2025 Birding Journal Observations - July / August

Bobwhite quail on the birdbath on Aug. 6

The summer of 2025 was just a bit different than the normal, so its worth recording that July was excruciating with dry weather and heat indexes consistently above 100-degrees. By the end of June the heat and humidity was nearly 24-hours a day, and then about the last day of July a cool front moved in and heavy clouds lingered for about a week, and the hot spell was broken. August was never as hot as July this year, and that was partly because rain returned to the landscape and the associated clouds kept the temps from boiling over. That rain was the 'new' kind with spotty coverage and slow-moving storms that left some areas swamped and some dry, but overall they served as a drought-buster heading into September.

Without a doubt my most memorable bird sighting for July and August was a bob-white quail. A pair of them just showed up one day and began acting like regular songbirds in the yard. Beautiful plumage, and somewhat rare to see, they were welcome to stay. About two weeks later the female disappeared from the landscape, and I assume she was predated by a hawk. The male quail never stopped his bobwhite whistling after that and every morning not long after 6 AM his bobwhite whistle would greet the day. He never got any replies, but I sure was pulling for him. Then after about two months, he disappeared from the landscape, and I assume he was predated by a hawk. I hope to hear another bobwhite whistle before too long.

Immature royal tern in the Kiawah River on July 31

To view the most recent Birding Journal Observations click on May / June 2025

To view past birding journal observations from July / August click on 2024 -  2023-  2022 -  2021-  2018- 2017- 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2009