They Got That One Right !

I was sitting out in the edge of my yard on Tuesday and a little yellow butterfly fluttered by. I had never seen a yellow butterfly that was smaller than the normal sulphur species'. I managed to chase it down and get a good look as it stopped on some white clover.

I went into the house to get my camera; of course the camera was outside in the truck on the other side of the house. Just as standard procedure plays out the little butterfly was nowhere to be found when I returned.

Often, when you look something unfamiliar up; you wonder how they came up with a name for something. Not in this case; they finally got one right. It was a Little Yellow (Eurema lisa) butterfly. It is more common in WV in the southern counties and along the Ohio River. I am pretty sure that I have never seen one around here. We may notice more smaller butterflies this year, since there doesn't seem to be many big ones around.

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

I Wonder Why

I am puzzled as to why this Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) would choose to lay her eggs on an alunimum porch ceiling; instead of a host plant? I found her laying eggs this evening. Host plants for this species are sunflower,cherry,maple and willow. There are numerous cherry and maple trees within site of this location. There are cherry trees within 15 yards. Nature tends to make the observant one wonder..

(c) High Virginia Images  All Rights Reserved 2012

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

That Clouser Thump

I decided to celebrate the end of the WVDNR's annual food dispersal program this morning and go fishing for a little while. I knew that there would not be anyone else out there; since they have finally quit stocking. Flags were flying straight out when I got to Elkins. I almost turned around, but decided to just go to Bowden, instead of heading up on Cheat Mountain. I knew that with the wind and the cold front the fishing would be slow and the trout would be hugging the bottom.

I arrived on the Shavers Fork and tied on a pair of Clouser Minnows. These are my favorite flies; when the fishing is though. It has been a long time since I have had a chance to actually fly fish. Probably 4 years other than stop and cast a few times. I entered the river and the water was nicely cool for June. The wind was howling upstream. I crossed the river to a split on the other side, which was protected from the wind; slightly. Casting was difficult with my 5 weight rod and a pair of weighted flies. On my third cast; there it was, that clouser thump. It has been a long time since I have felt that. Nice fish, too. I fished the section thoroughly and had only one other strike. The wind picked up and I was hitting myself with the flies, as often as they were hitting the water. But; it was really nice to fish for a hour and a half and not be bothered by others. I'm glad that the fish trucks are finished. Now; maybe the rest of us can catch a few fish !

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

Our Other Oriole

Everyone is familiar with the brightly colored Baltimore Oriole but its smaller relative often goes unnoticed. The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurtius) is not as colorful. The breast color of the Orchard Oriole more resembles the coloring of a Robin. These orioles also tend to nest in close proximity, unlike the Baltimore who doesn't like anyone in their territory.

We seem to have an abundance of Orchard Oriole in our region this year be on the lookout for them and meet your new neighbor. They will not be around for long; maybe another month or so and they will be headed South once again.

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

A Missed Opportunity

Sometimes; you just wonder why you didn't reach for the camera. I was sitting at the lower end of the Bowden Fish Hatchery this afternoon. It was too hot for any birds and I was looking at this turtle; through my binoculars. I am guessing that it is a painted turtle. It was facing away in the mossy spot above the elbow of this concrete.
Just to the left of the concrete; up popped what I thought was a baby duck. I looked away in search for the other ducks and when I looked back at the turtle, something was different. A huge snapping turtle was stalking the other turtle. Its head was above the concrete and had to be at least 5 inches wide. The other turtle didn't have a clue and I thought that it was going to be snatched up very quickly. As it turned out, I would have had time to get my camera from behind the seat; but at the time you never know. The snapper twisted its head and neck in every position it could think of, but the other turtle was just a little too far away. The snapper lowered its head and tried to attack from the left side of the concrete and by that time the other turtle got a little spooked. It must have sensed something. This shot is when it decided to head for the safety of the water. The snapping turtle circled the concrete twice searching. I believe that was the biggest Common Snapping Turtle that I have ever seen !!!

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

I Finally Found Proof !!

The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a newly confirmed nesting species in our region. There have been confirmed reports on the upper Shavers Fork, Dry Fork and Cheat River. These are the first confirmed sightings on the lower Shavers Fork, near Bowden. I saw a lone female at this spot in June of 2009 and have checked it out numerous times since then; with no success. Today (5-27-12) I found what I was looking for! I was walking around near the river at 7:30 am; with my beagle Ralphie and heard a quack. I looked up and there they were, headed downstream and of course, I didn't have my camera with me. So, back to the truck we headed. I was trying to hurry and the truck was a quarter of a mile away. You just can't hurry with Ralphie.  If I remember right; he got tangled up 6 times on the way back. We got the camera and I believe he only got tangled up 4 times on the return trip. We finally got back to the river and I couldn't find the mergansers.
I finally heard them upstream from the original spot. Ralphie and I tried to sneak upstream; but a fisherman spooked them back down toward us. I was able to get a few quick photos as they went by.There were ten young in the group. Confirmed nesting success at last! It has already been a good day.

Posted by High Virginia Outdoors
Photos are the property of High Virginia Images
(c) 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED