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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasured Find

After church we were heading to show our grand daughter the family of ground hogs that have moved into the back yard of the President's home, where we live at the University of Charleston/ Beckley campus.  My husband, Jerry, noticed what he thought was a moth on the fence and we went to investigate!  Yes, it was a huge moth and I looked it up.  This lovely gem appears to be a Hyalophora cecropia species.  It is the largest known moth of North America.  It's species feeds off of Maple trees and we have a huge Maple in back of the Beckley home.  Possibly the appetite of this mammoth moth gave way to a possible colossal meal of Maple until we interrupted it's course. The wing span of this moth appeared to be close to six inches.  It was truly incredible!  Several months ago I found a very large Cyclops Moth in Sewanee, TN  and there are pictures from a previous post but this one was different and huge!  All I could think was, what fun God had designing this creature!  It was interesting and beautiful at the same time!

Kaymoor Trailhead, West Virginia

It was a beautiful day to scout around the New River Gorge and bridge area and the Kaymoor Trailhead offered a few interesting pictures as well.

 

 

 

 

We spotted a little green snake on the little road that is down by the railroad.  I picked it up to make sure that it didn't get squashed by the next car crossing the small metal bridge that crosses the river.

Releasing the little green snake to safety.

 

A pretty white trillium along the Kaymoor trail.

One of the waterfalls along the Kaymoor trail.