NextGen Monthly Bird Outing - Jones Point Park
Details
Starting Saturday, May 2nd NextGen will be hosting monthly bird outings on the first Saturday of the month! Locations and guides will vary per month.
For our first monthly walk, we will visit Jones Point Park in Old Town, Alexandria for a spring bird walk.
In early May, it's common to see the following at Jones Point:
- Migratory Songbirds (Warblers/Swallows): Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Prothonotary Warbler, Black and white warbler, and early spring migrants like Gray Catbirds and Baltimore Orioles.
- Raptors: Osprey (frequently fishing in the river), Bald Eagle, and the resident Peregrine Falcon.
- Waterbirds & Shorebirds: Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, and various sandpipers (e.g., Least Sandpiper).
- Year-Round Residents: Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, and Downy Woodpecker.
Quick Navigation Tips
- Park Location: The park is tucked directly underneath the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
- Entrance: The main pedestrian and vehicle entrance is at the end of South Royal Street.
To get to Jones Point Park via the DC Metro, your best route involves taking the Blue or Yellow lines to Alexandria and then completing the trip by bus or a scenic walk.
1. Take the Metro to Alexandria
- Primary Station: King St-Old Town Metrorail Station (Blue/Yellow Lines).
- Secondary Station: Huntington Station (Yellow Line).
2. Connect to the Park
Since the park is about 1.5 to 2 miles from the nearest Metro stations, you have several transfer options:
- By Bus (Recommended):
- From King St-Old Town, take the DASH Bus Line 34. It runs along South Royal Street and drops you near the southern edge of Old Town, which is a short walk to the park entrance.
- The Metrobus 11Y (Mt Vernon Express) stops at Washington Street and South Street, only a two-minute walk from the park entrance.
- By Free Trolley:
- Take the Free King Street Trolley from the King St-Old Town station to the Waterfront (at Union Street). From there, it is a scenic ~15-minute walk south along the waterfront to reach the park.
- By Walking or Biking:
- From King St-Old Town, it is roughly a 25-minute walk to the waterfront and nearly 60 minutes (approx. 2.7 miles) to the park itself.
- The Mount Vernon Trail passes directly through the park, making it a popular destination for cyclists starting from Old Town.