Birding and Wildlife Trail: Mockhorn Island Wildlife Management Area

About

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ Mockhorn Island Wildlife Management Area is an Atlantic coastal island of over 7,000 acres of prime tidal marsh. The 356-acre mainland tract, is the only area of Mockhorn Island WMA accessible by car. (Access to the island’s expansive cordgrass saltmarsh and loblolly pine, red cedar, and wax myrtle dominated hummocks is by boat only.) The area consists of dense woodlands of pine, oak, and hackberry and some marsh habitat. Spring and fall bring a good selection of migrating wood warblers and shorebirds, and winter produces good numbers of waterfowl. Summer butterflies and dragonflies also add diversity to this site. The woodland trail requires viewing up into the canopy and access into the thicker stands is limited. During the summer though, the woods can be alive with the songs of breeding birds. Large numbers of wintering waterfowl, migrating shorebirds, and songbirds occur at this site, and migrating raptors can be seen along the coast. Wildlife viewing at this site is predictable and not particularly contingent on any one season, although summer is the least productive time of the year.

Notes:

To Access the Site: A Restore the Wild Membership, Virginia hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
Hunting could be occurring at this site April – May and September – February. If you are visiting this site during hunting seasons, please wear blaze orange or blaze pink.

Directions

Physical Location: Jones Cove Dr, Cape Charles, VA 23310

From US-13, turn right (east) onto Latimer Siding Rd. Drive .2 miles, then turn left (north) on VA-600. Travel .6 miles, then turn right on Jones Cove Dr (Rte 730) and continue .8 miles. The WMA entrance will be on your right.

Information from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Birding and Wildlife Trail.