Birding & Wildlife Watching in Damascus, VA
Take a walk on the wild side in the mountains of Southwestern VA.
Make the Damascus Old Mill Inn your jumping-off point for some of the most beautiful bird watching vistas in the Eastern U.S. Southwest Virginia and the Appalachian Trail offer some of the most unique varieties of avian species to see, whether from your bike or on foot. Ridgelines and rocky outcroppings are some of the best places to see hawks and the more than 80 species of migratory birds that use the wind currents to buoy their flights south for the winter.
Another 200 species of birds take up residence in Southwest Virginia’s open meadows and in wooded farm country, where mixed habitats are plentiful. According to the website Virtual Blue Ridge, birds evident all year include the Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, Common Crow, Common Flicker, Blue Jay, Red-Tailed Hawk, Dark-Eyed Junco, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Song Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Turkey Vulture, the Downy, Pileated and Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and the Carolina Wren.
Accommodations
Amenities
Birding in Spring
Throughout spring (March-May), species in evidence include the Eastern Bluebird, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbirds, Mourning Doves, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Gnatcatcher, American Goldfinch, Grackle, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlark, Northern Parula, Eastern Phoebe, American Redstart, Chipping, White-throated and Field Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager and Rufous-sided Towhee, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, Cerulean, Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Pine, Prairie, Yellow and Yellow-rumped warblers.
Birding in Summer
Many of these birds remain through the summer season (June-August), and are joined by the Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Acadian and Great-crested Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Eastern Wood Pewee, American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Wood Thrush, Chimney Swift, Veery, Louisiana Water Thrush, Brown-headed Cowbird and Barn Swallow.
Birding in the Fall
Though some summer birds still will be around in the fall (September-November), autumnal additions include the American Kestrel, Sharp-shinned and Broad-winged Hawk, and Magnolia Warbler. Though most birds have migrated to warmer climates during the winter (December-February), you can sometimes spot the American Coot, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mallard, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, and Pine Siskin.
215 West Imboden Street,
Damascus, VA 24236
Phone: 276-475-3745