Nature Happenings

  • Peak of River Bluet (dragonfly) flights

 

  • First brood of immature hummingbirds begin to show up at nectar feeders early in the month.

 

  • Thistle plants begin to seed; goldfinches gather thistledown for nesting material and begin nesting.

 

  • Many species (robins, cardinals, bluebirds, etc.) may be in their second nesting.

  • Robin on nest

 

  • Cardinals on nest

 

  • Bluebird on nest

 

  • Many songbirds go into heavy molt.

  • molting Cardinal

 

  • molting Finch

 

  • Mallards and Wood Ducks molt into "eclipse" plumage and are unable to fly for several weeks.

  • molting Mallard

 

  • Wood Duck with Eclipse plumage

 

  • Fall migration starts this month with shorebirds returning later in month.

 

  • Katydids and Cicadas are in full chorus by late-month.

  • Katydid

 

  • cicada

 

  • Listen for the feeding screeches of young Barred and Great Horned Owls.

  • Barred Owl

 

  • Great Horned Owl

 

  • Look for hummingbirds feeding on Trumpet Creeper and Jewelweed flowers.

 

  • Great Blue Herons fledge.

 

  • Delta Aquarids Meteor shower peaks in late-July.