STRUGGLES

WV Brook Trout

Its tough out there in the real world and getting tougher everyday. Nobody will deny that this is a hard place to make a living. Living is a lot different than existing.

Before I go any farther; all of these photos were taken on October 2, 2014 in the upper-Roaring Creek watershed on the Rich Mountain Battlefield property in Randolph County, WV.

The first photo is one of two brook trout present at the culvert in photo number 2. I could see 2 brook trout, about 6 creek chubs and a few black-nosed dace present. This is the smallest of the 2 trout.

Photo 2

I know that this culvert isn't much of an obstacle and it is more so due to the drought that we are in. The rains we are going to get on Friday should make it passable for the spawning trout. but, still it is an obstacle. It does, however produce some current and mixing of oxygen in the water. The fish were all nosed up to it, before I spooked them.

The next photo, #3 is another culvert farther upstream. There were 2 small trout present there, also. They were probably 5 inches long and darted underneath the mini-waterfall.

Photo #3

If these fish could ever get upstream through this culvert, well they wouldn't have much to look forward to, as shown in Photo #4.

Photo #4

Who was it that once said that life is hard; harder if you're stupid? Yep, the poor little brook trout has a tough existence and it is made tougher by idiots. Think About It.

The trout in this watershed really do have a hard time existing, but exist they do. Many of the headwater tributaries are isolated due to acid-mine drainage. Somehow, the trout continue to survive. They don't flourish but they do manage to hold on; about like the rest of us around here.

(c) 2014 High Virginia Outdoors Photos (c) 2014 High Virginia Images ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Our Other Thrushes

Swainson's Thrush (c) 2012 High Virginia Images

Migration time is at its peak, right now. Each morning brings new birds for us to enjoy. The sulking thrushes are often overlooked among the colorful warblers bouncing from branch tips. But, they are here in numbers, too. The song of the Wood Thrush is known to all, Hermit Thrushes are the only thrush that we may find overwintering here. The Veery is very common and unknown to many. Most have not even heard of the other two.

The Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) does nest here in the highest elevations of Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, Pendleton and Grant counties. The buffy eye-ring is themajor identification point for this species. The majority of the population nests in the North, in the middle regions of Canada and Alaska. The entire population is on its annual southward move, right now.

Gray-ckeeked Thrush (c)2012 High Virginia Images

The Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) is the nesting thrush of the Far North. It nests throughout Alaska and Northern Canada. It is a bird of the northern spruce forests. It is distinguished by its partial eye-ring and a duller grayish appearance. It may be found in any overgrown area near you, right now. Like I have said many times before; you never know what you may find, if you just look. Be observant and you will be rewarded.

The photo of the Swainson's Thrush was taken at Camp Garnett on the Rich Mountain Battlefield in Randolph County, WV. The Gray-cheeked Thrush was photographed in my yard in Norton, Randolph County, WV; yesterday.

(c) 2012 All Rights Reserved High Virginia Outdoors-High Virginia Images

Another Nice Morning

I got up early this morning and drove to Cassity to do an abundance count for the WV Breeding Bird Atlas in the Cassity-6 block. The time spent there was fairly uneventful; nothing unexpected and no rarities. I did record a nice variety at a couple of points. I'm sure that I found a few new species for the block. I haven't had time to look at the previous entries, yet.

On the way back home, I decided to check out Camp Garnett on the Rich Mountain Battlefield property. I have heard a Golden-winged Warbler, or a hybrid of such there twice in the last couple of weeks. I messed around there for about a half hour and gave up. There was just too much traffic. Nothing had a chance to settle down, before another vehicle came through. I headed back toward Mabie; the family of American Kestrels were where I found them last week. I headed on down the road and much to my surprise there was a male Bobolink sitting on the power line. You just don't know how much time I've spent in Canaan Valley; trying to get a good Bobolink photo. Here one is, totally unexpected and 6 miles from home.

I dug my camera out, set some adjustments and turned around. It was still there, but there was nowhere to pull-off. I drove on up the road and was planning on getting a photo out of the window, when I came back down. Of course, it was then gone. It was all ready running through my head to come back tomorrow morning and try again. I still had the window down as I drove down the hill and a baby bird noise caught my attention. I looked over and a young Kestrel was sitting on top of a fence post. I quickly pulled off the road and got out; hoping for one decent photo. I kept walking and pressing the shutter and as luck will sometimes happen, it let me get very close! There was another young one about 100 yards away in a maple tree and both adults were present. There are two successful Kestrel nests in the same area, within a quarter mile of each other, Nice! But still no Bobolink photo.

Posted by High Virginia Outdoors
Photos by High Virginia Images
(c) 2012 All Rights Reserved

Wildflower of the Month/April

The Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) is one of the first wildflowers of the spring woodlands.  It grows in rich, moist woodlands; throughout our region.  The Carolina Spring Beauty has oblong leaves; while the Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) has elongated leaves.  Both are common in our area.  This image was taken at the Rich Mountain Battlefield in Randolph County, WV.

Seasonal Wild Flowers of the Eastern Forests

Posted by High Virginia Outdoors   Photography by High Virginia Images