Duck Pond: Although this spot may not seem like the Cape May of the county, it is still a relatively good spot and very easily accessible to birders who don't have time to go far. Ducks and geese frequent the pond and are wonderful for photography, and occasionally an uncommon duck such as a Wood Duck or aythya sp. will make an appearance. Regular migrants here include Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes (the former tending to be later and latter earlier in the season), Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Swainson's Thrushes. Sometimes, rarities show up here as well (like the Prothonotary Warbler that turned up last May, or the September 2019 Black-bellied Whistling-ducks). For birders interested in waders, Great Egrets and both night-heron species turn up on occasion, Great Blue Herons are regular, and Green Herons breed on the islands in the middle of the pond.
Vet School Pond: Another wonderful local place to stop at is the Vet School Pond. Although it's not very well known, a trip to the pond will certainly yield Yellow Warblers or Yellow-rumped Warblers in the appropriate times of the year, and on good days I've seen everything from Magnolia and Chestnut-sided to Wilson's Warblers and Common Yellowthroats. Checking the mud on the backside of the pond near the dam and the stream that flows out of the east side often results in Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes. Rarer birds, specifically Prothonotary and Mourning Warblers, show up on a yearly basis (I would check eBird first to see if they'd been spotted very recently before really trying for these). It was also the site of one of the first records of Bell's Vireo in Virginia, and the second Red-necked Phalarope record in the county. In October, keep your eyes peeled for Orange-crowned Warblers. In the winter, uncommon ducks such as mergansers, scaup, and black ducks sometimes make appearances. When you stop at the Vet School Pond, make sure to check out the gravel road that runs to a wetland at the top of the hill just north of the pond, as it has yielded Bobolink, Dickcissel, Loggerhead Shrike, and rails in the past, and Vesper Sparrows turn up during early spring and late fall annually. Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, and others are regulars at the appropriate time of year. Shorebirds like Lesser Yellowlegs have also made appearances.
Blacksburg Airport: The Blacksburg Airport is a small airstrip in the southern part of VT campus, just south of the SRA fields. Although the airport is not overly active during the dryer, warmer months, it becomes one of the most accessible sites to view incredible migration phenomena. When a large hurricane passes through during migration season, loads of shorebirds flock to the upper SRA field, CRC gravel lot (south end of the airport), and the apron (aircraft parking area). The number of shorebirds depends on the time of year, the intensity of migration before the storm, and the size of the storm, but everything from Dunlin to American Golden-plovers, Stilt Sandpipers to yellowlegs, and Ruddy Turnstone to Buff-breasted Sandpipers have shown up in the past two years.
As you make your way northward into the mountains, you'll come across some fantastic spots.
Heritage Community Park and Natural Area: Heritage is a well-preserved, quiet park outside of Blacksburg. Along its trails, you can find fields, forests, thick brush, and even marshland. Raptors, marshbirds, sparrows, and even some warblers are regularly found depending on the season. Winter finches make occasional appearances as well.
Deerfield Trail: Deerfield Trail is a short, lightly trafficked trail along Tom's Creek in northern Blacksburg. It cuts through farmland and enters Jefferson National Forest. In winter, birders look for owls in the evening, such as Barred, Great Horned, and Eastern Screech. Birders have also seen Black-capped Chickadee along the trail in winters with finch irruptions. On some evenings, you can hear American Woodcocks displaying in the forests. During migration, various warblers and thrushes can be found, including the October appearance of the Gray-cheeked Thrush and others.
Pandapas Pond: This pond is very well known in the birding community. It is usually the first spot to have Louisiana Waterthrushes and Pine Warblers in the spring and is always a good early morning spring stop. Rare waterbirds have made appearances, like Sora and even scoters! However, what the Pandapas Pond is really known for is the fall. After a night of heavy fall migration (see BirdCast), stand on the east side of the pond... warbler wall as we call it. The moment the sun peeks over the mountains and hits the wall, everything comes alive. Migrants dart down from the sky, through the forests, and from what feels like everywhere, to feast on the plentiful harvest of Joe Pye Weeds on the edge of the pond. The habitat is more than ideal, and the birding is just incredible. Most migrants that have been seen in southwest VA have shown up at some point there. All the regulars are there, and some have gotten a special visit from a Mourning or Golden-winged Warbler. Olive-sided Flycatchers make yearly visits in the fall.
Caldwell Fields: Another great mountain birding spot is found down Craig Creek Rd across from Pandapas. The habitat here is quite good for all kinds of birds. It is the most reliable spot in the NRV for Red Crossbills, a very unique bird of high elevations and northern pine forests. Olive-sided Flycatchers make appearances here as well. Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock and Yellow-breasted Chat have been known to breed in the area. Various can be found on the gravel road up the mountains and Louisiana Waterthrushes nest on the creek by the fields. The most notable breeders here are found over a hill on the first gravel road right before the fields (37.338610, -80.327663). These are Prairie Warblers, and this location is the most well-known spot in the area to see them.
Mountain Lake Road Overlook: This beautiful overlook may not seem like the best birding location in the area, and in all honesty, it isn't the best; however, this is a reliable spot for the sought-after Golden-winged Warbler. Listen for its buzzy song echoing through the brushy mountainside habitat in mid-late spring through the summer. Many warblers, along with thrushes and tanagers, make appearances every migration season (just watch out for "No Trespassing" signs).
Mountain Lake: Another great spot, this area is surrounded by good habitat. Most common mountain warblers (Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, etc) can be reliably found here, and Canada Warblers nest in the rhododendrons by the lodge every summer. In winter, watch the feeders for any rare winter finches mixed in with the Pine Siskins. In the summer, the lodge's feeders are crowded with beautiful goldfinches and hummingbirds.
Alpine Road: This location is a relatively simple gravel road on the north side of Brush Mtn. It is notable because it is a breeding location of the elusive Kentucky Warbler. It might take a bit of searching, but trust us, they're there.
Coal Mining Heritage Loop Trail: This is another great spot (especially in the fall). It's got all of the Appalachian warbler migrants - Magnolia, Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided, redstarts, Tennessee in the fall, etc. If you get lucky, you might catch a view of a Wilson's, Kentucky, or Mourning Warbler, especially in the fall.
SF Roanoke River at Shawsville: This is the first location a number of birders come to go birding to kick off the spring migration. Although there are not a lot of rarities or notable species present, it is often the first look at migration and is the best spot in the earliest months. Yellow-throated, Black-and-white, and Palm Warblers, along with Louisiana Waterthrushes, are spotted consistently. It is in a beautiful area, and a Purple Martin colony is not far away. It's definitely a worthwhile kickstart to the season. The best area to access it is Boners Run Rd, off 460.
Big Falls Road: Big Falls Road runs alongside the New River on the Montgomery Co. side. It is a good spot to check for New River birds. Common Merganser, a species usually found in boreal lakes, nests on the New River in this area. Gulls, such as Bonaparte's and even Glaucous have been spotted here, and occasional winter storms bring in large numbers of waterfowl like Common Goldeneyes, Long-tailed Ducks, various Aythya species, Tundra Swans, and more. The best spot to view these waterfowl is actually on the Pulaski side, at Parrott River Road, and a spotting scope is recommended.
Whitethrone Boat Ramp: Whitethorne is another riverside spot for various birds. Raptors, such as Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, and Mississippi Kites have been spotted on occasion. Following storms in late August, check the river for Black or Forster's Terns. Mergansers and other ducks have also made appearances. Whitethorne is the breeding site for a number of riverside warblers, such as the cheery Northern Parula and breathtaking Yellow-throated Warbler. Across from the boat ramp is Kentland Farms, which is another good birding location for species found in fields such as Blue Grosbeak (permission is required to enter, though).
Price Park: Price Park is a forested park with a well-maintained trail that follows a creek. Good habitat can be found along the trail which is known for warblers, vireos, thrushes (including regular Veerys), and flycatchers (including the 2020 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher) during migration season. The area surrounding it may yield Eurasian Collared-Dove as well.