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!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

A few days late celebrating, but hubby and I went on a quick overnight trip to Shenandoah National Park. We seem to arrange a trip every anniversary. On May 4th it was our 29th anniversary. We spent the night in Harrisonburg Virginia, which is about a half hour drive to the Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park.  

These are some images from the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah Nat'l Park. We start off in Front Royal Virginia, the northern section of the drive.

We drove south on the drive to the Doyle River Waterfall trail at the 81.1 mile marker on the Skyline Drive. 

Appalachian Mountain views from one of the Skyline Drive overlooks.

A view of the sky around the parking lot at the waterfall trail.  Bird sounds were coming from every direction.  

The next two photos are the American Redstart, the male is pretty with his black and orange colors. 

I am not positive but I think this is the Red-eyed Vireo. We saw and heard a lot of birds in the area around the trail. 

The trail to the waterfalls, there is an Upper Doyle River falls and a lower Doyle River Falls. Round trip to the falls, it is 3.3 miles. Hiking back was hard on the legs, all up hill and steep in places. 

Our first view of the Upper Doyle River Falls, here it looks like there is two sections of the falls. 

Unknown wildflower seen along the trail.  Any help with the id is appreciated. UPDATE: thanks to my friend Donna on facebook, I have the id on this flower. It is called Galearis Spectabilis or commonly known as Showy Orchis. A native plant found in the Eastern USA.

A view of the Upper Doyle River falls, this was a view further down the trail. It showed three sections of the falls. 

The male Scarlet Tanager is a beautiful bird and I believe they breed in the park. 

I am thankful I am able to go a hike, to enjoy nature. 
I am thankful for my hubby!
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!