Saturday, November 23, 2013

Shenandoah Nat'l Park

November 23, 2013

Linking up Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-b-birdin  and Scenic Weekends
I hope you are joining in and posting your birds and critters.

I wish everyone in the USA a very  Happy Thanksgiving!

 I thought I would share the daytrip hubby and I took to Shenandoah Nat'l Park and the skyline drive on Nov 3. We missed the peak time for Shenandoah's  fall colors because we were vacationing in New Mexico. But, we had to give it a try and see what we could just for the day. We took our usual walks along the Limberlost trail and on the Appalachian trail.


It was a windy day, so the birds were hunkered down. This Hermit Thrush was the only bird we saw in the open. I did hear lots of Juncos, Kinglets, Titmouse, WT SParrows and Red-Bellied and Downy woodpeckers.


Hermit Thrush..adults are mainly brownish on the upperparts with reddish tails. The underparts are white with darkish spots. They have pink legs and a white eye-ring. They forage on the forest floor, eating insects and berries.


There are actually two Black bears in this shot, you can just BEARLY make out the smaller cub on the ground and  behind the fallen tree. During our Shenandoah visit we saw a total of three bears. These two and another one in the woods along the road.




A view from the Appalachian trail..we still managed to see some pretty colors.


A couple of White-tailed deer seen from along the road.


Some more of Shenandoah's colors. I hope you enjoyed our visit to Shenandoah Nat'l Park. 

 Thanks for stopping by and  I wish everyone a happy weekend.
 To see more beautiful photos and cute critters
please visit:  Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious hosts Misty Dawn of Camera Critters and to Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin. and thanks to Gemma our host of Scenic Weekends

56 comments:

Joop Zand said...

Lovely park Eileen and very nice pictures.

wish you a good weekend.

Greetings, Joop

Our photos said...

Beautiful photos, but the little bird is lovely!

rainfield61 said...

I wonder whether these bears are invasive.

Bob Bushell said...

I would love to be able to get a mobile home and photograph there in the USA. You're so lucky Eileen, with the birds and lovely Black Bears.

Debbie said...

it's just fasinating for me to see bears in the wild. it makes me think that all hope is not lost for our country. that natural beauty, outside of zoos, is still out there for us to find and enjoy!!

an awesome set of images eileen, i hope to visit there some day!!

katerchen said...

ja ich habe die Bilder SEHR genossen Eileen..
Bären.doll aber ich hätte Angst

ein schönes Wochenende vom katerchen und dem Pauli..mann

Anonymous said...

Bears, birds and heavenly Autumn colors plus a lovely drive.. I'm green with envy Eileen :)

Happy weekend.

Brian King said...

The bear sighting would be the most exciting for me! I've seen their tracks near our cabin, but have never seen one in the wild. I just love the last photo! That's gorgeous!

Phil Slade said...

Love that last shot Eileen, it's superb. Fantastic to see Black Bears in the wild and to get pictures as well. The Hermit Thrush is a beauty too and it's so attractive its a shme it has to hide away in the forest like a hermit.

Sue said...

Beautiful!
You sure live near a LOT of neat parks--you're quite fortunate. A nice day (or weekend!) trip is never far away.
I really like the view UP to the treetops. Well, I like ALL the pics, actually!
Have a great weekend!

TexWisGirl said...

the trees in the last shot are gorgeous. love the wide-eyed thrush, too!

Gail Dixon said...

Whoa, I'm so impressed with the bear and hermit thrush shots. Also, the vertical photo of the gold trees and the shot of the fall foliage in the valley. Nice set; what a great vacation!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

gorgeous mountains & those trees are perfect. love the bear too. ( :
i hope you were very far away.

Maude Lynn said...

Beautiful pictures, Eileen!

Gattina said...

Birds and white tailed deer I can find our woods, but bears ... ! only in a zoo !

Snap said...

Lovely shots, Eileen. The Hermit Thrush and the deer are lovely. The bears -- lovely but glad they are *far* away! ;) If I don't *see* you before -- Happy Thanksgiving!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Great shots, Eileen. As you well know, I LOVE that area also... The last picture is fabulous--with the left-over Fall colors... Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

Lynne said...

Dropping in for a quick peek at one of my favorites. I wasn't disappointed. Happy Thanksgiving Eileen!

DIMI said...

Hallo Eileen!!!
What a beautiful park!!!Amazing autumn images!!!What a preety bird!!!Great shots!!!How lucky you are seeing a bear!!!!Thank you for sharing this beauty!!!Have a lovely weekend!!!Hugs!!!
Dimi...

Tammie Lee said...

so much beauty!
autumn colors, animals, light and shadows.

how wonderful that you got to see bears!

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Such a wonderful trip - the colors and view are wonderful - what an interesting little bird.

Louisette said...

Always wonderfull foto Greeting from Belgium

Anni said...

I've not seen this thrush in real time...what a treat. And your Autumn foliage was still in its prime if you ask me...beautiful. The bear and the deer was an extra treat Eileen.

Have a blessed week ahead and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Ailime said...

Olá Eileen, fotos fantásticas! Maravilhoso captar os ursos! Adorei ver. Abraços Ailime

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Gorgeous scenery, nice shot looking up into the trees.

Indrani said...

This was one wonderful visit. You got great captures.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

HI that is a lovely park and I loved seeing the bears and the deer. that last show adn the angle yuo shot it from was fantastic.

Crafty Green Poet said...

the hermit thrush is very handsome and the autumnal colours are beautiful!

DeniseinVA said...

A lovely visit Eileen! I love going up to the park and you got some great shots on your day trip. Glad you got to see and hear the birds, and also the black bears. Have a great weekend :)

Arija said...

Such a beautiful, golden autumn with little birds colour-coded to match the fluttering leaves.
Have a very, very Happy Birthday!

Unknown said...

Looks like you had a wonderful visit! I love the view from the trail and the bears.

HansHB said...

A beautiful post, great photos!

Mersad said...

My head is spinning from so much beauty. What a view from the trail, and that last shot is fantastic!

Joanne Olivieri said...

You always take us on such special journeys with your camera. Have a fantastic Thanksgiving week.

The Furry Gnome said...

After being there in the spring it's nice to see some fall pix. Nice to still have fall colours way down there; no leaves here - just snow!

SandyCarlson said...

Goodness! What beautiful views--and what a precious bird. You sure are good at this. I love visiting your blog for the art of seeing you display!

Stephanie said...

Love the tall trees in the last shot.

Karen said...

Beautiful scenery, love that thrush, and the bears -Wow.

Sonja said...

Some beautiful colour there, something we never see on that scale here.

Regina said...

Hey Eileen..the colors are beautifu! All lovely and I see the bear or at least one.
Sorry it took me awhile to get back, but been a hectic week.) My mom passed -but peaceful anywy.
I do wish you a wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving!

Liz said...

Oh wow! That would really be something to see bears in the wild!!
Beautiful images, Eileen. It looks like such a lovely place.

diane b said...

The last shot is fabulous. How lucky to walk part of the Appalachian trail. I read a great book about that walk.

EG CameraGirl said...

Another beautiful place to enjoy birds. I have heard there were a ton of hermit thrushes here this fall but I never saw one! Hmmm.

Noushka said...

A great set of pictures too!
Love the view!
We had bears around in North Carolina, but funny enough I never saw any!

Unknown said...

I think all our bears are asleep!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River.

Pallavi said...

Beautiful birds :) have a lovely day.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

That view from the Appalachian Trail is amazing!! And I love that Hermit Thrush :)

Our Neck of the Woods said...

Cool shot of the bears! And you did get to see some colorful leaves - they are very pretty!

Suzan said...

Ohhhhh - love the bear shots!! The Shenandoah National Park is probably the most beautiful place for the change of all four seasons! It's so lush, green, wild, fall changing and white in winter!! It's been way to long since I've been there! You just made me want to go again!!

Maria said...

This is just so breathtaking, I love those trees!

NatureFootstep said...

the little trush is gorgeous in it´s colors. And the bear, isn´t it strange such a big creature can be so hard to spot. :)

Linda said...

Nice shots! You were fortunate to get a shot of the bears. We go to Shenandoah National Park fairly often but I've only gotten one decent bear shot.

Poppy said...

Eileen,

I assume you are in your car on this journey through the part! Those bears look so close! Love the last picture of the park, that auburn autumn forest is glorious!

Poppy

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I'd love to walk there with you as my guide!

xinex said...

Oh wow! I have never seen a bear in nature. Awesome shots!...Christine

Anonymous said...

Lovely nature scenes!

Happy Monday!

  Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Happiness is a place between too little and too much." "Find joy in th...