Birding without the Boat

Still dark and wet in West Virginia.

Only a post or two still cooking on the New River Birding & Nature Festival, dear readers. Bear with me?

Our Friday excursion, Birding by Boat, excited me but the stormy weather forecast called for revising the agenda a tad. Our genius trip leaders, Geoff Heeter and Jeff Gordon, put their minds together and came up with a dynamite plan. Instead of boarding a boat

we boarded an official, colorful Songer Whitewater Bus and I liked it. It was a great bus. Roomy.

When weather wrecks your plans, what are the chances of the day being much better than originally expected?

It was. We stopped for fancy coffee in the middle of the day, thank you.

Dear Nina, ever vigilant.

Swallows, Common Loons and Terns… I counted ten additional life birds on Friday.

It was all wet and breathtakingly beautiful, to me.

In the pouring rain

we smiled

and enjoyed Kathie’s Arizona rain gear. Her poncho was the best gear of all.

Waterfalls are uplifting in any weather, on any day.

I was constantly amazed at the Jeff and Geoff team. Two of my target birds were a Baltimore Oriole and Pileated Woodpecker and within twenty minutes, I saw both. Jeff and Geoff knew how and when to call the Pileated but that wasn’t enough. Jeff predicted precisely where the woodpecker would break through a wooded area and soar towards us to perch in a tree directly above our heads. That put me in shock, actually; therefore, no pictures. A good view of a Baltimore Oriole followed; again, no pictures. Funny, ey? By Thursday, I was functioning on half a brain and suffering from life bird overload. That's not a joke.

Late afternoon, the sun began to shine. They were focused on a bird. I was not :o)

We headed to the Cathedral Cafe in Fayetteville for dinner.

If you want to see great bird photos that I didn’t get that day (or all week), please visit Lynne at Hasty Brook or Jane, the one with the camera. You'll be so pleased!

The evening’s excitement grew as we anticipated hearing Julie speak.

Prior to Julie’s talk, our Kathi recited a witty and very kind poem she wrote in honor of Bill Thompson III. She named it “Birding with Bill”.

I think he liked it! Good job, Kathi.

About Julie’s presentation?

Absolutely enchanting.

I was thrilled to finally meet Julie and her family.

Our washed out Friday was a keeper.