A tour of Mason Neck

The weather was a bit gray and gloomy this afternoon, but I still made it outside for some nature walks. I decided to try out a new location today, and started the afternoon down at the Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge. Mason Neck is about twenty miles south of DC, and is surrounded by Gunston Cove, the Potomac River, and the Occoquan Bay. George Mason's former estate, Gunston Hall, is located on the north side of Mason Neck. It sits across Gunston Cove from Mt. Vernon. The Wildlife Refuge is located on the south side of Mason Neck, and is home to Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herrons.


The Woodmarsh Trail wanders through the Refuge


The trees reach for the sky

The Great Marsh is directly north of the Bald Eagle nesting habitat, and is supposedly a good spot to see Bald Eagles flying. The nesting habitat is closed from December through June in order to encourage the growth of the Bald Eagle population.


The Great Marsh at Mason Neck

After I finished my tour of Mason Neck, I headed over to the Occoquan Regional Park.


Houses along the Occaquan River


The flowers are in full bloom