July 2023
/Reliably the hottest month of the year in Virginia Beach, July birding can be challenging, due in part to birders simply not spending as much time outdoors or spending that time in a limited habitat variety compared with other months. Overall, temperatures ranged from a high of 97°F on 3 Jul (the hottest day of the season thus far) to a low of 69°F on 31 Jul, with average daily highs of 90°F and lows of 75°F being slightly higher than the 30-year climate averages (89°F/73°F) for July. We were not impacted by any tropical cyclones this month, and no other extreme weather patterns that would catch the attention of birders occurred. As with June, we periodically dealt with smoky/hazy conditions brought on by wildfires burning far to our north in Canada. Persistent (though not strong) southerly winds in conjunction with some intense summer rainfall did cause agricultural fields to flood along Pleasant Ridge, Gum Bridge and Muddy Creek roads from 13-18 Jul, providing the first southbound shorebirds with much-needed foraging habitat. Colonial nesters like gulls, terns, herons & egrets also began dispersing outward from their summer strongholds, with numbers greatly bolstered by the season’s breeding successes. As a whole, an exciting assortment of species was recorded across the city with 17 species meeting the current year’s Notable Observations Criteria, with the occurrence of each of these described in greater detail within this entry.
An adult male GADWALL with an apparent wing injury present north of the entrance causeway at Stumpy Lake NA, recorded at least as far back as 4 Mar (ph. Mary Hays) continued to be documented in the same vicinity through 1 Jul (ph. Rob Bielawski). This remained the only known Gadwall within Virginia Beach since 14 Apr when the last eBird reports for this species from Back Bay NWR occurred, and it also made for the first ever July eBird record for the species in Virginia Beach. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Similarly, a female RING-NECKED DUCK present at Mt. Trashmore Park since 20 Apr (vis. Andrew Baldelli) continued to be recorded in the same general area along the south shore of Lake Trashmore through 2 Jul (ph. Rob Bielawski; vis. Amy Myers & Steve Myers). While a female and adult male Ring-necked Duck each lingered late at Back Bay NWR (through 15 May & 15 Jun, respectively) no other species records were known in Virginia Beach this season beyond 2 Apr when four were reported at Stumpy Lake NA. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Female SURF SCOTERS were recorded at two location this month, with singles photographed along the coast off Back Bay NWR on 8 Jul (ph. Arun Bose) and another at Rudee Inlet on 18 Jul (ph. Anonymous). While it is generally less expected to linger into summer than Black Scoter along the coast, a tendency does exist for individuals or even small groups to pop up here in some years, though no other Surf Scoters were known to be present in the city since one was reported to eBird at JEB Ft. Story on 21 May. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Typically the most expected of the three scoters to linger into the later portion of summer, BLACK SCOTER matched Surf Scoter in the number of reports this month, with a female recorded at Rudee Inlet from 2-10 Jul (vis. & later ph. Rudee Tours) and another roaming around Lynnhaven Inlet through 10 Jul (ph. Anonymous fide Kathy Spencer) which may have been the same individual first noted here 6 Jun (vis. Travis Carroll). While most members of this species have typically departed or passed through the region by the end of April, quite a few lingered through May this year with several noted along the coast into June. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Typically scarce through the summer season in coastal Virginia, it was exciting to see records from at least two locations in the city for PIED-BILLED GREBES, with a breeding pair noted 25 Jun (ph. Rob Bielawski) on the C Pool at Back Bay later observed with three fledglings in tow (ph. Robert Ake, Cindy Hamilton & Reuben Rohn) on the K Pool and another potential breeding individual present on the large stormwater pond at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex through 3 Jul (ph. Reuben Rohn) after first being noted 19 Jun (ph. Reuben Rohn) in the same location an individual spent last summer, 14 Jun-3 Jul (ph. Reuben Rohn). By late July, migrant Pied-billed Grebes also began popping up in Virginia Beach, which is fairly typical of this species. ( (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
At least two AMERICAN COOTS were recorded this month in the city, with a continuing individual present at Mt. Trashmore Park through 3 Jul (ph. Reuben Rohn) which may have been there since 5 May, and a new record at on the K Pool at Back Bay NWR on 5 Jul (ph. Robert Ake, Cindy Hamilton & Reuben Rohn). Aside from these two individuals, no other American Coots had been known to be present in the city since a group of ten was reported at Back Bay NWR on 5 May, and no others were recorded in coastal Virginia during July. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Rarely observed through the summer season, we had two reports for BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER early this month with a pair present on Back Bay NWR’s beach on 5 Jul (vis. Robert Ake & Cindy Hamilton) and one on False Cape SP’s beach on 9 Jul (vis. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels). Typically, northbound/spring migrants tend to pass through into the first half of June, and southbound/fall migrants start arriving in the last third of July, though year-to-year we can occasionally see apparent non-breeding individuals and small flocks in between these migration windows. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
An expected/regular fall migrant along coastal Virginia, WHIMBREL tend to start being reported in Virginia Beach around 15 Jul based on the past decade of eBird data, though this year we saw notably early arrivals for the species. The first reports of the fall 2023 season occurred on 5 Jul, with individuals noted along the beach at False Cape SP (vis. Robert Ake & Cindy Hamilton) and at Back Bay NWR (also vis. Robert Ake & Cindy Hamilton), marking the our earliest fall arrival for this species since two were recorded on South Thimble Island on 4 Jul 2014. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Prime conditions brought on by southern winds and heavy rainfall over southern Virginia Beach around mid-month aided in an early record for STILT SANDPIPER with up to three present in the flooded field at the junction of Muddy Creek Road and Shipps Cabin Road on 15 Jul (2, ph. Cindy Hamilton & later 3, ph. Karen Beatty & Tom Beatty) and a single persisting the following day. Stilt Sandpiper tends to be a scarce transient here in July, with more regular reporting typically occurring in August & September, though this is largely due to whether proper habitat is available in agricultural areas &/or managed impoundments like those at Back Bay NWR and Princess Anne WMA. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Likely the most sought-after species that was observed in Virginia Beach this month, a pair of ROSEATE TERNS were photographed on the beach at False Cape SP during a thrice-monthly refuge survey on 5 Jul (ph. Robert Ake & Cindy Hamilton), with likely the same pair being reported again on the restricted-access “North Mile” at Back Bay NWR during the next survey on 14 Jul (vis. Robert Ake & Lauren Mowbray). Roseate Tern is a rare visitor, spring through fall along the coast of Virginia, and it is a species that garners significant regional interest given both the scarcity of individuals present throughout the Mid-Atlantic in a typical year and also the difficulty in being about to twitch/re-find the species since individuals are highly mobile. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Like many of the waterbirds listed farther up this list, COMMON LOON has a tendency of lingering into summertime along our coast, and this month one was present around Lynnhaven Inlet through 18 Jul (ph. Travis Carroll), and one was sadly beached at Back Bay NWR on 5 Jul (ph. Robert Ake & Cindy Hamilton) though it may have been the same individual observed nearby on 6 Jul (vis. Teresa Culver), or possibly even one observed in low flight over the bay on 18 Jul (vis. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels). In any case, we had somewhere between two and four individuals known to be present this month, which seems about average for July, though typically not many continue into Aug. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Rarely encountered from shore, a single WILSON’S STORM-PETREL observed in fluttery, northbound flight from False Cape SP’s beach on 8 Jul (vis. Arun Bose) proved to be the only documented report this month. Present in large numbers off coastal Virginia from May through September, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel doesn’t typically move inshore unless specific weather / wind patterns force its hand and as a result we generally see just a couple of reports for it each summer season. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
In addition to the aforementioned Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, a second tubenose species was encountered this month along our coast when a single GREAT SHEARWATER was photographed off the beach at Back Bay NWR on 10 Jul (ph. Elena Bersani), making for the third record of this species in the city during 2023 after two individuals were recorded off Dam Neck Naval Annex and the Oceanfront Resort Area on 22 Jun. Ailing or injured individuals of this species often turn up along coastal Virginia beaches during June, July & August though any occurrence near shore is still quite rare and inevitably causes a stir among birders hoping to see this normally-pelagic species. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Though seemingly increasing in terms of regularity during summertime across southeastern Virginia, it was exciting to see a continuance of ANHINGA records this month around Stumpy Lake, with a peak count of four recorded at the south end of the lake on 3 Jul (ph. Matt Schuler) and with individuals reported at the natural area causeway through 24 Jul (vis. Amy Myers & Steve Myers). Additionally, Anhingas were also noted around the shores of Lake Smith this month, with one reportedly flying over a private residence in Cypress Point on 5 Jul (vis. Debbie Schroeder) and then two viewed from another private residence farther east in Lakeview Shores on 6 Jul (vis. Oleksii Dubovyk). (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Very scarce as a breeder this far south along the East Coast, and notable throughout the greater Hampton Roads are in summertime, a PEREGRINE FALCON was noted on the Armada Hoffler Tower at Town Center on 2 Jul (vis. Reuben Rohn) and a pair was reported there 6 Jul (vis. Karen Beatty & Tom Beatty). Highrise buildings and tall bridges mimic the natural cliff faces this species prefers to nest on throughout much of its breeding range, and a pair has reliably been observed around Town Center, and also in nearby downtown Norfolk for quite a few years now, with these regularly being the most southerly reported breeders along the East Coast. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
For a fourth month in a row, a single YELLOW-THROATED VIREO continued to vocalize from the canopy of Stumpy Lake NA through 12 Jul (aud. Andrew Baldelli), after having first been detected at this location way back on 29 Apr (v.r. Rob Bielawski). A regular breeding species in lands west of Virginia Beach, given the lengthy stay within the same general area it is probable that this individual bred here and that a mate has simply been obstructed from view but in any case it is the only documented individual known to have summered in the coastal counties of Virginia this season. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
Continuing from last month, at least one of the confirmed breeding pair of WARBLING VIREOS at an HOA park in Indian Lakes was present through 12 Jul (aud. Elena Bersani) after first being detected at this location on 21 Jun (aud. Rob Bielawski). Though individuals and a breeding pair were detected in Ashville Park during the summers of 2018-2020 (breeding was confirmed in 2019), this specie remains extremely rare as a breeder in coastal Virginia, and there was no other Warbling Vireos reported this season along the East Coast south of New Jersey. (Jul 2023 Map of Records)
As always, a wide array of media (photo/audio/video) was submitted during the month in Virginia Beach, and eBird makes it incredibly easy to organize and enjoy each of these incredible files. For those hoping to view this assortment of media files submitted for Virginia Beach during this month, please see the complete listing for the month of July located on eBird's Media Explorer by clicking here! Please remember, anyone with an eBird user account has the ability to rate these photo/audio/video on a scale of 1-5 stars (based on these guidelines). Making use of the average rating for each media item is how eBird populates anything media-driven on the website, particularly the Illustrated Checklists. So, if you’re one of the many folks who enjoy looking at photographs or watching/listening to video/audio recordings of birds, please take some time to rate their quality, it helps to make eBird more useful with each passing day!
Hopefully over the course of the next thirty-one days we will see records for some unexpected species in the city. For those who wish for observations to be included in this journal, please submit your records to eBird, and ensure that the proper documentation (whether written notes that rule out all similar species or photo/audio/video that is conclusive to species) is provided. Thank you to those who have taken the time to enter such documentation into eBird so these records may be publicly known, and to those who took the time to read through this entry. Be sure to check back next month to see what birders will have found in Virginia Beach during August!