July 24, 2026 [LINK / comment]
Birding in Virginia, May 2025
This is another episode in my "catch-up" blog posts about birding, the last one being seven days ago. If I can cover two in one post, rather than just one month as usual, and if I do three posts per week, I might get caught up with my birding blog posts by the middle of next month!
On May 1 I visited Bell's Lane early in the evening and saw Eastern Kingbirds for the first time this year. Also present were American Goldfinches, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, and Eastern Towhees. Also, plenty of Gray Catbirds, of course. There was also a Northern Flicker in the back yard. The next day I saw my first House Wren of the year along Bell's Lane.
On May 3 I drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, hoping to see the Kentucky Warbler that had been reported near the telecommunications tower along Route 610. Indeed, I found it! All six birds pictured below were the first ones of that species I had seen this year. At the first BRP overlook, I heard and soon saw Indigo Buntings (center), and along Rt. 610 to the south I saw (clockwise from top left) American Redstarts, a Kentucky Warbler (appropriate on Kentucky Derby Day!), a Hooded Warbler, a Cerulean Warbler up in the tree tops (as usual), and an Ovenbird very close by. Wow!!!
Blue Ridge Parkway, May 3, 2025.
On May 9 I saw my first Yellow Warbler of the year while walking along the Mill Place trail in Verona in the morning. It was hard to see as it hopped around the willow branches, but I finally got a nice look. On the other (north) side of the pond, I noticed an Eastern Kingbird near the ground, which seemed strange until I noticed it (presumably she) was gathering nesting material. I also heard and glimpsed an oriole, but couldn't be sure which species it was. Over on Bell's Lane I spotted some kind of yellowish warbler in the tree tops, but my photos were inconclusive. I also heard a Common Yellowthroat (FOY) and White-eyed Vireo, but didn't see either one. I did, however, get a nice look at a Red-bellied Woodpecker guarding his (presumably occupied) nest hole! Nearby was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher darting about.
On May 11 Jacqueline and I went hiking in the Shenandoah National Park for the first time this year, from McCormick Gap to the top of Bear Den Mountain and back, about 3 miles round trip. The birds more than lived up to my expectations! We saw Yellow-breasted Chats (my first of year) at two different overlooks, plus multiple American Redstarts (bottom left), Hooded Warblers (bottom center), Chestnut-sided Warblers (top right), and Scarlet Tanagers; the latter two were also first of year. Indigo Buntings, Ovenbirds, Red-eyed Vireos, and Wood Thrushes (the latter three not pictured) rounded out a spectacular day.
Bear Den Mountain in the Shenandoah National Park, May 11, 2025.
On May 15 I visited Bell's Lane in the afternoon, by which time the sun was out. I saw four birds for the first time this year, and got photos of three of them: Eastern Wood Pewee, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Orchard Oriole. I also saw a Baltimore Oriole fly into a big tree. (I had heard both oriole species previously, so it's really only two FOY species.) The other highlights included a White-eyed Vireo, at least three American Redstarts, a Red-eyed Vireo, some Brown Thrashers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tree Swallows, and Eastern Meadowlarks. Finally, I heard a Great Crested Flycatcher and a Common Yellowthroat. Yesterday, I also checked out Bell's Lane, but the light conditions were too poor for decent photos. I did hear a Black & White Warbler (FOY) very close by, but never saw it.
On May 16 I walked to the top of Betsy Bell Hill, hoping to see a Black & White Warbler, but without success. I did, however, see a Scarlet Tanager, some E. Wood Pewees, Red-eyed Vireos, and Great Crested Flycatchers.
On May 17 I went back up to the Blue Ridge Parkway / Route 610, and that Kentucky Warbler (bottom right) was still in the same location, by the telecommunications tower! I also had a great closeup view of a male American Redstart there. A mile or so to the south I heard a Cerulean Warbler, but I had to wait over a half hour before I got a good view of it. I also saw M & F pairs of Hooded Warblers and Black-throated Blue Warblers (FOY for the latter) there, as well as more Redstarts (M & F) and an Eastern Towhee or two. At the Humpback Rocks picnic area I saw an Eastern Wood Pewee, and at the Hickory Springs overlook I had a nice view of an Indigo Bunting, but none of the hoped-for Chestnut-sided Warblers. Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos were heard in multiple locations, but I didn't see any. Still no Black & White Warblers!!
On May 18 I went to Bell's Lane mostly for exercise, and had two interesting sightings: a young Cooper's Hawk up above, and a very small bird with a thin beak hovering like a hummingbird next to some bushes. I soon realized to my utter astonishment that it was a Least Flycatcher, and I managed to get a couple photos before it got away. Wow! This was near Carolyn Ford's gate where we always look for owls in the winter. Nearby were some Brown Thrashers, Song Sparrows, and a Northern Cardinal.
On May 20 I hiked along the Chimney Hollow trail for the first time this year, and saw most of the birds that usually frequent that location this time of year. I saw my first Acadian Flycatcher (bottom left) and my first Black-throated Green Warbler of the year, and heard (but did not see) my first Blue-headed Vireo and first Northern Parula of the year. Other birds heard only: Red-eyed Vireo, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-shouldered Hawk, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and two Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Finally, I saw three other warbler species, shown on the right (top to bottom): Worm-eating, Ovenbird, and Louisiana Waterthrush. NOTE: There were quite a few fallen trees, some of which have been sawed and removed from the trail, but it is totally blocked at one spot.
On May 22 Jacqueline and I went for a walk along Bell's Lane in the afternoon, where we saw numerous Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows, and heard some of the latter species' babies clamoring for food inside the nest boxes. A female Red-bellied Woodpecker was tending to a nest hold near "Cujo Corner," while a two Eastern Kingbirds were noisily hunting for insects in the pastures. The highlight of the day was hearing and then seeing a male Orchard Oriole very close by.
On May 24 I led an Augusta Bird Club field trip hiking to the Reddish Knob-Bother Knob area on the northern tip of Augusta County, not quite reaching it due to all the time and energy it took getting there. It was about 3 miles altogether, plus more distance walking around various other bird hot spots along the way, including the Reddish Knob summit. I was joined by six club members, and we had a great time. Interestingly, while we were still gathering in the Food Lion parking lot, we noticed a flock of 30 or more Cedar Waxwings feeding on the berries they love. A very auspicious beginning! Later we had a great closeup view of an Indigo Bunting at the Briery Branch Reservoir, and then on the way up had great views of Chestnut-sided Warblers, a Scarlet Tanager, and a Common Yellowthroat. (The latter was a first-of-year sighting for me.) Thanks to a new member (Christine), I also saw (very briefly) a Black-and-white Warbler for the first time this year. Finally! At Crossbill Corner, we saw a Black-throated Blue Warbler, an American Redstart, a Brown Thrasher, and finally a dozen or so Red Crossbills. While there we met with William Leigh Tern, who gave us some good tips on what to look for. Next, we drove up the road a ways toward Bother Knob and hiked about a mile and a half each way. There we saw a Blackburnian Warbler, a Canada Warbler, and a Black-throated Green Warbler, along with a few Dark-eyed Juncos. I finally saw my first Blue-headed Vireos of the year as well! We heard several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Veeries, but never saw any. We also had a great closeup view of a Chestnut-sided Warbler while at the summit of Reddish Knob, as one shown in the first composite photo. In sum, it was a truly spectacular day, with ideal weather and fun companionship.
SEVEN WARBLERS! Reddish Knob, May 24, 2025.
SIX NON-WARBLERS! Staunton, Reddish Knob, etc. May 24, 2025.
On May 30 Jacqueline and I went for a casual walk along Bell's Lane late this morning, and I was pleased to see a Common Yellowthroat (female) there for the first time this year. (I had heard a male singing there previously.) Other highlights included Indigo Buntings, an Orchard Oriole, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Towhee, and White-eyed Vireo. I also heard a Baltimore Oriole and possibly a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Finally, on May 31 I paid a visit to the waterfall in Folly Mills (south of Staunton) for the very first time. I was glad (and quite surprised) to see a Red-headed Woodpecker, but it was hard to photograph in the tree tops. Other highlights included some Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Wood Pewees, a Scarlet Tanager, and a Wood Thrush. I also caught brief glimpses of a Louisiana Waterthrush and an Acadian Flycatcher.
Additional photos and montages, including individual photos of some of the birds in the above montages, can be seen on the Wild Birds chronological (2024) page.