Saturday, May 2, 2009

From Wet to Dry

This was the scene last Thursday in West Virginia, at Cranberry Glades. These high-elevation montane forests are the cloud forests of the great eastern deciduous forest, bathed nearly daily in misty fumaroles. All of this moisture makes these habitats rich and diverse, although the weather can be a bit challenging for the observer.

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
Right now, I'm sitting at Port Columbus airport in Ohio, awaiting my flight to Houston, Texas, with a connector to Corpus Christi. I'll spend the next few days in sea level habitats about as different as the mountains of West Virginia as is possible, without leaving the country. I'm going to catch the tail end of the American Birding Association's annual conference, then shoot on down to the Rio Grande Valley along the Mexican border.
Should be lots of great birds, butterflies, dragonflies, plants, etc - and probably no rain whatsoever. I'll report back sooner or later.

8 comments:

Tom Arbour said...

Jim-

Congrats on the LG Award. Enjoy Texas.

Jeff Gyr said...

Hey Jim--

Hope you see lots of great stuff in Texas. It was nice seeing you for a few days here. My Mom had a great time on the Cranberry Glades with you.

Jana said...

The Cranberry Glades look fantastic, if a bit wet.

What's an LG Award?

Dawn Fine said...

Have a great time in Texas..bring your air conditioner..

Keith said...

Jim, Congrats on your award. It is always great to hang with you. see you soon.
Keith
New River Birding and nature festival

Jana said...

I know what the award is now (thanks Janet).

Congratulations!

Jim McCormac said...

Hi all,

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Keith, always a pleasure to lead trips with you, and you are getting crazy field skills! ID'ing the call notes of Blackburnian Warblers!

I really enjoyed having your mom along on the Cranberry field trip, Jeff, and I think she got a few "life plants".

Jim

Susan Gets Native said...

We missed you at the end of the Festival, Jim!
Congrats on the award!