Spectacular happenings...

While I was in West Virginia Spring happened in my backyard.

As I sit on my deck blogging I can smell the wonderful
scent of the lilacs and hear the beautiful song
of a Baltimore Oriole. I had been praying I would get
one at the feeders this year, and I came home to a
pair.... I will blog that later.
Anyway, no matter where we were or what we were
doing at New River Barbi and I were looking for birds
and photo opts. We never rested... A familiar sight as we
came and went from the Cabin was this creek...

and farmhouse. We stopped the first time we
passed it to get the pictures.

Then on our way home from Lowe's one afternoon.
I needed an extension cord so I could use my computer on
the porch!! I saw birds flying into the trees at the creek as
we came to the bridge by the house. We stopped and I was
thrilled beyond words to see a flock of Cedar Waxwings.

I rarely get to see this bird at home and I was in
'almost heaven' just standing on the bridge snapping
away. He was carrying some material in his mouth.

They were busy doing their thing and didn't really
even care that we were there.

I took way too many shots, but couldn't help myself.

When we are getting pictures of a coveted bird we always
say something like: Don't you wish one would land right here
close to the road...... or

right over there with that stone wall as a back drop and the
yellow flowers....

We're never happy with what we are getting we always
want more. The perfect picture with the perfect background.

And as you see, the CW did go over and land where I could
get the wall and flowers in the background. I WAS in heaven!

I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Well maybe one more thing...............

On our way to dinner one night we came around the bend
right before the creek and farmhouse and Barb stopped the
car and said get your camera!! There's a Pileated in the
tree. Wow! I was again experiencing a feeling of euphoria

So much so that we left the car in the middle of the road
got out and continued to shoot.....

Birders are nuts you know.

As the Woodpecker worked his way up the tree
I was taking pictures.

Then sadly too soon he was off and flying away.

The next happening was while I was out on the porch
at the Cabin and watching through the screen.

Hello little squirrel...what are you doing today? The pictures are kind of grainy
hence the screen between me and him.

If anyone knows what he was doing let me know. I watched

and watched as he went over to an old rotted out log and started
to roll around in it.

He was turning upside down

around and around

looking like he was enjoying every minute of it.
In this picture I had to laugh..he looks like he's
playing that game 'twister'

I have a LOT of squirrels in my back yard and have
never seen such a display of activity.

I bet he rolled around for 5 minutes.

any ideas what he was doing?

With eyes half shut he really looked like he was
having himself a fine time.

New River in West Virginia didn't disappoint
It really is: 'almost heaven'

To God be the Glory ~~ Great Things He Hath Done

Did I hear a Rooster Crow?

Well.... no!

But we did get up at the crack of dawn... no make that
before the crack of dawn. To prove it check out this picture
of Burnwood where we met for a catered breakfast
complete with those southern biscuits and gravy at 6 am.
See the moon going down above the pavilion roof.

Or if you get there early enough you can check out the wall
at the restrooms and find some moths like this beauty:
That's where on most mornings you would find Jim McCormick
one of our guides.(Ohio birds and bio diversity)
Birds weren't his only interest..
nature is his passion and his ambition is get everyone
else into it too. His enthusiasm was contagious.

The Luna Moth

On our walk with Jim he was plucking crayfish
from a stream and holding them for us to see
turning over rocks looking for snakes and pointing
out what fauna and flora there was.

Each morning after breakfast we would board one of the
waiting vans for our designated trip.

It was not only dark but some mornings it would be
raining and foggy and the windows would be in need
of defrosters, which didn't always work

This day we are going to Muddlety and Bill Thompson III
of "Bill of the Birds" will be our guide

I know the pair of Cardinals on the mailbox are not part
of the bird count, but I do love to see a row of
country mail boxes.

As the weather heated up Bill's pants came down...or
at least half of them did.

About right here while I was capturing some butterflies
perched on some dung.. a turkey flew over with some
vultures and Barbie got the picture. check it out on
her blog My Bird Tales

Look closely and you will see a hummingbird moth savoring
the nasty stuff too.

The butterfly is a Spicebush Swallowtail

When we stopped for lunch... I checked out what was
growing nearby and blooming..I found a Quince bush
near a pond with lovely pink blossoms

A Cabbage butterfly perched upon some leavesThe ragwort grows plentiful and bright and sunny along
the road ways.

Add a few conifers, a stream and you have a
calming beautiful picture

Okay Time for Lunch!!! No table? We make do with the
hood of the car and a blanket for a table cloth.

On this trip my life bird was a Yellow breasted Chat!
He was singing his little heart out.

Sometimes when the birds weren't co operating and I couldn't
get a good picture... I would use my creativity and snap
a picture of something else. I used this picture to prove
that there is another kind of bird out there. I called him a
West Virginia Coot... An Old Coot!! At dinner I passed
him around and created quite a uproarious stir among
the bloggers. They do love to laugh!!

He was a logger and stopped to ask us what we were doing...
very kind and mannerly old coot!

As he drove away I got a glimpse of his mud flaps. the old coot
was not only kind, mild mannered but also patriotic.

wake up Tim!

I have a millipede for you. You made me pick it up and
shake it and my hands smelled like almonds the whole way
home.

To God be The Glory ~~ Great Things He Hath Done