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Piankatank River Landing

Description

Located along a small indentation known as Godfrey Bay, the Piankatank River Landing offers naturalists spectacular views of the Piankatank River mouth at its juncture with the Chesapeake Bay. This site features a quiet, publicly accessible beach which can be used to launch a kayak or canoe.  During favorable tides, and especially during migrations, the marshes, mud flats, and small white sand beach provide foraging habitat for various shorebirds and large waders. In the channel, wintering horned grebes, loons, and diving ducks can often be seen. Up to five species of tern summer here, including locally rare least and sandwich terns. Bald cypresses along the site’s eastern edge, and the trees just inland, attract several species of woodland birds. These trees are especially rewarding during migration, though nesting birds are also numerous here.

Wildlife Sightings

103 species have been reported at this site to date.

Birds Recently Seen at Piankatank River Landing:

  • American Crow
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
  • Carolina Wren
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Northern Cardinal

Recent Checklists:

Date# of SpeciesSubmitted By
25 Apr 20266Sherry Rollins
16 Feb 202616Mark Sopko
6 Feb 20267Bill Corbin
6 Feb 20267Anonymous eBirder
27 Jan 20269Morgan Brown

See more recent checklists…

Amenities & Accessibility

Amenities

  • On-site Parking
  • Kayak/Canoe Launch

Accessibility Considerations

This location does not have a Birdability Site Review available at this time

Learn more about Birdability’s efforts to map accessible outdoor spaces

Maps & Directions

View on Google Maps

Location Coordinates: 37.505579, -76.354304

From I-64, take Exit #220/SR 33 East. Proceed 17 miles to Glenns and continue straight through the light onto SR 198. Follow SR 198 16.2 miles and turn left on Rt. 626. Proceed 0.4 miles to Rt. 632, turn left, and continue 0.4 miles to the road’s end.

Access Requirements:

  • Free, Daily

Contact Information:

  • Mathews County Planning, Zoning and Wetlands Office; (804)-725-4034
  • Visit Website
  • Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.

About the VBWT

The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail is a network of over 600 greenspaces and blueways throughout the Commonwealth selected for their wildlife viewing potential. Walk a nature trail, paddle a river, or enjoy a scenic overlook and you’ll soon see why Virginia is a premier destination for birding and wildlife viewing.

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