Leesburg Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve

Description

Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve acts as a nature oasis in an ever-growing sea of development. This 695-acre preserve is a reminder of what the northern Virginia Piedmont area once looked like.

A series of well-maintained trails take visitors through various preserve habitats and provide ample opportunities for wildlife watching. Just downhill from the Visitor's Center, check the pond for waterfowl, great blue herons and even the occasional bald eagle.

The concrete spring house just above the pond and its small grove of oaks should be checked for eastern phoebes and eastern bluebirds. At times, various small flocks of yellow-rumped and palm warblers can be seen, joined by other warblers in spring and fall. As you start walking through the fields, watch where you step since woodchucks and their burrows are everywhere.

Look in the open fields in late fall and winter for numerous sparrows. Species to look for include savannah, vesper and Lincoln's sparrows, while the heavier regrowth near the bottom of the hill holds song, white-crowned and white-throated sparrows as well as eastern towhees.

The two retired grain silos on the north side of the field usually host a family of barn owls, which can sometimes be seen at dusk hunting over the open fields. At the bottom of the hill, trails enter the riparian forest along the banks of Goose Creek. This woodline is a great spot to look for perched raptors surveying the fields in search of a potential meal. Pay special attention to red-shouldered, sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks. The woodline is also a good place to watch for white-tailed deer, as they dart to seek cover after being flushed from the meadows.

No matter what time of year, a visit to Banshee Reeks is sure to please, whether you see a family of red-headed woodpeckers feeding their newly fledged young or an array of dragonflies zipping across the pond.

From Broadlands: (15 minutes)
Turn left at Belmont Ridge Rd/VA-659 1.6 mi
Continue on Northstar Blvd 0.9 mi
Turn right at Ryan Rd/VA-772 1.5 mi
Turn right at Evergreen Mills Rd 2.8 mi
Turn left at The Woods Rd

 

This is an absolutely fabulous place and resource-so close to home. If you haven't been--you need to go. Bring a picnic lunch and eat at the creek or the pond. Loads of trails to stroll and just be in nature.

 

would you consider this a dog-friendly place or not?

 

Yes it is I believe.

 

Then if it is dog-friendly, it is me-friendly.

Thanks for posting about this park. I did not know it existed.

 

just be warned - they are not kidding with the sign they posted about the tick population! ;-) within minutes of walking the trail my husband and dog each had 3 ticks on them (i used a spray prior to leaving the house and was called a sissy - hah!).

 

This was perfect timing. We went to Banshee Reeks this morning, as a church community service mission (had never been there before, and I've lived here a long time). What a great place! Lots of interesting projects going on and there were several Virginia master naturalists on hand. I knew about the master gardener program, but not the master naturalist program.

Ran into my neighbors, who were there with a scout troop preparing for Philmont (high adventure camp in NM) later this summer.

My dog would have loved it, too, I think. I noticed that one person had a Jack Russell (leashed, of course).

And oh yeah - major ticks. Long pants, long sleeves and bug spray are good.

All in all, a glorious day, capped off by a stop at DD around 12:30, on the way home.