Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Songs of Sugar Creek

When you participate in WV's New River Birding and Nature Festival where every day holds so much to see, it is hard to pick any day in the field that is your favorite.  Each day is packed with special memories.
Wild Geranium

But there were several birds on my last day at the festival (May 1st), plus some flowers and a special lunch spot, that made the Sugar Creek trip settle in my memory with special contentment.  You couldn't ask for better.
On the first day of the festival I learned a new bird song, "teacher, teacher, teacher", and it now rings in my head whenever I think of the Oven Bird (above and below).  I became acquainted with this bird back in Tennessee at our Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge banding station.  But this day I enjoyed an exceptional look on territory.  He landed on a limb and walked along its length just as if he were on the ground, then threw back his head and sang.
Further up the ridge, we stopped in an area that over-looked brushy habitat in search of a Kentucky Warbler.  This is truly the first time I've ever looked down to find a warbler. As our guide and host Geoffrey Heeter commented, "How often do you get to see the color of the tops of their heads?!" 
Kentucky Warbler

Geoff Heeter

There was reason to also scan the ground.  It was still early spring in the higher elevations and the woods were peppered with early spring flowers.  Below a Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

And right before taking our break for lunch, the song of a Swainson's Warbler, my second spectacular look at this illusive bird.  This male perched on a limb nearby and continued to sing.
Our river-side lunch spot.
I could have spent the rest of the afternoon sitting here with a sketchbook.
Below, left to right:  Mark Garland, one of our expert guides, with Steve Mattan, and Laura Hardy.
The best news about the New River Birding and Nature festival, it happens every year!  Mark these dates on your calendar for next year--May 2-7, 2011

Links:
Visit Jeffrey Gordon's blog to see his great images of a Swainson's Warbler
National Park Service, New River Gorge 
Laura Hardy - Somewhere in N J
Steve Mattan - Recycled Photons

To see all my posts on the New River Birding and Nature Festival click here.
Coming up:  A June Slice of Florida's Space Coast

6 comments:

  1. *pouting that you got to go on a trip with MY Laura*

    Every post you write about the NRBNF makes me more and more glad that you came along this year. Everything about the place is special, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  2. That was a fantastic day in the field with great people, great weather, great places and great looks at great birds. I will take you back to that spot anytime just to get to see your “sketches” after you spent the day there. Thanks you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Susan. I feel the same way, a special experience and I'm so glad for the enticement to join you.
    It was great to meet Laura, too. An all around great adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you, Geoff. It WAS a great day. You and Mark did a wonderful job of finding the birds and giving us great looks through the scope. Couldn't ask for better!

    ReplyDelete
  5. It was a great day indeed.

    And that Swainson's was just awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Vickie, nice to see familiar faces and familiar faces! I'm so glad you were able to attend this year and so sad that I was not there to meet you! It looks like you had a wonderful time. I am waiting to see the paintings all these photos and memories inspire!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Ocean Trail at Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, California--2015

Ocean Trail at Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, California--2015

Bird-banding at Seven Islands State Birding Park--2014

Bird-banding at Seven Islands State Birding Park--2014
Photo courtesy of Jody Stone

Bird-banding at Seven Islands

Bird-banding at Seven Islands
Photo courtesy of Karen Wilkenson

Enjoying Gray Jays in Churchill!--2014

Enjoying Gray Jays in Churchill!--2014
Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Expeditions

Smithsonian National Zoo with one of my Whooping Crane banners and son, John--2014

Smithsonian National Zoo with one of my Whooping Crane banners and son, John--2014

The Incredible Muir Woods near Stinson Beach, CA--2014

The Incredible Muir Woods near Stinson Beach, CA--2014
Photo courtesy of Wendy Pitts Reeves

Me and Denali--2012

Me and Denali--2012
Photo courtesy of Bob King

For the Love of It...

...the sage sees heaven reflected in Nature as in a mirror, and he pursues this Art, not for the sake of gold or silver, but for the love of the knowledge which it reveals.
Sendivogius (1750)

Your Uncapped Creativity...

Your Uncapped Creativity...
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action; and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. You must keep that channel open. It is not for you to determine how good it is, nor how valuable. Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is for you to keep it yours, clearly and directly." ----the great dancer, Martha Graham