Night Vision Of A Hermit

After a yummy dinner at the Stardust café in Lewisburg, West Virginia,( the little town voted, "The coolest small town is the US") we headed over to Renick, WV to jump on the Greenbrier River Trail.  We got in a quick eight miles of biking before dark.  I offered to assist my husband in loading our bikes on the rack when we got back to the truck but he said, "why don't you run down to the river and see if you see anything to photograph"?  So, I did!  I heard a bit of noise and assumed there were some children playing in the water.  Three young boys were swimming in the river and having a blast (that reminded me of my childhood) as the last bit of light seeped through the canopy of trees that hugged the river banks.  I turn to go back up to the vehicle and I spotted this moth.  It looked like a hummingbird but I believe it is a Hermit Sphinx moth.  I was obviously excited to get a few photos before heading out.  It was interesting to see the ability of it's night vision as it fluttered about this beautiful cluster of phlox with such ease.  It seemed as pleased with it's meal as we were with ours! ;0)

I believe (but I'm not positive)...this is a Hermit Sphinx

 

 

 

Notice the hump behind the head, also is a trait of the Hermit Sphinx.

 

A Drive With A Purpose

I had noticed the gorgeous and numerous highway wildflower plantings (makes them sound not so wild, huh?) last year off of West Virginia US 19, going North, toward the New River Gorge area.  My husband and I had made several day trips up that way and as I had hoped the wildflowers were there again this year.  Several times I had wanted to stop and meander but decided that it was something that I wanted to do alone, so as not to feel rushed.  After running several errands, I headed out from Beckley, West Virginia.  I reached the magnificent, New River Gorge area (stopping briefly at the bridge visitors center to take several photos in the "butterfly garden" out front) and turned back South as I had not found the exact location, nor safe place to pull over and take a few photos of the roadside wildflowers. The sights delighted my eyes when I found my spot.  I'm not even sure what exit I took, they were mesmerizing for me, as they appeared, with the slight warm summer breeze, to wave me in the right direction. And the cameras did a fair job of capturing a taste of the images that I had been obsessing over and hoping to capture for a year. The drive up was spectacular, with the sun beaming and the breeze blowing ever so gently. I left the site (sight!) after an hour or more of taking photos and enjoying the view. The drive with a purpose to capture a bit of the beauty from those who planted these lovely flowers, felt like a success, a mix of: cosmos, chicory and coreopsis or tickseed plant. Their work has not gone unnoticed by many, including me!  Surely they wanted us to enjoy their work.  A HUGE thank you to those that made it possible for such an enjoyable sight!

 

 

 

 

Captured a photo in mid flight! ;0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River Running, Nature And Birdwatching

 

Today the New River seemed to have a bit more "nature excitement" on it than in the last few river runs that we have made. Early on in our rafting I spotted a Red-breasted Merganser and two young ones. I was intrigued to grab a few pictures though it was difficult while moving even in the calmer section of our rafting trip.   And also the female, "momma bird" was a bit anxious with my need to get a closer look and photos.  She moved about changing directions as though she wish that I would go away but the young ones seem oblivious to my approach!  I do not believe that I have seen the Red-breasted Merganser before. It was interesting to note the wild eyed expression and crazy Mohawk appearance of the top feathers on the female adults head. She looked like a high strung, nervous and confused momma as I approached closer but calmly. It may have simply been her "natural look". I tried to be courteous in my curiosity and tried not to move too quickly in order to keep her from too much more stress or panic. We also spotted a Blue Heron that we have seen on a few river trips and a multitude of dragonflies and damselflies. It was a beautiful day to be outdoors and on the river.

Red-breasted Merganser female

I'm pretty sure that she was thinking, why are you following us and what are you looking at.

Cruising down the river.

 

One of the young Red-breasted Merganser with it's head submerged while the other one cruises on down the river

 

Female Red-breasted Merganser keeping an eye on me.

 

One of the young Red-breasted Merganser with it's head submerged while the other one just popped up from it's under water view. 



Blue Heron

 

Blue Heron



Pipevine (Battus philenor) swallowtail along the river bank.

 

The Thurmond, WV bridge.

The New River above Thurmond, West Virginia
 



As we pulled out of Thurmond, West Virginia along the railroad track we ran down to a creek bed and snapped a few shots of this waterfall.

A Much Needed Hike

Getting outdoors is my best medicine. When expectations turn to disappointments and happenings impact you directly and are out of your hands and out or your control, it is healthy to pull away. Getting outdoors is great medicine or treatment for stress and anxiety and just plain good medicine!  Nature is where I can lose time in wonderment. Nature provides a solace in a time of distress and getting outdoors and hiking, riding a bike or just taking a stroll prevents stress from being a possibility when problems arise for me. A good dose of the outdoors and whatever nature has to offer is better than any medicine that I know of. And that is speaking very personally because I luckily have good health thus far and very little need for medicine. I hope that others will get outdoors and enjoy nature and enjoy the photos that I am posting from my outing today.

This was an especially wonderful experience as I was out looking for butterflies to photograph in an area that I found butterflies, last year in Beckley, WV.  This butterfly found me and stayed with me for some time.  It was a sweet treat!

This butterfly stayed with me for a good while...I asked my husband if I was that sweet. He quipped...it must have been your lotion. LOL Thanks," honey"! :0/

 

Blueberries in West Virginia are not ripe yet.  They were ready to pick in Sewanee, TN the last week of June.