A male Bluebird sitting on top of a birdhouse with the female Bluebird peeking out from inside.

Birding at Meadowlark Ridge

Meadowlark Ridge offers a unique birding experience in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Our log house is set in the middle of sixteen acres of meadows and private woodlands and has been a prime spot for birding since it was constructed 50 years ago.

Whether it is looking outside your room's window, sitting on the front porch, or taking a walk on our woodland trail you are guaranteed to experience the sights, sounds, and healing powers of connecting with birds and nature.

According to BirdingVirginia.org, Augusta County has logged 316 bird species across the county. We are frequently seeing 40+ species on our site throughout each year.

Read about just a few of our feathered visitors below.

Eastern Bluebird

Our bluebird house has been home to many broods of Eastern Bluebirds over the years. It’s great fun to watch them throughout the season and to watch the youngsters grow up before they leave the area.

Indigo Bunting

Our more brilliant blue birds are Indigo Buntings. It's always such a joy to see their vivid color across the fields during their spring and summer breeding season.

Eastern Towhee

The Eastern Towhee is a welcome visitor in the summer. This one rustled up a nice red berry at the beginning of autumn before flying a little further south.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Even though it has a beautiful red head, this is actually a Red-bellied Woodpecker. One of several varieties of woodpeckers we see feasting on dead trees.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are spotted here during their summer breeding season. Their beautiful rose-red breasts are such a joy to see.

Killdeer

A Killdeer is very hard to spot on the ground. When you approach its nest, though, it starts a distinctive broken-wing act to lead you away. Listen for their namesake call.

Carolina Wren

This Carolina Wren just found a hearty moth for dinner. Or does this meal go back to the nest for others?

Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrashers can usually be found foraging on the ground during breeding season. They have a beautiful brown color and are exuberant singers.

Gray Catbird

Our local Catbirds can be heard during breeding season making all kinds of interesting sounds, not just "mew".

American Goldfinch

The head and body of a young Goldfinch are not as brightly colored as more mature male Goldfinches.

Goldfinches are usually spotted as bright yellow birds in the field. This youngster hasn't quite developed that color yet.

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpeckers are frequently seen year-round, right side up and upside down, foraging for food on branches and at the feeder.

Northern Flicker

The wings are blurred as a Flicker and a Red-bellied Woodpecker flutter around a suet holder waiting their turn to eat.

It's a race to the suet but don't be confused. The front bird is a Red-bellied Woodpecker. The one with yellow in back is the Flicker, often called a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker.

Tufted Titmouse

The Tufted Titmouse is quite a character to watch. This one found its favorite sunflower seed to carry away and crack open.

White-breasted Nuthatch

A dark gray and white nuthatch eats seed from the bird feeder.pg

We frequently hear the Nuthatches before we see them. They have such a distinctive sound signaling for us to look for their dark gray and white bodies.

Northern Cardinal

The brilliant red head of a male Cardinal. An edge of black feathers contrast around its brilliant red beak.

The state bird of Virginia, Cardinals can be especially noticeable in the wintertime. Dogwood trees seem to be some of their favorites for berries - when they can't find sunflower seeds.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Hummingbirds love to visit our flowers and hanging baskets around the house and we love to watch them. The males have the shiny red throats. After breeding season they head south to Central America.

Cedar Waxwing

Our cherry trees attract flocks of Cedar Waxwings as the cherries ripen. It’s amazing to watch them pass the cherries from bird to bird in their annual ritual.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows are a special delight to hear singing across the meadows.

Discover the joy of birding at Meadowlark Ridge

Birds come to our area to visit the birdfeeders around the house, and woodlands and meadows on the property. Nearby are spacious farm fields and lots more forest land continuing into the nearby George Washington National Forest.

We invite you to join us to use the Merlin Bird ID app to learn new birds and the eBird app to report the birds you see during your visit. We are also establishing Meadowlark Ridge as a birding hotspot in Augusta County. See some of the latest species on eBird for Augusta County.

We even have binoculars, field guides, and our local birding checklist to help you explore the abundance and variety of birds in the area. We're sure you'll find familiar visitors and a few species you may not know.

All photos on this page by Ryan Dellos, 2023 Innkeeper, captured around Meadowlark Ridge.
See our blog The Seasons of Bird Watching.