What Happened ?

Monarch (c)2009 HVI

Yes, I know that I have been about as scarce as a Monarch this year. I got a new job this spring and it really cut down on creative time. Then I got hurt. I was just getting ready to intensify my postings; then the construction company knocked down my satellite. It took 2 weeks to get internet service back.
It hasn't been a pleasant several months. Maybe I'm back; hoping so anyway.

More That Got Away

Everyone wants to show you their best photos. Many are impressive, some are computer generated and others just leave you wondering. Here is a photo for you to look at. Go ahead and study on it for awhile. Can't find anything can you? Well that is because it would have been a very good, slightly overexposed photo of a very large bobcat; in broad daylight. Something you don't see very often. Well, you would have seen it here; if I had only been a second faster. Oh. well.

The very next day, I was fishing on the North Fork of the South Branch and catching several small to medium sized small-mouths. I was standing and doing a balancing act on many round, smooth rocks. I saw a yellowish blur go by my head. A Louisiana Waterthrush landed about 5 feet behind my and was poking around in the rocks. The main problem was that my camera was in a bag; about 3 feet behind me. I did manage to get the camera; without spooking the bird. The little waterthrush was quite cooperative and began drinking rainwater from a bowl in the rocks. Nice, right? Nope, it was too close to focus on and I was on both knees in the rocks. There wasn't much that I could do. Yep, nobody wants to show you their bad shots. Here is another of mine; the Louisiana Waterthrush as it runs by me and flies across the river. Enjoy honesty.

(c) 2013 High Virginia Outdoors/High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

And Another One

Double-banded Scoliid (c)2013 HVI

Here is another Digger Wasp that was present on my goldenrod yesterday. There was only one. It is a Double-banded Scoliid (Scolia bicincta). There isn't much information out there for this species; other than it most likely lays its egg in some type of beetle larvae, underground.









(c) 2013 High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

Now We All Know

Blue-winged Wasp (c) HVI 2013

I was heading to the garden yesterday morning to pick some corn and noticed several very pretty wasps on the goldenrod. I had never noticed this species with the two yellow dots before. I snapped a few photos and went to the computer for identification.
This is the Blue-winged Wasp (Scolia dubia) it is also called a Digger Wasp. The female lays its egg in the larvae of green June Beetles and Japanese Beetles. They build a chamber around the paralyzed larvae and a new wasp emerges from the ground in 3 weeks.
They are native to Japan and were introduced to combat Japanese Beetle infestations. These wasps are now common from New England  to the South and West to the Rocky Mountain Region.


(c) 2013 High Virginia Outdoors/High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

Moth Week

(c) HVI 2010

Lights on! It’s Moth Week at Pipestem State Park July 20-28

PIPESTEM, W.Va. – National Moth Week is a global celebration of moths and biodiversity held on the last week of July 20-28. Pipestem State Park is participating in the second annual National Moth Week with organized moth hunts, crafts and the showing of the “Godzilla vs. Mothra” movie. The first national event, organized by a group of New Jersey scientists,  recognized citizens from 49 states and 29 countries contributing data on distribution and life histories for this diverse group of insects.
The largest order of insects
Moths have three main body regions – head, thorax, and abdomen, three pairs of jointed legs and one pair of antennae.  Most have two pairs of wings. And most are nocturnal.  “Like fireflies, looking for moths in lights after dark can be some of the best memories of a summer camping trip or sitting on the porch of a cabin at dusk,” said Jim Phillips, park naturalist. Phillips offers a variety of activities at Pipestem during National Moth Week to introduce park visitors to these colorful and often elusive members of the largest order of insects: Lepidoptera. Butterflies are also in this order.
Moth activities at Pipestem Resort State Park include:
July 23 – Moth Craft at 1 p.m. Create a paper plate luna moth. This activity is held at the nature center. Crafters will learn about this green-colored insect as the craft is completed. There is no charge to participate and the activity takes about 45 minutes.
July 24 – Hayride and Campfire begins at 5 p.m. at the fire pit across from the campground bathhouses. There is $1 per person charge to ride the wagon.  Early evening is a good time to begin looking for moths.
The Moth Hunt begins at 9 p.m. July 24 at the Nature Center. This activity plans to attract some moths to a sheet using a black light in order to get a close-up look at these flying nighttime insects for National Moth Week. The activity is open to any age and there is no cost.
July 25 – Gypsy Moth Display is a special program on July 25 at 12:30 p.m. Tim Brown with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture will be at the Pipestem Nature Center with displays of this invasive moth species. Gypsy moths attack trees by feeding on their leaves. Severe defoliation and mortality are most likely in stands having a high percentage of oak, the favorite food of gypsy moth caterpillar. Brown will be at the nature center from 12:30 until 4:30 p.m. to answer questions about moths, how West Virginia conducts surveys, explain how the insect traps work, and other questions visitors may have about Gypsy moths or others.
July 26 – Moth Sidewalk Art. Participants will use color chalk to create moth art from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Nature Center. All ages welcome to participate without fee.
“Godzilla vs. Mothra” will be shown at 9:15 p.m. July 26 at the campground. The outdoor venue makes this evening activity great family fun. Snacks and drinks are available to purchase. There is no fee to attend.  
To learn more about National Moth Week, visit www.nationalmothweek.org. For Pipestem State Park activities, events and facility information, go to www.pipestemresort.com or call 304-466-1800.

**DNR**

Nemesis Bird

Bobolink (c) 2013 HVI

I have been trying; without any success to get a Bobolink photo since 2007. Finally, on 6-9-2013 one sit still long enough for me to actually press the shutter button. This bird was on the White Grass cross country skiing property on Freeland Road in Tucker County. It was still too far away for a decent shot. But, as I have said before; a bad photo for the collection is much better than no photo.

Over the years, I have not had any problems with finding Bobolinks. The problem has been that they do not seem to want to pose for me. I just can't get them to sit on power-lines or roadside fence posts. Maybe my luck will change since the ice was finally broken.

Gauley River Trout

Summersville Lake tailwater trout stocking

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. – The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources in cooperation with the West Virginia Professional Outfitters Association (WVPRO) stocked 1,500 pounds of rainbow trout in the Summersville Dam tailwater of the Gauley River on June 5. 
The goal of the stocking is to enhance trout fishing opportunities in the Gauley River, especially in the remote canyon section of the Gauley River, according to DNR Director Frank Jezioro. The trout stockings were conducted by helicopter and should provide good fishing in the summer and fall, Jezioro said.
The program is supported by rafting fees to compensate for additional days of whitewater rafting flows on the Gauley River and reduced fishing opportunities during these high flows released from Summersville Dam.

**DNR**