A Nice Find !!

Carolina Satyr  (c) High Virginia Images 2012

I was returning home from Thomas on Saturday afternoon and decided to take the Sugarlands Road-St. George-Clover Run route back. I was intending to try for a few good mushroom photos. To say the least, mushrooms were a bit sparse on this fine day. It didn't make much difference to me; as this is always a nice ride, no matter the season.

There was a group of Common Mergansers on the Cheat; fifteen in total and close to the road. A female with her brood. I had to go down the road and turn around. I was in luck, they were still there when I got back. I needed to change lenses and was crouched behind some shrubs; feeding the deer flies and heard the dreaded scrape. A pair of kayaks were scraping there way downstream and went right through the mergansers. Oh, well. I took 2 dragonfly shots and headed on downstream. I got on Rt.72 and then Rt.38 and turned up Clover Run Road, still hoping for some fungi. Nothing worth slowing down for. The dogs were getting restless.

I pulled into there favorite squirrel and bunny chasing spot and let them explore. We walked awhile and I got tired of untangling Ralphie. I brought them back and tied them to the truck, so they could roll in the grass; which is one of their favorite sports. I sat there and scanned the area for something, anything to photograph while the dogs were entertaining themselves. Just a Red-spotted Purple was to be found, I guess it will have to do. The wind was picking up as I chased it around and I got some real bad photos. I noticed something was wrong with the pictures. I have a tendency to push some unintended buttons, when putting the new camera away. I haven't quite gotten used to it yet. The ISO somehow managed to get switched to 400 on this bright, sunny day. Not Good.

I was sitting on the tailgate, watching the beagles roll and fake fight and noticed a little brown butterfly, perched on a poison ivy leaf. There were 4 or so of these little brown butterflies flitting around. Well, I don't have many photos of little brown butterflies and the camera was now set up properly. So, I was in pursuit and of course at this time, the wind decided to pick up. I managed to get one decent shot of the little brown butterfly and by that time the dogs were ready for some ice-water. So we headed on home.

I looked the butterfly up when I downloaded to the computer and decided it was an Appalachian Brown (Satyrodes appalachia) that made sense and we have them in our area. Case closed, or so I thought. On Sunday, I was trying to identify some skipper photos (the birding community thinks sparrows are hard), try skippers. I found Butterflies and Moths of North America, a citizens science database for identification and sighting recordings (Really Nice). I submitted some skipper photos for a final answer as to what they were and I threw in the Appalachian Brown for their records. I received an e-mail shortly after identifying the skipper, along with a great notation that this photo wasn't an Appalachian Brown, but was a Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius), which until now has never been recorded and confirmed in the mountains of WV!! Well it has been, Now! What a great  surprise. This butterfly has been found in the southern and western portions of WV. According to the species research I did, it has never been recorded and confirmed East of I-79.

Like I have said before, you never know what you may find; if you just sit and stare.

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

First Fish

I had to go to Parsons, this afternoon and decided to check out Clover Run on the way back. There were not very many people fishing and I drove all of the way up Clover Run. I came back down to a spot where nobody was present. I took the dogs down; tied them up and returned to the truck for my rod and reel. While I was baiting up, a vehicle pulled in about fifty yards above me. The person came downstream to about 25 yards above me and started fishing. That was pretty irritating, but tolerable.
My goal is always a fish on the first cast of the season. I did manage to accomplish that feat with the Brook Trout. Actually, it was my first cast that made it to the water; but I'm counting it. Stupid thorn-apples. I caught the Rainbow on my third cast and was seen by a passing car. Here they came, down the hill and got between me and the upstream person. Before the other 2 made a cast, I was headed to the truck; with smoke emitting from my ears. Four is a crowd on fifty yards of a small stream. People just do not know how to act right; anymore.There is 4 miles of stream and about ten people fishing. I can see no reason for even thinking about pulling into a spot where someone else is fishing. Well, there they are 15 minutes and 2 trout. I usually manage to fish for a half-hour or so; before I get mad.

Mountain Trout This Week 2/7/11-2/13/11

The cold temperatures continue, but there is some relief in sight next week.  The WVDNR has started stocking some of the smaller monthly and bi-weekly streams.  These smaller waters are my favorites. Red Creek, Clover Run and Horseshoe Run in Tucker County were stocked this week.  The Right Fork of Middle Fork in Upshur and the Tygart River headwater section also received trout.  I came down the Tygart yesterday, the river was low and clear, with shelf ice extending from the banks and a lot of floating ice sheets.  For the complete list of waters stocked this week go to WV Trout  Back Creek over in Bath County was stocked this week, as was the South Branch of the Potomac in Highland County; for the complete list of Virginia trout stockings, go to VA Trout The cold morning temperatures that we have had in our region over the past week make mid-afternoon the time to be on your favorite stream.