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!