Limberlost Trail and Big Meadows @ Shenandoah

Happy Monday everyone!

I am sharing some more images from our last trip to Shenandoah Nat'l Park. On this day we hiked the Hawksbill Trail first and then we went to the Big Meadows and the Limberlost Trail. We did some walking on this day! 

The flowers below were seen all along the Skyline Drive, such a cheery sight to see. 

We saw a few White-tailed deer on the Big Meadows. 

There were some pretty roadside daylilies along the Skyline Drive. 

The Limberlost Trail is one of my favorite, easy flat walking. Usually this trail is great to see the Hooded Warbler, Redstart, Towhee and the Scarlet Tanager seen below bottom right. 

Another bird I saw on the Limberlost trail was this Black and White Warbler. They move along the tree like the Nuthatches. 

Black and White Warbler.

I hope you will visit the following memes and links. I'll see you there. 

Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks for visiting and commenting, have a happy day and a great new week!

Saturday's Critters #293

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

I have been enjoying the birds and butterflies seen in my yard.  The Buddleia Bush or also known as the Butterfly Bush is great for attracting different species of butterflies. In the 2nd and 3rd weeks of July I was seeing many Tiger Swallowtails, Fritillary and the Monarch butterflies. 

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird likes to sit in my blueberry bush. 

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds like to sit on the branches of the Buddleia, their feeders are close by. Below it is perch right on the hook for the feeder. 

I am seeing lots of the Tiger Swallowtail butterflies, they are lovely. 

The first Monarch in my yard seen on July 20th.  

The Monarch Butterfly

Black Swallowtail

Carolina Wren is a cutie, I love to hear them sing.

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !






Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Shenandoah Nat'l Park Part II

Happy Thankful Thursday!

I am sharing photos from the 2nd day of our overnight visit to Shenandoah Nat'l Park. We started off early morning on a hard strenuous hike to the Hawksbill Summit. This trail is .8 miles all up hill. Round trip 1.6 miles on the Hawksbill trail, on this day we hiked a total of 4.5 miles. 

I have tried hiking this trail before and had to turn back due to a bad case of Vertigo. I was determined to complete this hike on this visit. 

A view of the Hawksbill Summit. 

We saw a few Dark-eyed Juncos at the summit. 

Hiking up the trail we noticed various warblers on the ground. We saw a few Black and White Warblers and a female American Redstart. 

Another Black and White Warbler. We were happy to be one of the first hikers on the trail that morning, the birds were all over the place. 

Below is a Black and White Warbler and possibly a Worm-eating Warbler? 

Lots of pretty wildflowers near the Hawksbill summit.

I am guessing this is bee balm?

Another view from the Hawksbill Summit.

I am thankful to complete a hike, especially a strenuous hike.  I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday



Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Our world, My world

Hello,

Happy Monday, wishing everyone a great day and new week!

These are some images from around my yard and our walk on the local bike trail.  

I have some blooms from around our yard, we are having enough rain to make everything grow well.  It was nice see the clematis plant bloom a second time. 

The Lantana growing in this pot is huge, taking up a corner of our deck.

Some potted annuals on the table, upright Fuchsia, Zinnias, Salvia and some herbs.

Usually this fuchsia is sold in a hanging basket, but we found growing in a pot at our local nursery. 

Our local bike trail, we can walk a few miles on the flat trail.  We usually try walking early in the morning, to avoid the hot and humid afternoons. 

A view of our bike trail called the NCR trail or the North Central Railroad rails to trails. 

Along the trail is a bench for resting and some Bee Balm. I am seeing Bee Balm everywhere we walk lately. 

I had a quick view of the Great Blue Heron flying up the river. Below a view of the Gunpowder River, some hosta blooms and down by the river are the orange daylilies. 

I was able to catch this Belted Kingfisher perched on a tree above the river. 

Maybe you will visit the following memes and links. I hope to see you there. 

Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks for visiting and commenting, have a happy day!

Saturday's Critters #292

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!


These are some images from our walk on the C&O Canal trail located at Riley's Lock in Potomac Maryland. 

I can always find the Green Herons at this location. They are one of my favorite herons. 

We saw a lot of these Slider Turtles in the canal. They were sitting on piles of mud or trunks trunks sticking out the water.  

There were a lot of dragonflies flying around. 

A couple of Bald Eagles were seen and heard.  There must be a nest nearby. 

A second Green Heron seen along the trail.  I think their rusty neck and colors are beautiful. 

The Green Heron, one of the smallest herons. They can be hard to spot. They blend in well with their surroundings. 

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !







Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Shenandoah Nat'l Park

Happy Thankful Thursday


On July 9th-10 hubby and I took an overnight trip to Shenandoah Nat'l Park. We spent the night in nearby Harrisonburg Va. We picked 2 days when they were calling for cooler and less humid weather.  In 2 days we hiked a total 10 miles, we saw lots of birds, butterflies and some deer. My photos are below with a caption explaining the photo. I hope I identified the birds correctly. 


Below is the view from the Pass Mountain overlook, we took a short loop trail at this parking lot. The next 2 photos show the pretty sky during the first day of our Shenandoah trip. 

The Indigo Buntings were plentiful in the park. 

We also took a short walk on the Compton Gap Trail where we saw this pretty sure this is a Blue-headed Vireo on the nest.

A juvenile Scarlet Tanager or maybe a female?

A deer seen off the Compton Gap Trail.

I am not positive about this flower's id, I was thinking it looked like white Bee Balm.

Bee Balm and a Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly.

A mosaic with images from the Big Meadows, we saw lots of Milkweed, daises, Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on milkweed,  unknown bush with yellow blossoms, Thistle, Song Sparrow and a female Brown-headed Cowbird. 

Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, not sure of the orange flower id?

Some wild daisies on the Big Meadows @ Shenandoah Nat'l Park.

On the Limberlost Trail, we heard a lot of American Redstarts, Hooded Warblers. This is a guess, I think it is an Eastern Phoebe. 

A pretty male Eastern Towhee seen off the Limberlost Trail.

Below is from our walk on the Limberlost Trail. 

I am thankful for the wildflowers. 
I am thankful for nice hiking weather. 
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday



Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!