Rappahannock River Bird Photography and Shad Run, Host is Ed Episcopo

NOTE:

The rain date for this event is Thursday, March 26th, 2026.

(A message will be posted by Tuesday afternoon 3/24/2026, to let every one know if this event will take place on Wednesday morning, or if it will be moved to the rain date.)

I will check water conditions online and determine if we can hold this event.

The event has been limited to 10 people, since there is limited access to the river. Since there is a limit on the number of people attending, please keep your RSVP up-to-date.

There are often herons and ospreys feeding on the river during the annual shad run, so this event is about photographing birds. Bring your longest lens. A tripod or mono-pod is optional. It's a good idea to wear hiking shoes or at least shoes with good traction for the short walk to the river.

This event is being held on a weekday, since there are usually only a few fishermen in the river on Monday - Thursday. There are always lots of fishermen in the river from Friday - Sunday and they often prevent the birds from feeding close to the shore. Of course with wildlife photography, there's never a guarantee that the birds will show, but they are often at that location during the shad run. If the birds are not active, we can spend the time discussing bird photography, which includes gear, camera and lens settings and technique.

The Rappahannock River shad run usually runs through the last two weeks of April and sometimes into the first week of May. The timing can be tricky, since weather and river conditions can effect the timing and intensity of the shad run. I will monitor conditions and change the date, if necessary.

We will meet on the corner of Freedom Ln and Caroline St across from the VFW at 7:00 AM and we will head down to the river at 7:10 AM. Please be sure that you arrive no later than 7:00 AM. There's free parking in the gravel parking area along Freedom Lane across from the VFW. Please be on time. If you haven't been to the river location before, you may have trouble finding us.

Please read our disclaimer for this event in the link below. By sending an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Fresh Start photography Meetup, I agree to abide by the rules and regulations in this disclaimer:

Disclaimer Statement