At a Glance
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Location: Near Philippi, Barbour and Taylor Counties, WV
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Habitat: Open water; marshland; mature woods; meadowlands; more than 3,000 total acres
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Species on eBird: 201* (as of 11/6/21)
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Checklists on eBird: >1000* (as of 11/6/21)
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Highlight species: This is easily one of the most exciting birding areas in the entire state of West Virginia. It boasts large numbers of expected species and rarities alike. Personal favorite species to see here throughout the year include Common Loon, Tundra Swan, vast rafts of mixed duck flocks, fairly reliable Barred Owls, plentiful Hooded Warblers, Swamp Sparrows, and many more mixed-sparrow flocks. More details in the overview below.
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Nearby attractions: The WMA is adjacent to Tygart Lake State Park, which has year-round activities, lodging, camping, a restaurant, and more. Philippi has a modest range of restaurants and stores and is especially interesting to history buffs who can learn about the area’s significance in the Civil War, especially at the Philippi Covered Bridge. Grafton is also nearby, and though it is far from the wealthy state from railroad success that it experienced more than a century ago, it has plenty of interesting buildings, a few restaurants, and a small art scene. It’s also known as the birthplace of Mother’s Day.
*There are six eBird hotspots throughout Pleasant Creek WMA. The most visited hotspot with the highest species count and the most habitat diversity is Upper Pleasant Creek Road, Barbour County. Two other hotspots, the Doe Run Sub-Impoundment and Tygart Lake Boat Launch follow in species and checklist counts. Details on each to come.
Links
eBird: Upper Pleasant Creek | eBird: Doe Run Sub-Impoundment | eBird: Tygart Lake Boat Launch | PDF Map
Pleasant Creek WMA Overview
This is easily one of the most exciting birding areas in the entire state of West Virginia. It boasts large numbers of expected species and rarities alike. Waterfowl are plentiful throughout late fall, winter, and early spring, and with ample areas of both deep and shallow water, anything could be found here. It’s also an excellent location for shorebirds when mudflats are exposed. Passerines are numerous; it’s a great location for warblers, flycatchers, swallows, and especially sparrows; a variety of raptors also frequent the area. Personal favorite species to see here throughout the year include Common Loon, Tundra Swan, vast rafts of mixed duck flocks, fairly reliable Barred Owls, plentiful Hooded Warblers, Swamp Sparrows, and many more mixed-sparrow flocks. I have seen many of my state firsts at this location, including Black Tern, Sanderling, Surf Scoter, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, and just in 2021, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marsh Wren, and Nelson’s Sparrow.
I can’t overstate how much I love exploring and birding around Pleasant Creek. It is so easy to spend half or even a full day wandering the variety of habitats and searching for birds. Visits are always accompanied by a feeling that anything could show up. Even on slow days, photography opportunities often abound. Note that the WMA is popular for fishermen and waterfowl, coyote, and deer hunters as well, and has a shooting range, so awareness and vigilance are always important while exploring.
Recent Visits
October 10, 2021: We joined a few other birders to search for Nelson’s Sparrow — a species that hadn’t been reported at Pleasant Creek since 2015, but was suspected as an annual visitor — and were successful! Read the story here.
Gallery
