Description
This small sandy beach offers an excellent vista at the confluence of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. Visitors can see large concentrations of wintering waterfowl, wading birds, terns, osprey, and fall migrating sanderlings, and monarchs butterflies. Strong offshore storms often bring interesting pelagic species to this spot. In addition to good waterbird viewing, a small wood lot adjacent to the parking area hosts interesting fall migrants. On humid summer evenings, the site may be a cacophony of gray and green treefrogs’ loud choruses. On clear days, the Smith Island Lighthouse can be seen, as well as the shores of Maryland. A spotting scope is highly recommended to fully enjoy the wildlife at this site.
Wildlife Sightings
98 species have been reported at this site to date.
Birds Recently Seen at Vir-Mar Beach:
- Surf Scoter
- Common Goldeneye
- Black Vulture
- Bald Eagle
- Black Scoter
- Bufflehead
- American Herring Gull
- Horned Grebe
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 2026 | 4 | Andrea Levine |
| 8 Feb 2026 | 4 | Betsy Washington |
| 5 Feb 2026 | 5 | Beth and Dan Fedorko |
| 23 Jan 2026 | 14 | JoAnn Dalley |
| 3 Jan 2026 | 11 | Maeve Coker |
Amenities & Accessibility
Amenities
- On-site Parking
- No Fee or Permit/Pass Requirement
Other Amenities: Beach
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
Location Coordinates: 37.929819, -76.307791
From US 360 E/Queen St in Tappahannock/Warsaw, continue east. Turn right onto SR 600/Ridge Rd and continue for 3.6 miles. Turn left onto Coan Stage Rd/SR 612 and continue for 3.1 miles. Turn right onto US 360 E and then, in 10 miles, left (northeast) onto SR 644/Hacks Neck Rd. In 3.7 miles, turn left (north) onto SR 643 and follow this road to its end at the beach.
Site Information
Access Requirements:
- Open Daily
Contact Information:
- Northumberland County Administrator's office: 804-580-7666, ltadlock@co.northumberland.va.us
- 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.