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

57 comments:

  1. Lovely park Eileen and very nice pictures.

    wish you a good weekend.

    Greetings, Joop

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  2. Beautiful photos, but the little bird is lovely!

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  3. I wonder whether these bears are invasive.

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  4. 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.

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  5. 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!!

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

    ein schönes Wochenende vom katerchen und dem Pauli..mann

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

    Happy weekend.

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  8. 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!

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  9. 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.

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  10. 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!

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

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  12. 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!

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

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

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  15. 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!

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  16. 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

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

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  18. 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...

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

    how wonderful that you got to see bears!

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

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  21. Always wonderfull foto Greeting from Belgium

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  22. 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.

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

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  24. Gorgeous scenery, nice shot looking up into the trees.

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  25. This was one wonderful visit. You got great captures.

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  26. 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.

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

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  28. 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 :)

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

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

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

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  32. Wow; how lucky are you to see bear in the wild! I wouldn't mind having the opportunity someday to photograph a bear that is not in my yard or in the zoo! Nice picture of the landscape and love the little bird.

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

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  34. 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!

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  35. 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!

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  36. Love the tall trees in the last shot.

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

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

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  39. 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!

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

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

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  42. 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.

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

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

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  45. Beautiful birds :) have a lovely day.

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

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

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  48. 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!!

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  49. This is just so breathtaking, I love those trees!

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  50. 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. :)

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  51. 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.

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  52. 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

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

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

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  55. Lovely nature scenes!

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Have a happy day, Eileen

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