Beavers in Cacapon today

I watched three beavers swimming in the river today when I came home around 4:30. One after the other, they would submerge and then come back up again. It didn't look like they were in a hurry to get anywhere. I know that "cute" isn't a good term for describing wildlife....but that's what kept me sitting there for quite a while!

Bear on Detour Rd. this morning

Our friend saw a bear near their house on Detour this morning but could not get a good photo to post. Sorry!

Another friend had a bear attack their small barn for unknown reasons. There was only a can of gas in it.

I wish I would finally get to see just one of these bears.

Coyote sightings

Several recent coyote sightings in the neighborhood include a close encounter on Constant Run Rd. They're usually easier to hear than find but lately, like the bears, they have become less shy.

We don't want to habituate bears

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/10/04/whtm-pa-bear-couple-attacked.cnn

Garbage bear and foxes

We have had repeated visits from a bear on Wed nights before garbage day. Please try to throw out trash in the morning to avoid habituating this bear to easy meals every Wed night. Since they do not relocate bears in WV this bear would be destroyed if he becomes a nuisance.

I had not seen any foxes in three years and saw one each of the last two weekends. One between Honey Locust and Chipmunk and another on Rte 9 complete with a jump to pounce on prey. Has anyone else been seeing more foxes lately?

Don't forget the Fall Birding Festival is coming up soon!

http://www.potomacaudubon.org/2011birdingfestival.pdf

The weekend of Sept. 16, 17 18th. See link for details of the events.

Anyone with summer photos to share?

With all the rattlesnake sightings and a whole summer nearly gone I figured I would ask if anyone has any othere nature photos for the blog? You can post directly to the blog or just send me an email and I'm happy to post them for you too.
Also, if you are not already 'subscribed' you can be added to the list of members on the bottom right and receive posts emailed to you when they are published. I think you just need to sign in there or make up a sign in and you're good to go. Anyone not able to post and interested in getting those privileges please let me know so I can add you on here.

As I'm sure the rest of you are we are really looking forward the fall colors (and low humidity and no flooding and no more hurricanes).


Best,
Glenn, Leslie, Poppy and Rudy

Mushrooms along Sideling Mtn. Trail

Does anyone know what kind of mushrooms these are? I see there is a WV Mushroom Club (http://wvmushroomclub.org/) and even a book about WV mushrooms (that is sold out) yet I have no idea.

I had been waiting for some big mushrooms to grow this summer so I could try out using a reflector. Without that the 'gills' underneath and stems are dark in the shadows of the mushrooms. I like the way this one turned out. If you know what this mushroom species is please send an email or post in the comments.  Also click to enlarge. This one has great detail.

Fawn

Lots of fawn and deer in general doing their 'gardening' in River Ridge recently.

Wolf spider

I believe the previous spider is a nursery web spider and this is a wolf spider that was on our screened in porch (outside of it thankfully) today. He's a sizeable guy and I was a little nervous getting this close but he let me shoot photos for as long as I wanted. Wolf spiders have 2 eyes bigger than the rest and nursery web spider eyes are all the same size; one of several ways to tell them apart. Click to enlarge.

Nursery web spider?

Timber Rattlesnake...the proof! 6 seen so far

Now that Grant and Nancy have become experienced snake charmers Nancy was able to get this photograph while Grant worked to stay alive. Apparently this one was more than a foot shorter than the last one they saw which 4 foot long with 10 rattles. Yikes!

Grant's Official Rattlesnake Count

It's up to 5 this summer.

Be careful out there-from Grant W

Hi All,
I have seen four rattle snakes in the past three weeks. Three of them have gone on to a better place.
Just a note to be careful. Timber rattlers look a lot like the leaves and twigs on the ground. They are normally very shy. Maybe the combination of a record harvest of acorns, attracting record numbers of mice/chipmunks has something to do with it. I don't know.
Stay alert when walking in our beautiful woods.

More bear shots...that are not mine. Darn it!

These are from Hedgesville.

What moth is this??

Leslie took this photo over the weekend. Anyone know which moth this is? I had not seen this one before seeing the photo.   UDPATE: THANKS HELEN FOR LETTING US KNOW THIS IS A ROSY MAPLE MOTH.

Glenn

Timber Rattlesnakes on SMT.

Jim K mentioned he saw a rattlesnake with a very thick body rattling away at him on Sideling Mtn. Grant and Nancy apparently had two (?) run ins with rattlesnakes recently. Be careful when moving objects outdoors (boxes left out, firewood, under flower pots, etc.) or stepping over logs in the yard!

http://www.marshall.edu/herp/Old/rattlesnake.htm

Broad Wing Hawk

Finding a Broad Wing Hawk in River Ridge was a highlight of some birding my friend Jay and I did this weekend. We heard a call that sounded like a raptor just as we left the lower gate and started up Sideling Mountain Trail. We did some research on line and thought the call sounded like a Broad Wing. Jay recorded the sound, and we went back to the gate and played the recording. It responded! We actually called it in and saw it! The hawk is quite reclusive, doesn't soar like other hawks, and generally hides away in dense woodlands. Jay was very happy since this was the only North American Buteo he didn't have on his life list.

Fossils

River Ridge is an excellent site for fossils! We found an array of Devonian Era Brachiopods in the limestone outcroppings along the river on Constant Run Road. Found spirophers, tintaculitis, and chrinoid stems (I should check the spelling on these). So far we haven't found Trilobites, but I'm betting they are there. Enjoy the hunting!

Hawks Nest Humming with Birds and Butterflies August 12 - 14

 

            ANSTED, W.Va. – A celebration of the hummingbird and the butterfly is the focus of a festival scheduled for August 12-14 at Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted in Fayette County. The Hummingbird Weekend is supported by a variety of area businesses and it promises to be a fun outdoor event, according to Megan Flinn, Hawks Nest naturalist and event site host.  “People are fascinated with hummingbirds and butterflies and the weekend will offer good information, bird banding, learning, and observation.”

 

The Hummingbird Weekend activities include:

A GLOBE Certification Hummingbird Workshop is scheduled Friday, August 12 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  The workshop covers  the natural history of hummingbirds from feeding to nesting to migration; observing and photographing hummingbird behavior; designing a hummingbird habitat; attracting and caring for hummingbirds in your own backyard, schoolyard or nature center; reporting hummingbird observations via EarthTrek and The GLOBE Program; using hummingbirds as a teaching tool; banding hummingbirds; and other information.  There is a charge to participate. For teaching certification it is a $30 fee and the workshop is limited to 20 guests, ages 16 and up and includes lunch.  Advance registration is required. Contact Rachel Davis at 304-574-4320 to register and workshop details.

 

"Ruby-throated Hummingbirds: From Your Yard to Costa Rica . . . and Back!" is an evening program on August 12 from 7 - 9 p.m. at Hawks Nest Lodge.  There is no charge to attend.

 

“Hummingbird Banding, Native Plants, and Butterflies” activities are part of Saturday, August 13, activities from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  "Hummingbirds and Plants" is a 10 a.m. session and, at 2 p.m., a session on "Butterflies and Plants" is scheduled.

 

Hummingbird banding is continued on Sunday, August 14, from 8 a.m. until noon and open to the public to observe and assist as appropriate.  “It is a very neat way for children and adults to view hummingbirds and learn about their habits and also about banding birds and the importance of studying bird migration,” Flinn said.

 

            The Hummingbird Weekend event features three noted authorities. Bill Hilton Jr. is a master bird bander and hummingbird expert. Hilton is Consulting Director of New River Birding & Nature Center and one of Discover magazines "50 Best Brains in Science”. He is a certified bander with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Connie Toops is an accomplished naturalist, nature writer and photographer. Toops recently co-authored the well-received book "Hummingbirds and Butterflies" published by Peterson Field Guides/Bird Watcher's Digest. Terri Johnson is with Honeysuckle Hill Gardens Nursery, Greenhouse & Gift Shop in Oak Hill and identifies with native plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. 

 

            Festival supporters include: Perky-Pet, Earth Trek, Wolf Creek Park, Operation Rudy Throat, Ace Adventure Resort, Honeysuckle Hill Gardens, New River Gorge CVB, The New River Birding and Nature Festival, and Hawks Nest State Park.

 

            Hawks Nest Lodge room rates will be discounted 20 percent for the Hummingbird Festival.  Hawks Nest Restaurant will be featuring menu specials throughout the weekend. For Hawks Nest State Park information, call 304-658-5212.

 

            The Hummingbird Festival is organized by Wolf Creek Park, located south of historic Fayetteville, W.Va., a project owned by the Fayette County Urban Renewal Authority (URA).  For additional information visit www.hawksnestsp.com and click Special Events for event details.

 

About the GLOBE Program – Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project

            The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program. GLOBE's vision promotes and supports students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system working in close partnership with NASA, NOAA and NSF Earth System Science Projects (ESSP's) in study and research about the dynamics of Earth's environment.

 

            GLOBE's vision is of worldwide community of students, teachers, scientists, and citizens working together to better understand, sustain, and improve Earth's environment at local, regional, and global scales.

 

            More than a million K-12 students in 10,000 schools have taken part in The GLOBE Program, supervised in field and classroom by more than 16,000 GLOBE-trained educators.

 

            Teachers and other adults who are not GLOBE-certified and wish to participate in GLOBE Operation RubyThroat are encouraged to attend the certification workshop at Hawks Nest State Park on August 12, 2011.

Polyphemus Moth

Like the Luna and Imperial moths these things are just huge. They get up to a 6" wingspan.

For more info on these moths:

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/polyphemus_moth.htm

Wild Turkey

This isn't a great shot considering there were 2 adults and about 8-10 baby turkeys sitting on a log about 5 seconds earlier. The camera was in the back seat and a few seconds is all they need to get away.

They are much lighter colored in the summer too.

Mark Your Calendars-Berkeley Springs Birding Festival Sept. 16, 17, 18

2011 FALL BIRDING FESTIVAL
BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV
SEPTEMBER 16, 17 & 18 2011
FESTIVAL HEADQUARTERS THE COUNTRY INN OF BERKELEY SPRINGS

FEATURED GUESTS
Sharon Stiteler Writer and national presenter will get the festival off on an energetic pace. Her blog has been recognized in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and on NBC Nightly News. Her writing has appeared in WildBird, Outdoor News, and Birding Business.
MARCY HEACKER Forensic Ornithologist at the fabulous Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC will return to the festival with more behind-the-scenes stories and adventures.
LIAM McGRANAGHAN Raptor biologist, Audubon Naturalist Instructor, photographer and writer returns to the festival to focus our birding adventures on the raptor migrants passing through the area.

WALKS AND WORKSHOPS
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING BIRDWALK: Guest and local birders invite you to explore favorite sites along the Cacapon River.
BEGINNING BIRDING FOR ALL AGES AT CACAPON STATE PARK: Park Naturalist Kelly Smith introduces birding fundamentals to launch you on a lifetime of adventures.
THE JOYS OF BACKYARD BIRDING: Learn to attract, identify, and enjoy a wide variety of visitors to your yard.
EIDOLON: Hike the trails of a local Nature Conservancy preserve maintained by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society. Explore the wildlife and natural features as well as the human history of this fascinating 354 acre site on Sideling Mountain.
ANNUAL SUNDAY MORNING WALK AT SLEEPY CREEK RETREAT: New and returning festival participants look forward to birding at Sleepy Creek where sweeping vistas merge with pond, stream, woodland, and meadow sites. Migrating raptors are sure to make an appearance, offering a memorable close to the festival weekend.
For more information and festival updates contact The Nature Niche in Berkeley Springs at 304.258.0992 or natureniche@earthlink.net and www.natureniche.biz

Reserve accommodations for this Berkeley Springs weekend event at Travel Berkeley Springs www.berkeleysprings.com.
THE POTOMAC VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY
OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE 2010 BERKELEY SPRINGS FALL BIRDING FESTIVAL
.

Wheezing deer

One night in early June I woke up to a weird noise. Some animal (outside, fortunately) was making a loud, very forced wheezing noise. Kind of like someone forcing all the air out while yelling "HAH". It went on for awhile. I got up to check. It was a lone deer...male? female? I didn't ask. It finally wandered away, but I heard it in the distance for a while.

I was talking with Janet Anderson yesterday, and she reported hearing the same thing over the weekend! Anyone know anything about what the behavior signifies? Territory? Mate attraction?

Anyone know this caterpillar?

I definitely do not and a cursory google search yielded no definitive answer. If you know or have time to dig deeper let me know!

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

These are the very large yellow butterflies zipping around our yards. See the tail for the interesting colors. Clicking any photo reveals the details.
The males and females are different but also have a dark morph you have likely seen too:

Dorsal and ventral sides of Papilio glaucus adults

1. Dorsal male
2. Dorsal female
3. Dorsal female (dark morph)
4. Ventral male
5. Ventral female
6. Ventral female (dark morph)
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Papilio_glaucus_adults,_MM.jpg

Red Oak Borer

I didn't know what this was until looking it up. I believe it is a red oak borer. Although most of our lot has white oak this bug can affect white oak too and it is considered a pest by the timber industry. Maybe I should have squished him?

Black widows love our deck...unfortunately

Female and male black widow spiders on our deck. The second picture is the male. Note the typical hour glass markings on his abdomen. Only the female has toxin in her bite.

Orchard Spider

If you don't click the photo to enlarge you miss all the details!

Augochlora Sweat Bee

I think that is what this is. I found it on http://www.insectidentification.org/. If you disagree feel free to post in the comments section below.

How to identify bugs?

This website: http://www.insectidentification.org/ has a lot of helpful information. It doesn't have all of them but it has many of them. Just select colors, body type and state and you can see the choices.

Checkered Beetle

View from my deck after a recent afternoon storm. I wonder if Marie and John Hardy have found their pot of gold!

A lovely week here...

Hi-this is my first post to the RR nature blog. I have had a wonderful week up here. Thought I would share a few of my highlights for within our community and nearby. Nancy and I have been here about 4 years now. Newly heard night bird this week was a Whippoorwill singing from various locations within RR. This is a species in decline according the National Audubon Society, and this is their breeding season. I also heard a Barred Owl and an Eastern Screech Owl this week. Along the river-3 Green Herons roosting in a tree while I was kayaking at dusk, Eastern Kingbirds hawking insects, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Baltimore Orioles, Acadian and Great Crested Flycatchers, Phoebes and PeWees, Goldfinches and Barn Swallows. At nearby farms, Field Sparrows, another species in decline due to loss of habitat. While riding my bike on the Western Maryland Rail Trail, I was fortunate to see a momma Warbling Vireo with a very shaky young one and I later found an abundance of these birds at the PawPaw Campground. And here is a deer fact-who knew deer could scream?, It's called a "bark". Nearly scared me to death while I was out in my yard after dark!

Rhododendron

River Ridge Birds

Jay Taylor birded in River Ridge today. I've asked him to share his list:

Birds seen along Sideling Mountain Trail, Constant Run Rd. and Pioneer Trail

(8:15 - 10:45 am).

Wood Duck: 2

Mourning Dove: 3

Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 6

Red-bellied Woodpecker: 4

Downy Woodpecker: 2

(Red-shafted) Northern Flicker: 3

Pileated Woodpecker: 3

Eastern Wood Pewee: 4

Acadian Flycatcher: 1

Eastern Phoebe: 9

Great-crested Flycatcher: 6

Eastern Kingbird: 1

Red-eyed Vireo: 12

Blue Jay: 3

American Crow: 4

Tree Swallow: 1

Tufted Titmouse: 10

Black-capped Chickadee: 3

White-breasted Nuthatch: 10

Carolina Wren: 3

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 3

Eastern Bluebird: 4

American Robin: 11

Northern Mockingbird: 1

Brown Thrasher: 1

Cedar Waxwing: 4

Northern Parula: 3

Worm-eating Warbler: 1

Louisiana Waterthrush: 1

Northern Cardinal: 2

Indigo Bunting: 9

Eastern Towhee: 2

Chipping Sparrow: 11

Song Sparrow: 2

Brown-headed Cowbird: 1

Red-winged Blackbird: 3

Common Grackle: 3

Baltimore Oriole: 8

American Goldfinch: 7

Also, 1 Black Ratsnake along Constant Run Rd.

Blackwater Falls

Can anyone identify this spider?UPDATE: I think this is a Black and Yellow Garden Spider

Green-backed heron by the farm pond on Constant Run

This one definitely better viewed by clicking on it.

Red-winged blackbird by the farm pond on Constant Run

Mother Goose and her Goslings off Constant Run Rd.

Cloud break after the storm-Constant Run Rd.

Blue Bird

Black Snake on Orleans Rd.

Like most of these, this is better viewed enlarged by clicking.

Snail at Eidelon

Constant Run after the rain

This was actually INSIDE THE GATE!!! This portion of the road took a beating.

Park after the rain

Don't forget you can click on all photos to see the full, enlarged version.

Tree down on Constant Run

Box Turtle

With all the rain there were a lot of turtles around the neighborhood. This one survived being in our dog Rudy's mouth for a few seconds. I was trying to video Poppy pointing at the turtle then Rudy surprised us. I didn't realize I had video of it but can't post us repeatedly saying 'bad dog' and 'drop it' followed by cursing!

It was sad to find a squished box turtle on Constant Run Road. Those turtles are long-lived and very territorial...and they travel short distances in the spring, often crossing roads in the process. I had to wonder how hard it would be to at least AVOID running over one while going our posted speed limit of 20mph!! And, even better, how hard would it be to get out and carry the poor guy across the road? (always carry them in the direction they are pointed).

May showers bring...flooding?

Sideling Mtn at Constant Run Rd.
I have a lot more photos to add but Frontier is in slow motion tonight.

Bears, Bears, Bears

Several recent bear sightings in River Ridge and this photo comes to us from a Berkeley Springs resident off 522. They noticed big pawprints near the pool and their trash in disarray. While discussing it this guy walked back into their yard!

May 6

This will be a post without pictures since my camera was uncharged when I walked this morning.

As I left my driveway and walked up Sideling Mtn Trail toward the back gate, I heard cerulean warblers singing....at least 2, maybe more. How do I know? Because our Easter morning birdwalk at Eidolon was replete with Ceruleans...singing and hopping around in plain view. Glenn posted a great photo of one.

Judy Webb stopped to tell me that there was a bear on their deck last night. Since then, I've heard of additional bear sightings from Hardy's and Barvinchack's.

Black gum or tupelo trees are leafing out with their inconspicuous flowers. I love that tree....so pretty with its shiny, upright leaves.

Remember all of those acorns we had last fall? They are germinating by the hundreds all over River Ridge! Let's hope that some of them make it through Darwin's lottery and become mighty oaks.

Wildflowers are scarce near the back gate. Right now, I have only bluettes...tiny little four petal flowers...in the yard. But along the river, there is wild columbine and golden ragwort. The purple flowers (tall) are Dame's Rocket. They will be around in the coming weeks.

There were two large moths on the door a couple of nights ago. It was great to see a luna moth again! I didn't see one last year. The other moth was equally large and impressive...a polyphemus moth. Both moths are in the silkworm group.

Silly hummingbird story: Two days ago, I made a Manhattan complete with 2 maraschino cherries. I was just preparing to take a sip when a male hummingbird flew right at me. I set the drink down and he hovered over it....probably attracted to the red cherries at the bottom. I held my breath. Was he going to sample it? He hovered for awhile....got very close to the surface....then flew away!

Next time...photos.

Overdue photos now that Spring photos are up!

Red-tailed Hawk-taken on Chipmunk Way

Tufted Titmouse

Black-capped chickadee

Great Horned Owl at Rocky Gap Aviary

Dark-eyed Junco