The Birds of Possum Point Road

Between Route 1 and the Potomac River, Quantico Creek and its associated tidal wetlands provide important habitats for migrating songbirds, waterfowl and a diversity of other birds. Easily viewed from Possum Point Road, this area is a Northern Virginia birding hotspot.

The chart below recaps the bird species viewed by Northern Virginia birder Jay Keller from Possum Point Road between March 30, 2005, and April 28, 2007. With a total of 170 species, this list includes 17 species of Geese/Ducks, 12 species of birds of prey, 9 species of gulls/terns, and 31 species of warbler. Do you have species to add to the Possum Point Birdlist? Help make our list more complete, call us at 703.499.4954 or email alliance(at)pwconserve.org.

What's so Special about Possum Point Road?

Possum Point Road lies east of Route 1, along the southern border of the Cherry Hill Peninsula. Sandwiched between single family homes and tidal wetlands, the road traverses the north side of Quantico Creek from Route 1 to the Potomac River.

The tidal wetlands and significant floodplain that border Possum Point Road create prime habitat conditions for a diversity of birds and other wildlife. This area is reputed to be one of the premier birding sites in Northern Virginia.

Approximately 80% of the Quantico Creek watershed is protected within Prince William Forest Park. Within the Park, Quantico Creek is considered to be one of the highest quality streams remaining in Northern Virginia. This section of Quantico Creek was used as the reference stream for Fairfax County's Stream Protection Strategy Baseline Study.

Downstream from Prince William Forest Park, Quantico Creek flows through the Town of Dumfries. Here a combination of older development patterns and inadequate stormwater management have degraded Quantico Creek and cause significant flooding problems.

The Quantico Creek watershed area that lies outside Prince William Forest Park, the watershed is largely consumed with residential development. Currently Prince William has no programs in place to protect any portion of this area.

In fact, due to recently approved development in the Quantico Creek watershed and poor enforcement of environmental regulations, there currently appears to be little chance this area can maintain existing habitat conditions for much longer.

Read more about ongoing development and enforcement problems in the Quantico Creek watershed. Click here to read about Possum Point Road, here to read about the Cherry Hill Peninsula and here to read about the Stonewall Manor development.