What to look for in July
Species from our Wildlife Guide that you can find at River Island in July: what is in bloom, nesting, arriving or active first, then everything else that is around.
In bloom
American Beautyberry
small lavender-pink flower clusters at the leaf bases
Callicarpa americana
Cardinal Flower
scarlet tubular flowers open up the spike; hummingbirds are the main pollinator
Lobelia cardinalis
Inland Wood Oats
drooping, flat oat-like spikelets on arching stems
Chasmanthium latifolium
Japanese Honeysuckle
fragrant white flowers fading to yellow; heaviest in spring, sporadic into fall
Lonicera japonica
Smooth Azalea
very fragrant white to pale pink flowers with red stamens, opening after the leaves
Rhododendron arborescens
Sourwood
white lily-of-the-valley bells on drooping sprays; an important honey source
Oxydendrum arboreum
Swamp Rose Mallow
large white to pink flowers, each open one day; visited by hummingbirds
Hibiscus moscheutos
Sweetbay Magnolia
fragrant creamy-white cup-shaped flowers; a few open sporadically until frost
Magnolia virginiana
Yellow Passionflower
small pale greenish-yellow flowers
Passiflora lutea
Fruits, nuts and seeds
Blue Flag Iris
green seed capsules turning brown
Iris virginica
Eastern Redbud
flat pods reach full size by midsummer; many hang on after leaf fall
Cercis canadensis
Flame Azalea
Rhododendron calendulaceum
Fringe Tree
olive-like fruits ripen dark blue-black; songbirds and small mammals eat them
Chionanthus virginicus
Inland Wood Oats
seed heads turn green to tan to purplish bronze; seeds eaten by small mammals and birds
Chasmanthium latifolium
Smooth Azalea
Rhododendron arborescens
Sweetbay Magnolia
cone-like fruits with bright red seeds; birds and small mammals eat them
Magnolia virginiana
Nesting and raising young
American Goldfinch
one of the latest nesters; waits for thistle and other weeds to go to seed
Spinus tristis
Black Vulture
lays 2 eggs on bare ground in old barns or thickets; no nest is built
Coragyps atratus
Blue Jay
unusually quiet near the nest; some young fledge as late as July or August
Cyanocitta cristata
Brown Anole
one egg about every 14 days in moist soil or rotten wood; hatches in 30-45 days
Anolis sagrei
Carolina Wren
often raises a second brood; nests in odd spots such as mailboxes and flower pots
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Chipping Sparrow
two, sometimes three broods; the flimsy cup nest is often lined with hair
Spizella passerina
Eastern Bluebird
typically two broods a year in cavities and nest boxes
Sialia sialis
Eastern Box Turtle
3-6 eggs in a shallow nest; hatchlings appear in late summer or early fall
Terrapene carolina carolina
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
about 80% of the young are born April-July
Sylvilagus floridanus
Eastern Fence Lizard
3-16 eggs in late spring or early summer; young hatch in summer and fall
Sceloporus undulatus
Eastern Gray Squirrel
litters are born in late February-early March and again in July-August
Sciurus carolinensis
Eastern Musk Turtle
up to 2 clutches of 1-9 eggs under debris or in rotten logs; hatch Aug-Sep
Sternotherus odoratus
Eastern Phoebe
mud-and-moss nests under bridges and eaves; eggs by early April
Sayornis phoebe
Eastern Rat Snake
4-44 eggs in warm, moist hidden spots; hatchlings appear late August-September
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Eurasian Collared-Dove
3-4 broods a year; can nest in any month with enough food
Streptopelia decaocto
Green Anole
one egg every two weeks in moist soil or rotten wood; hatches in 5-7 weeks
Anolis carolinensis
Green Heron
solitary nester; a Carolina Piedmont nest held four young on 11 May
Butorides virescens
House Finch
may raise 1-6 broods a year
Haemorhous mexicanus
Mourning Dove
peaks May into July; Georgia doves average three nestings a year
Zenaida macroura
North American Racer
4-30 eggs in rotting logs, leaf litter or sandy soil; hatchlings appear late summer
Coluber constrictor
Northern Cardinal
first nests built early to mid-March; three or more broods in the Carolina Piedmont
Cardinalis cardinalis
Pine Warbler
nest building from mid-March, eggs by late March, high on pine limbs
Setophaga pinus
Pond Slider
some hatchlings stay in the nest over winter and emerge the next spring
Trachemys scripta
Red-bellied Woodpecker
excavation seen from late January; 1-3 broods; one Carolina nest fledged on 15 July
Melanerpes carolinus
Red-shouldered Hawk
active nests from February; most flightless young are found May-June
Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk
nest building February-March; nestlings April to early July
Buteo jamaicensis
River Cooter
hatchlings often stay in the nest over winter and emerge in spring
Pseudemys concinna
Rock Pigeon
can nest in every month of the year
Columba livia
Scarlet Kingsnake
3-9 eggs under logs or in rotting wood; hatchlings appear in late summer
Lampropeltis elapsoides
Southeastern Mud Turtle
2-5 eggs; hatchlings often stay underground until the next spring
Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum
Turkey Vulture
eggs found mid-April to early May; young take 60-84 days to fledge
Cathartes aura
White-tailed Deer
fawns are born May-August, peaking in June; a fawn alone is normal, so leave it
Odocoileus virginianus
Wood Duck
most ducklings hatch and leave the nest April-May; 1-2 broods
Aix sponsa
Breeding season
American Bumblebee
colonies start producing males and new queens in late July and August
Bombus pensylvanicus
Brown Anole
territorial males display an orange-red dewlap
Anolis sagrei
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
Eastern Box Turtle
most often seen in fall, when males search for females
Terrapene carolina carolina
Eastern Chipmunk
two breeding seasons a year: February-April and June-August
Tamias striatus
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
breeds February to September; does have 3-7 litters a year
Sylvilagus floridanus
Eastern Fence Lizard
males show bright blue patches on the chin and belly
Sceloporus undulatus
Green Anole
males bob their heads and extend a pink dewlap to court and hold territory
Anolis carolinensis
Nine-banded Armadillo
breeds June-August; implantation is delayed until about November
Dasypus novemcinctus
Virginia Opossum
near 30 degrees N breeding runs January-August; females average two litters a year
Didelphis virginiana
Calling
American Green Treefrog
males call a nasal, duck-like 'queenk' from plants at pond and swamp edges
Hyla cinerea
Cope's Gray Treefrog
breeding chorus peaks in early summer; males trill from shrubs around fishless pools
Hyla chrysoscelis
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
heavy rains on warm nights set off a nasal, bleating 'waaah' from shallow pools
Gastrophryne carolinensis
Spawning
Bluegill
nests in shallow water over sand once the water passes 75 degrees F
Lepomis macrochirus
Channel Catfish
spawns May-July at about 70-80 degrees F; males guard the nest and the fry
Ictalurus punctatus
Flathead Catfish
spawns mid-May to mid-July around hollow logs and undercut banks
Pylodictis olivaris
Emerging
Big Brown Bat
young are weaned and flying by late June or early July
Eptesicus fuscus
Polyphemus Moth
two broods in the South: April-May and July-August
Antheraea polyphemus
Arriving
Great Egret
post-breeding egrets disperse inland from the coast; county reports peak Aug-Oct
Ardea alba
Also around in July
Birds
-
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
-
American Osprey
Pandion haliaetus carolinensis
-
Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga leucogaster
-
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
-
Barred Owl
Strix varia
-
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
-
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
-
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
-
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
-
Eastern Screech-Owl
Megascops asio
-
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
-
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
-
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
-
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
-
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
-
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
-
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
-
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
-
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Mammals
-
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
-
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
-
Coyote
Canis latrans
-
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
-
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
-
Northern River Otter
Lontra canadensis
-
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
-
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
-
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Reptiles
-
Brown Watersnake
Nerodia taxispilota
-
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
Dangerous
-
DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
-
Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus adamanteus
Dangerous
-
Northern Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Dangerous
-
Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
-
Southern Painted Turtle
Chrysemys dorsalis
-
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
Dangerous
Amphibians
-
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
-
Southern Leopard Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus
-
Southern Two-lined Salamander
Eurycea cirrigera
-
Three-lined Salamander
Eurycea guttolineata
Fish
-
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
-
Chain Pickerel
Esox niger
-
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
-
Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
-
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Insects
-
American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
-
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
-
Carolina Sphinx
Manduca sexta
-
Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee
Megachile xylocopoides
-
Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia
-
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
-
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
-
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
-
Fraternal Potter Wasp
Eumenes fraternus
-
Giant Leopard Moth
Hypercompe scribonia
-
Great Black Digger Wasp
Sphex pensylvanicus
-
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
-
Luna Moth
Actias luna
-
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
-
Snowberry Clearwing
Hemaris diffinis
-
Viceroy
Limenitis archippus
-
Virginia Creeper Sphinx
Darapsa myron
-
Wavy-lined Emerald
Synchlora aerata
Plants
-
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
-
American Holly
Ilex opaca
-
Autumn Olive
Elaeagnus umbellata
-
Chinese Privet
Ligustrum sinense
-
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
-
Devilwood
Cartrema americana
-
Elliott's Blueberry
Vaccinium elliottii
-
Leatherleaf Mahonia
Berberis bealei
-
Lilyturf
Liriope muscari
-
Nandina
Nandina domestica
-
Piedmont Azalea
Rhododendron canescens
-
Purpletop Tridens
Tridens flavus
-
Red Buckeye
Aesculus pavia
-
Taro
Colocasia esculenta
-
Waxmyrtle
Morella cerifera
-
Yellow Flag Iris
Iris pseudacorus
Trees
-
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
-
American Elm
Ulmus americana
-
Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
-
Carolina Silverbell
Halesia carolina
-
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
-
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
-
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
-
Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda
-
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
-
River Birch
Betula nigra
-
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
-
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipfera
-
White Oak
Quercus alba
-
Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
See every species, in any month, in the Wildlife Guide.