August 4, 2026 [LINK / comment]
Birding in Virginia, July 2025
Here we go again, gradually getting caught up (blog-wise) with thrilling tales of birding from just over a year ago, gradually getting caught up to the present.
July 7: I ended up deciding to go birding on the Dowell's Draft trail (near Braley Pond), mainly in hopes of getting a better photo of a Northern Parula than in my previous outing in that part of Augusta County. I finally succeeded in finding one, but there results were only so-so. Much more conspicuous were the Scarlet Tanagers and American Redstarts. I also spotted Worm-eating Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, a Hooded Warbler, an Indigo Bunting, and an Ovenbird, but they were all very camera shy. I got some good exercise, at least. Ironically, the big highlight of the day was while I was driving through Churchville on the way to Dowell's Draft: a Bald Eagle flying overhead! So, I stopped in front of a house and took some quite photos.
(Dowells Draft & Churchville, July 7, 2025.)
July 12: I went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Route 610 for the first time this month. Neither the Kentucky Warbler nor the Yellow-breasted Chat were present, a possible sign that breeding season was over. Nevertheless, I did see an Indigo Bunting, Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher, and Hooded Warbler. I heard and glimpsed a Broad-winged Hawk, as well as a Cooper's Hawk soaring up above. Cerulean Warblers were still vocal, but they were staying out of sight in the tree tops, as usual.
July 17: Bell's Lane seemed to be full of bird families with newly-fledged youngsters in the afternoon. Most notable were the Eastern Kingbirds, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and Orchard Orioles; a first-year male is at top center, and an adult female is at lower right. Also seen were American Goldfinches and Eastern Phoebes. To my surprise, I didn't see or hear any Indigo Buntings.
(Bell's Lane, July 17, 2025.)
July 26: I went for a walk along Bell's Lane in the late afternoon, getting rained on just a bit. I saw Downy and Red-belled Woodpeckers, a Northern Flicker, as well as Eastern Kingbirds, Eastern Wood Pewees, an Eastern Phoebe, some Gray Catbirds, a Field Sparrow, and a female (or young) Orchard Oriole. The big highlight was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but of course, I couldn't get a photo of it.
July 28: The bright sun really brought out the colors of the birds in the afternoon along Bells Lane. I was thrilled to get my first good look at a Ruby-throated Hummingbird this year! In fact, there were TWO of them, squabbling over territory near "Cujo Corner"!! Other highlights included an Indigo Bunting (singing an unusual song), an American Redstart (adult male), several Eastern Kingbirds, an Eastern Phoebe, White-breasted Nuthatches, various woodpeckers, a House Finch, a family of Chipping Sparrows, and a female Orchard Oriole. Finally, I saw a probable Osprey flying overhead but couldn't get a photo.
Primary colors! (Bell's Lane, July 28, 2025.)
Additional photos and montages, including individual photos of some of the birds in the above montages, can be seen on the Wild Birds chronological (2025) page.