Birds and Butterflies at Fiddlers Point

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Zebra longwing on Spanish needle

Gulf fritillary ... this butterfly also has spots on its eyes!

"Drawing" of osprey

"Drawing" of wood storks

Wood stork

Snowy egret

Snowy egrets

Snowy egrets

Renewal

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Watching me watching him ... through

the window on the south side of our

house.

Blue Ridge High

Last month, Trudy and I embarked on a 2-week road trip through a portion of the Blue Ridge mountains. We drove our trusty Subaru Forester north along the Blue Ridge Parkway from milepost 199 at Fancy Gap, NC to milepost 0 at Rockfish Gap, VA, then continued north along the entire 105 miles of the Skyline Drive to its northern terminus at Front Royal, VA.

 



"The Blue Ridge Mountains are noted for their bluish color

when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in

Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere,

thereby contributing to the characteristic haze on the

mountains and their distinctive color." (Wikipedia)

This landscape also releases copious

quantities of feel-good vibes. In late

September the color was f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c,

with a million shades of green.

 

Fortunately, we experienced several mornings shrouded in fog.

This hardwood forest was on a portion of the Appalachian Trail

a short distance from our campsite in the Loft Mountain

campground, Shenandoah National Park.



 



Most days were cool with clear skies.

 

 

 

 

 

This statuary was in the North Carolina

Arboretum, Asheville.

The many diverse rock formations, like

these along the Fort Windham Rocks Trail,

(Skyline Drive milepost 10) are another 

intriguing aspect of the Blue Ridge.

By far the most interesting geological feature was this jumble

of rocks called a talus or scree on the Blackrock Summit Trail,

(Skyline Drive milepost 51.2). Erosion and weathering caused

these large slabs off rocks to break of a solid rock face and

tumble down the mountain.

 

 

 

The gurgle of mountain streams as well as

the roar of waterfalls are like the Sirens

song, so irresistible there is no escape.

 

Slickrock Falls, near Brevard, North Carolina

 

Looking Glass Falls, also near Brevard.

This was our campsite on September 17 in the Loft Mountain

Campground (Skyline Drive milepost 80, Shenandoah National

Park.) We were fortunate in the timing of our vacation, before

the government shutdown. Now all of the Shenandoah National

Park including the Skyline Drive is closed. Even in September,

some facilities were closed because of the sequester.

 

Lodge at Big Meadows (Skyline Drive milepost 51,

Shenandoah National Park)

 

Interior view of lodge

 

The cabin at Big Meadows where we spent one night.

 

Water + Plants + 2 Light conditions = 2 images

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Pine Lilies



I see these pine lilies (also known as Catesby's lily) only occasionally. These were blooming in late August.

 

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S'more Flower Photos

These marshmallows are blooming in the Panacea area

 

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Beaching

During our week-long family reunion at New Smyrna Beach last month, I drove a short distance south to enjoy many sunrises over the Atlantic in the Canaveral National Seashore. The park's 24-mile long barrier island beach is the longest undeveloped beach in Florida and one of my favorite places on the planet.

 

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This is the view looking south from one of

five stairways over the dune to the ocean.

My mother and father fondly referred to this as 'Red Shell'.

And now, so do I.

You can't help but feel the energy of an ocean, splashing and 

crashing as waves rush forward. The white foam is stationary for

only a moment. Then there is a subtle hissing sound as the water

returns rapidly back over sand and shell.

Shorebirds like these snowy egrets feasted on the abundant

sand fleas ...

Pursuit ...

and capture.

They often turn there heads sideways just before swallowing,

always with ...

style and grace.

Aaaaah, another sunrise!

And another.

And another. MMMMMmmmm.