During Mid-September Julie and I met up with my niece Heidi and her husband Tim for an outdoor adventure in the beautiful Canaan Valley in West Virginia.
Crossing the Blue Ridge on Rt 250 from Virginia, Julie and I stopped for a picture of the Appalachian mountain chain and West Virginia off in the distance.
West Virginia is a wonderful collection of mountain scenery complete with beautiful valleys, expansive meadows and tumbling waterfalls like the Blackwater Falls which we visited.
After checking into our hotel at Canaan Valley State Park our first adventure was to the Dolly Sods Wildlife refuge and the Appalachian Bird Banding Station.
The Bird Banding station has been monitored by volunteers since the1960's. Volunteers set up each morning nets to catch the migrating birds. Each morning the birds fly down for the day to feed and rest for their continuing journey south.
Once a bird is caught in a net, a volunteer removes the bird and places a small identifying band on their leg. The bird is identified by species and released to continue its journey.
Birds that are later found in different locations are recorded and added to the body of data which indicates how far the bird has traveled and its eventual wintering grounds. This research over the years from operations like this have created migration maps that are used around the world.
The Cornell University Bird-Cast app recorded that on the night prior to our visit, close to 3 million birds migrated high in the sky's over West Virginia. Here young volunteers survey the nets for trapped birds.
Unfortunately, we did not get to see any birds caught in the nets as they tend to land right after sunrise. Given our one hour drive up the forest road to the site we arrived too late....but we still enjoyed the mountain views and learning about the efforts of these dedicated volunteers.
I did get a photo of a migrating Warbler looking for bugs in a pine on one of our hikes
Throughout the week we visited several trails in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
The afternoon woods provided opportunities for photos of the beautiful dappled light peaking through the canopy.
My progressing mobility issues have forced many adjustments to my outdoor adventures. This scooter which fits into the back of my car enables me to take advantage of some birding trails. Many thanks to Tim who helped me assemble and disassemble the scooter at several sites. Thanks of course to my sister Elaine who passed on her husband's scooter to me.
What a pleasure to see the hundreds of migrating Monarch Butterflies that filled the meadows. Monarch numbers are on the decline but not so here. An abundance of milkweed offered them their favored plant in which to lay their eggs.
The Common Milk-weed plant
A curious Ground Hog in the meadow
American Kestrel - smallest member of the Falcon family
Kestrel in flight on a misty afternoon
Heidi and Tim were great sports putting up with my bird photography and endless mildly interesting trivia.
Coming up on 20 years of adventures with my Gal
The meadows were filled with wildflowers
Two country boys using their tails to swish flies off the other's face
I did catch a view of over three dozen migrating Cedar Waxwings. The Fall migration begins in late August and continues through October each year.
Heidi caught this sunrise view out her hotel balcony with the lingering fog settled in the valley.
After a morning breakfast together we parted ways back to our homes in Virginia and Pennsylvania with memories of beautiful scenery and good times.
