Take A Hike

[Dee-Vo]

I've now completed all of the trails at Stone Mountain State Park in NC.
           

Have you done any of the off trail hikes with Friends of Stone Mountain?

Nope, but I've done plenty of them myself getting to trout streams.

[Dee-Vo]

I actually got the whole fam out on a trail around the knob today, imagine that!

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[Dee-Vo]

Hiked a couple of miles on Pilot Creek Access Trail near Pilot Mountain this evening. Saw a nice buck rub on a cedar and a Brown-headed nuthatch was squeaking in the trees overhead. 

[Dee-Vo]

I visited the Mayo River State Park this morning and hiked the almost four miles of trails there in the North Carolina section.

Pretty quiet area with a couple big ponds.

Saw a red-shouldered hawk and a brown creeper among the other usual residents. The creeper was super neat. It was the first that I've saw of its kind. I watched while it worked its way up trees, prying its sharp beak underneath the bark.

Next outing will be to the Virginia portion of this park.

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[Onslow]

Shoals north entrance is closed.

Horne Creek trail...

Horne Creek

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The Yadkin above Horne Creek
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[Dee-Vo]

I've been there. There is supposed to be an eagle's nest nearby. I've been meaning to check it out.

[Dee-Vo]

The things you see if you'll just get out and look.

I take a morning walk and an evening walk each day from my office around town. I like the smaller streets because they're quiet and I can hear the birds and see things. I usually cover a mile each walk.

Today, I saw this hawk swoop down at a small groundhog. This happened just 30-40' from me. It didn't get the groundhog. The hawk was being harassed by Blue jays to no end. The hawk returned to a shrub and just walked around the yard like he was hunting something in the shrub. I'm thinking maybe there was a Blue jay nest in there? They were all over the hawk.

A few days ago I also checked a nest in the front yard of my home that I've been monitoring. A pair of Brown thrashers have been protecting a nest of eggs there. When I checked it this time, there was a small/medium-sized black snake coiled atop the nest and there were no eggs left. The parents of the nest were going nuts to try and run the snake off but it looked like the damage had been done.

I'm guessing the hawk is a Cooper's or Red-shouldered. What do you think? I'm not that great at hawks.

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[rbphoto]

Try the Merlin app - helps identify birds based on several different methodologies - sound, photo, description, etc.

I lean toward Red Shouldered, probably a younger bird, but not this year's brood. A groundhog is a bit too much to tackle for most birds this size, IMO, which also leads me to think it's not a mature specimen.

Cooper's typically have a more narrow tail feather section and are smaller bodied raptors.

I love the hiking advice.  We went Friday as well - chasing waterfalls.  Found several and took my wife to one she's never seen before. 

Raymond

[Big J]

Juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk

[Dee-Vo]

Try the Merlin app - helps identify birds based on several different methodologies - sound, photo, description, etc.

I lean toward Red Shouldered, probably a younger bird, but not this year's brood. A groundhog is a bit too much to tackle for most birds this size, IMO, which also leads me to think it's not a mature specimen.

Cooper's typically have a more narrow tail feather section and are smaller bodied raptors.

I love the hiking advice.  We went Friday as well - chasing waterfalls.  Found several and took my wife to one she's never seen before. 

Raymond

Juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk

Thank you both.

I use the Merlin app more than most people would dream of. I've learned a ton of identification by sound from this app. It's awesome.

Where is the waterfall that you posted? Looks familiar to me, but, they all do after you've seen a bunch of them.

[Dee-Vo]

Yesterday morning, while on my morning mile walk from the office, I saw what I believe is the same hawk, in the same yard, from the other day. It's always just walking around like a chicken. Pretty interesting.

Here's a picture of it from this time.

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[rbphoto]

Try the Merlin app - helps identify birds based on several different methodologies - sound, photo, description, etc.

I lean toward Red Shouldered, probably a younger bird, but not this year's brood. A groundhog is a bit too much to tackle for most birds this size, IMO, which also leads me to think it's not a mature specimen.

Cooper's typically have a more narrow tail feather section and are smaller bodied raptors.

I love the hiking advice.  We went Friday as well - chasing waterfalls.  Found several and took my wife to one she's never seen before. 

Raymond

Juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk

Thank you both.

I use the Merlin app more than most people would dream of. I've learned a ton of identification by sound from this app. It's awesome.

Where is the waterfall that you posted? Looks familiar to me, but, they all do after you've seen a bunch of them.

I love the Merlin app for the sound ID as well.  Best feature ever.

King's Creek Falls in Walhalla, SC.  Near Burrell's Ford on the Chattooga.  It's just off the Foothills Trail and one of my favorite quiet retreats, or was until half the rest of the world discovered it.  I've been going there for more than 40 years.

Raymond

[Dee-Vo]

Try the Merlin app - helps identify birds based on several different methodologies - sound, photo, description, etc.

I lean toward Red Shouldered, probably a younger bird, but not this year's brood. A groundhog is a bit too much to tackle for most birds this size, IMO, which also leads me to think it's not a mature specimen.

Cooper's typically have a more narrow tail feather section and are smaller bodied raptors.

I love the hiking advice.  We went Friday as well - chasing waterfalls.  Found several and took my wife to one she's never seen before. 

Raymond

Juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk

Thank you both.

I use the Merlin app more than most people would dream of. I've learned a ton of identification by sound from this app. It's awesome.

Where is the waterfall that you posted? Looks familiar to me, but, they all do after you've seen a bunch of them.

I love the Merlin app for the sound ID as well.  Best feature ever.

King's Creek Falls in Walhalla, SC.  Near Burrell's Ford on the Chattooga.  It's just off the Foothills Trail and one of my favorite quiet retreats, or was until half the rest of the world discovered it.  I've been going there for more than 40 years.

Raymond

Thank you. I haven't been there. Maybe one day!

[Dougfish]

Orange Fringed Orchid. Nice.
 

[Dee-Vo]

Got in about 4.5 miles today. Hiked to Carter Falls in the Elkin area.

Simple hike and quiet. I'd like to see what fish are swimming in that little flow.

Saw an osprey gliding high in the sky today with its 'M' shaped profile.

Time is limited. Time is passing.

With age has came deeper thought and consideration.

My dad isn't doing well and different angles of perspective constantly fog my brain.

I guess we'll all do the best we can do, or at least convince ourselves that we did.

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