They are on the Move

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration has begun.  These little jewels have been sighted in eastern Texas, southern Louisiana, Mississippi, and have crossed the Florida border into southern Alabama and Georgia.

The 2012 map for sighting and reporting is up.  Go here to see the map.  You can track the hummingbird migration so you will know when to put out your feeders.  You might even be lucky enough to sight and report the first one in your area.

I must admit the map always concerns me as the hummingbirds approach our area.  Perhaps because we are so near the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment, the hummingbirds are seen to our west, east, and north before we finally get them.  So I often have to change the nectar a couple of times before we get any hummingbirds.  But one little bird makes us forget all about that.  Hurrah for spring!

Batteries Not Included

Every year the Cradle of Forestry (here) holds a Forest Festival Day in which various North Carolina colleges of forestry celebrate forest heritage in a competition.  The competition includes log rolls, speed chopping, axe throws, pole climbs, and other activities related to forestry.  We were able to go to the festival on Saturday and truly enjoyed watching the young forestry students compete in these age-old activities.  It was a beautiful day, sunny and brisk.  The skill of the young students was amazing.  Other exhibits demonstrated wood carving, soap making, and other activities.  It was a lovely day.

I suppose you think I am going to show you some photographs of the various events.  That was indeed my plan.  But you see?  I had put the camera batteries on the charger the previous evening.  Enough said?  The camera went with me all right, but the batteries stayed at home.  Of course my dear husband thought that was hilarious and asked the obvious, "Didn't you think the camera seemed a little light?"

So instead of the pictures of the festival, I will show you what our area looks like with autumn just beginning.  We had some much needed rain and a drop in temperature.  When the rains stopped, the mountains were clear and beautiful.

The edge of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment lies a short drive from our house, across the SC line.  There are dramatic views from the escarpment where the mountains meet the piedmont of South Carolina.  On a clear day you can see for miles and miles.

These photographs were taken last week by my husband at Caesar's Head State Park, SC.

Table Rock looms above everything else.  The lake below it is the reservoir that provides water to the city of Greenville, SC.  Needless to say it is a popular hiking spot.

Looking in the other direction you can see the hills and valleys below the escarpment.  There isn't much color at those elevations yet.

Atop the mountain however the leaves are just beginning to turn.

In another week the color will take your breath away.

We'll make another trip to the area in about 10 days so that you can see how rich the autumn colors are in this area.

And next year...when I go to the Forest Festival Day I will take the batteries along with the camera.

The Escarpment in Spring

Portions of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment are quite near our home. The dramatic drop from mountains to plateau creates dramatic scenery. Recent rains have shrouded the mountains in a foggy haze, but the sight is gorgeous just the same.

This is a view of Table Rock in South Carolina. Note that the shoreline of the reservoir indicates the normal water level. Last fall the water was several feet below the shore.



Giant rock formations scatter the mountain, overhanging into the gorge.

There are many shades of spring green as the various trees fully leaf.

This long-range view gives an idea of just how dramatic the elevation drop is. The land below is more than a thousand feet lower than the land on which I stood to take the photograph.

So much attention is paid to the mountains in autumn, and deservedly so. But I really love the greens that cover the mountains in spring.

Road to Pretty Place

Wednesday's post gave you views from the chapel at Pretty Place, and the chapel itself.

But the drive to get to Pretty Place affords some spectacular views of the autumn color as well. These pictures do not give justice to the beauty, since you cannot feel the crisp fall air and turn yourself around to catch a panoramic view. So add images of birds singing, squirrels romping through the leaves, and a sense of well-being to these photographs to approach the real beauty.

The road to Camp Greenville and Pretty Place runs along a bifurcation of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. The valleys below are as much as 2,00 feet lower in elevation. Much of the area represents a true wilderness. The terrain is not suitable for building, even in today's sophisticated construction industry. For that we can be grateful.

Autumn Color at Pretty Place

Camp Greenville is a YMCA camp established in 1912. It sits on top of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment, just inside the South Carolina border. A year-round camp, Camp Greenville offers summer camps for ages 7-17 as well as environmental education programs, conferences, retreats for business, and weddings.

Weddings? At a YMCA camp? Oh, yes.

At the very end of the road to Camp Greenville, atop Standing Stone Mountain sits the Fred Symmes Chapel, built and donated to the camp in 1941. The chapel is open air and non-denominational, designed as a place for worship and reflection. It is a very popular site for weddings.

The view from Fred Symmes Chapel is absolutely stunning. The location has come to be called, "Pretty Place." Here is the view of the front of the chapel.

The interior is lined with bronze plaques, most with lovely poems and scriptures.

A large wooden cross at the altar overlooks a panoramic view of the mountains. The scripture on the wooden beam above the cross (from Psalm 121) reads, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help."

The view is lovely in all seasons, but the autumn colors are breath-taking. The color is a little past peak with less yellow and more orange and brown.

Even the nearby trees are bursting with color.

From "Pretty Place" the view stretches for miles. (I have no idea what the cleared space represents, but I intend to find out.)

We are still having lovely fall weather with chilly nights and sunny days. We would gladly exchange all the remaining fall color for some much needed rain. The trees really need a good soaking before winter comes.

My First Hawk Watch

Yesterday, I attended my first Hawk Watch at Caesar's Head State Park. While the park is in South Carolina, it is not far from my house. Every year, people gather to watch the migrating raptors soar through the air along the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. They glide effortlessly as the thermals and uplift keep them aloft. It was a cool day; hazy but with sunshine periodically.

I must tell you up front that "watch" is the operative word here. Just like "askin' ain't gettin'," so "watchin' ain't seein'." In case you are hoping for shots of soaring raptors, I will tell you that not one hawk made an appearance. There was a lot of talk of all the Broadwings and Red-tailed Hawks that were seen on Friday. More than 200 raptors were counted Friday. That was not to be the case on Saturday. In truth, I did not stay for the entire four hours, leaving after only an hour. So it is possible, even likely, that after I left the hawks soared through.

[Disclaimer: I have never before photographed a bird in flight, so keep that in mind.]

When I arrived, several people were gathered at the observation area.



They were looking in all directions. Most of them stopped to welcome me to the group. The Ranger scanned the skies (along with everyone else) hoping to get that first glimpse.

Not a hawk, but a vulture appeared on the horizon. This was sufficient to excite everyone in the crowd.

A Turkey Vulture soared past us. Despite the fact that these are relatively common around here, we all watched as if we'd never seen one. Seeing a vulture high in the sky is one thing; seeing one gliding below you is another.

More and more vultures appeared, much to the delight of everyone.

I just loved the way the group banded together. Within twenty minutes we were all on a first-name basis. As I was taking pictures, Miriam (whom I had never met before) suggested I take a picture of the little flower growing in a tiny hole in the large rock formation below us. So this one is for Miriam:

So I left my first Hawk Watch without seeing a single hawk. Was this a bust? Absolutely not. It was a WONDERFUL afternoon. Where else but during a bird watch would some stranger hand you a $2,000 pair of Swarovski binoculars and say, "Take a look through these, Carolyn." The group enjoyed sharing information about cameras, lenses, binoculars and experiences. One woman told her husband, "But I thought you said you have the Cadillac of binoculars." The husband replied, "Yes, but John here has the Masarati." I don't know if all bird watching groups are so friendly and congenial, but this one was wonderful and I truly enjoyed the time I spent with them.

-----The final picture is one of the trees below us. There is a tiny hint of the spectacular color to follow. I can't wait!

Fortunately, the hawks do not select one specific day to fly the escarpment. My husband and I will drive down there during the week to see if we can find some raptors. And I will do more practicing in photographing flying objects to give you some better pictures.

A Visit to Caesar's Head

I have posted before about the part of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment where the mountains meet the piedmont in Upstate South Carolina. Just a few miles across the North Carolina border into South Carolina is Caesar's Head State Park which lies on the escarpment and offers some wonderful views. The park is very popular, with a visitor's center (complete with a model of the escarpment), shelters and picnic areas. Nearby trails offer strenuous hiking into the gorges.

The park is situated on land covered with huge rock formations.


This is taken from the trail leading to an area in which Caesar's Head (the rock formation) can be viewed.

Here you can view the near and the distant mountains. It was a lovely day with fluffy white clouds and blue skies.

Before you can reach the viewing area, you must travel through the Devil's Kitchen. There are stairs leading down and the path winds through the narrow area between the giant rocks.

Once you make it through the Devil's Kitchen and hike a short distance, the rock formation known as Caesar's Head comes into view. Can you see Caesar's Head? Remember he is said to have had a rather large nose.

Here the formation is in the center of the photograph.

This is a close-up of Caesar's Head.

This area is absolutely gorgeous in all seasons. The short-range mountains, coupled with the distant mountains make the fall colors absolutely outstanding. I'll take another trip to Caesar's Head when the leaves are changing. I can't wait to show you.

View of Table Rock

Table Rock Mountain in South Carolina can be viewed following a short drive from my house across the SC State Line. The rock-faced mountain is a favorite destination for hikers. Below the mountain is the Table Rock Reservoir which supplies the drinking water for Greenville County, SC. You may be able to see that the water level is much lower than normal.




This mountain, to the right of Table Rock Mountain, is a Raven rookery and it is not uncommon to see ravens gliding the thermals from this sight.

Near the spot where I took the photographs, a special program is planned for September 20th. Called the Hawk Watch Program, it is designed for maximum viewing of migrating raptors. Try to imagine seeing hawks, kites, falcons, and perhaps eagles soaring below. I can't wait!!!