Traveling south out of Michigan, we skirted Toledo and headed back to Lake Erie to check out Magee Marsh that we had heard so much about from other birders. Of course this isn't the best time of year for birding but in the Spring, hundreds of birders flock to see warblers and other migrants as they rest before crossing the lake heading north.
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| Water Snake |
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| English Asters |
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| Tufted Titmouse |
We then headed southeast to West Virginia and stayed in two very nice state parks in the Appalachian Mountains.
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| Whirligig Beetles |
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| White-tailed Fawn |
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| Spiny Micrathena female spider |
Fall was in the air, at least on the west side of the mountains, it was still summer in Virginia when we arrived. We stayed near Lynchburg, camping out in the driveway of our friends, Art & Betsy Cavanaugh who had moved up here from Florida in May. Ty helped Art with some yard work and we did some day trips to natural and historical landmarks in the area.
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| Northern Mockingbird |
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| Smooth Earth Snake |
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| Art & Betsy at Natural Bridge State Park |
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| Indian Village Exhibit at Natural Bridge |
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| Blue Ridge Mountains |
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| Osage Orange Tree to left of home |
This is Patrick Henry's Red Hill Historical Site where we joined Art & Betsy's grandkids for a Homeschool field trip. Exploring the life and times of that era.
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| Cotton plant in bloom |
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| Floyd's Country Store |
We joined hundreds of people in the little town of Floyd, Virginia for Gospel Blue Grass followed by Flatfoot dancing and lots of fun.
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| Appomattox Court House National Park |
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| McLean House where Lee surrendered to Grant ending the Civil Wat |
We then headed southeast through North Carolina and to the Atlantic Ocean, staying 3 days at Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina. A beautiful beach on the east and extensive marshlands on the west, full of wildlife.
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| Atlantic Fiddler Crab -male |
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| Pile of baby Alligators |
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| Black & White Warbler |
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| Gulf Fritillary |
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| Zebra Heliconian |
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| Alligator |
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| Cattle Egret |
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| White Ibis |
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| Great Egret |
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| Semipalmated Plover extracting Green Oyster Worm |
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| Roseate Spoonbill |
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| Tri-colored Heron snags a catch |
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| Snowy Egret & Little Blue Heron |
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| Clapper Rail |
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| Stone Crab |
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| Brown Thrasher preening |
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| 192 Wood Storks |
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| Wood Stork balancing on pine tree |
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| Wood Stork |
Time to get "on the road again" and head toward Georgia and then Florida, enjoying God's creation at every turn.
Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann
Cool water snake photo!
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