After spending 12 days in the somewhat cooler and considerably drier air of the Canadian maritime provinces, the hot and muggy air of the summer dog days in Virginia seemed even harder to tolerate. I did short hikes here in Old Trail on July 10 and July 12, and logged 20+ avian species. On July 11, I did some birding at higher and cooler elevations on the Blue Ridge Parkway were I logged only 11 avian species, including only one warbler - Hooded, that I heard and saw flying, but wasn't able to photograph. The best birds of these outing were a male and female Orchard Oriole next to the Old Trail golf course pond. The female was atop some vegetation looking down when the male popped up with a praying mantis in its bill.
Female Orchard Oriole
Male Orchard Oriole
Male Orchard Oriole
The most common birds I could find were Indigo Buntings, American Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, and Canada Geese. A Great Blue Heron decided to move to a different location rather than debate the issue with the geese.
Great Blue Heron and Canada Goose
American Goldfinch
Indigo Bunting
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
Insects were much more cooperative as photography subjects.
Dragonfly
Damselfly
Damselfly
Damselfly
Damselfly
Monarch Butterfly