Plenty to report so far this summer

It was a hot weekend which is probably why one of our newest neighbors on Milo School Road noted a black bear heading into the woods near Panorama at the Peak just after Midnight on Friday evening while driving up for the annual picnic.

After 1.5 years I finally saw a cedar waxwing. Actually, there were several of them together on a pine tree. Juveniles are lighter in color and it takes about 2 years before they develop the wax-like bright wingtips seen on one of these birds. These birds were on a tree just off Detour Road. (CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE). One photo has three of them in it if you look closely.



The hummingbirds have returned and we finally had a male (ruby colored throat patch) at one of our newest hummingbird feeders.

Although we see turkey vultures circling up high every day it's rare to get too close to them on the ground but I was able to snap this picture off Milo School Road when I saw him take off from whatever he was eating and land near the road. They have no feathers on their head which may protect them from whatever diseases lurk in the carcasses they help in disposing.

Bear Sightings (Sideling Mtn Trail and Youngblood Rd)

[copied from neighborhood group with names removed]

Hi HH,
You surely had a scare! Please call us if you need help at any time!

Our builder reported seeing a mother bear and two younger bears crossing Highway 9 at Youngblood about 7:30a.m. one day last week.
Just a couple reminders for the group:
It is unlawful to feed bear - the animals are left open to disease and may be put to death if they become a nuisance.
It is also suggested that bird feeders not be used until December - I have put ours out already and will remove them for a few more weeks.
Trash is a magnet to bears. Their sense of smell is so much better than ours is. Free lunch - We all know this but it bears repeating.
Adult bears usually weigh between 125 and 400 pounds. Adult female black bears achieve a maximum weight of 150 to 300 pounds.
Adult females have an average home range of about 13 square miles, while adult males can cover 25 square miles or more.
You may also download a pdf of info on bears :
http://www.wvdnr.gov/Hunting/PDFFiles/Nuisance%20Black%20Bears%20in%20WV%20brochure.pdf
LK

HH wrote:

I had an early Friday morning visitor this week. At 2am, I woke to
some heavy thumping noises on the small deck outside my room. When I
looked up, a large (ok...I don't know HOW large, but it was taller
than me) bear reared up and looked in. When I made some noise, it
left. Later, I heard noises on my main deck and found him (her?)
rummaging through my recyling can. I turned on the lights, and it took
off. I haven't seen it since.

I guess we just need to be careful about feeders and garbage.
Fortunately, I had neither outside. And we need to understand that
River Ridge is WILD and Wonderful!

HH