the flooded margins of forest, search for great blue herons and eastern painted turtles sunning themselves at the water’s edge. In winter, the open waters host annually occurring grebes and loons, joined by additional surprises amongst the ring-billed gulls. This is also an excellent vantage to scan the skies for circling ospreys, and occasionally, bald eagles.

Moving away from the waters edge, the WMA provides access to dense pine woods filled with buzzing pine warblers and squeaky blue jays. Even the roadside verges are alive with wildlife. Scan the flowers for common buckeyes and red-spotted purples and check suitable perches for dragonflies such as massive common green darners or tiny eastern amberwings.