Leader: Atlee Wise

Meeting Location: Parsons Shop N’ Save at 8:00am

Come join us as we walk the lower sections of the Blackwater Rail Trail. This lower section is often overlooked but in spring the area may flourish with wildflowers, ephemeral butterflies, and song birds on their journey north from South America. This is a naturalist walk, so we will not have any target group; our goal is to see as many cool things in nature as we can!

Meet at Fred Long Centennial Park

Guide: Atlee Wise

Join us at our bi-weekly hawkwatch at Fred Long Centennial Park. Fred Long Centennial Park provides an excellent vantage point allowing us to see several miles along a north-south migration route for many species of hawks, eagles, vultures and other raptors. If the weather cooperates there is potential to see several hundred raptors migrating and taking advantage of thermal updrafts to assist them in their migration. Bring a chair and some binoculars as we watch the spectacle of raptor migration!

Meet at 571 Douglas Road, Thomas, WV

Guide: Atlee Wise

Come join us on our bi-weekly moth night! We will be setting up blacklights on sheets to attract moths at the Buxton and Landstreet building. There are over 12,000 species of moths in North America so you never know what might come into the lights and surprise you! If any participants have their own moth light setup feel free to bring it, the more setups we have the better! 

Meet at the Blackwater Falls State Park Nature Center

Guide: Atlee Wise

Join us as we take a walk around the trails of Pendleton Lake as fall bird migration is starting to kick off. Being an isolated body of water in the mountains this lake provides excellent migratory habitat for many species of birds. We can expect to see many species of warblers and other migratory songbirds. Along with the birds there are tons of other cool things in nature to see on this trip!

Meet at the parking lot across from the Red Creek Campground on Dolly Sods at 7 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Friends of Blackwater is offering a chance for the public to watch migration of birds happen right before their own eyes. The geography at the Allegheny Front Bird Observatory sets up a funnel that sets a spectacle under the right conditions of thousands of songbirds including flycatcher, vireos, warblers, sparrows, and finches. This type of stationary count counts the entirety of identifiable birds coming by where the banding station only catches what comes low, giving a better understanding of the magnitude of birds that truly come through here. In late August several species are entering their migratory peak and several rarer migrations can and have been found during morning flight counts at the Sods such as Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Mourning Warbler. Bring a chair and stay to watch the beginning of the raptor movements as the morning progresses. I will be there at dawn so feel free to come earlier. This is a stationary count and will be standing at the same spot, about 0.1 from the parking lot

Meet at the parking lot across from the Red Creek Campground on Dolly Sods at 7 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Friends of Blackwater is offering a chance for the public to watch migration of birds happen right before their own eyes. The geography at the Allegheny Front Bird Observatory sets up a funnel that sets a spectacle under the right conditions of thousands of songbirds including flycatcher, vireos, warblers, sparrows, and finches. This type of stationary count counts the entirety of identifiable birds coming by where the banding station only catches what comes low, giving a better understanding of the magnitude of birds that truly come through here. In late August several species are entering their migratory peak and several rarer migrations can and have been found during morning flight counts at the Sods such as Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Mourning Warbler. Bring a chair and stay to watch the beginning of the raptor movements as the morning progresses. I will be there at dawn so feel free to come earlier. This is a stationary count and will be standing at the same spot, about 0.1 from the parking lot.  Flights are weather-dependent so look for this to be rescheduled for the following day so please R.S.V.P in advance so we can have a chance to evaluate the weather conditions.

Meet at the Beall Tract lot at the end of Beall Lane on Canaan Valley NWR at 10 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater for a trip out to see some of the area’s butterflies! The old hayfields and wood edges offer excellent pollinator habitat where we will hope to see a variety of Swallowtails, Northern Pearly-eye, Appalachian Brown, Common Ringlet, a variety of grass skipper, and perhaps specialties such as Pink-edged Sulphur. We hope for some up-close views of these species on the area’s wildflowers and might have the catch to net a few individuals to see them in hand. This site also offers a variety of grassland breeding birds to encounter such as Savannah Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Northern Harriers.  If time allows, we might check some other spots in the valley for butterflies and grab lunch somewhere after. Wear appropriate gear for hiking.

Meet at the Buxton and Landstreet Building at 8 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater for a morning of hiking out along the rail trail in hopes to see the first migrant flocks of the season. At this time of the year many warblers are already moving and can be found flocking up with chickadees and titmice forming foraging flocks that work through the trees and shrubs in search of a bite to eat. In addition to the variety of warblers we could run into many of the species who breed along the rail trail will still be hanging around their territory as different birds move at different times. Wear attire appropriate for hiking along a well-maintained trail.

Meet at Pendleton Lake Nature Center Parking lot at 8 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater in association with Blackwater Falls State Park for a morning of birding around the trails around Pendleton Lake as we look for flocks of migrating warblers mixed in with the resident birds of Blackwater Falls. Late August is peak migration for several species of warblers and this riparian and younger forest type habitats makes it a perfect location to look for many of these species such as Ovenbirds, Black-and-White Warblers, American Redstarts, Chestnut-sided Warblers, and Canada Warblers and some more uncommon migrants like Blue-winged Warbler and Mourning Warbler around this date. Wear appropriate hiking gear for being out on the maintained trails around the lake. Grass will still likely be wet from the morning dew so plan accordingly.

Meet at the Allegheny Trail (Davis Trailhead) directly across the bridge from Davis Shop N Save on the right at 8 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater for a morning of birding along the Blackwater River in Davis where we will search for migrating and dispersing birds and hope for waterbirds and shorebirds along the river and at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. We hope to see the Wood Ducks that can often be found on the ponds in late summer and hope for shorebirds along the edges, though rare in our region can occur here. Spotted Sandpipers have been favoring the rocky edges to the site here lately. The scrubby habitat bordering the trail to and past the treatment plant provides habitat for many species of songbirds that are getting ready to or already to migrate. We will search flocks of our resident species like chickadees for a variety of species of warblers. Many good birds have been seen at this location over the years and we hope to add to this tally! Wear proper attire for hiking roughly a mile on a maintained trail.

Meet at the Blackwater Falls Nature Center at Pendleton Lake at 8:30pm till 10pm

Leader: Aaron Graham and Paulita Cousins

Join Friends of Blackwater in association with Blackwater Falls State Park to Celebrate National Moth Week through an evening of observing hordes of moths. There will be multiple black light stations set up around the nature center that will draw in moths for us to observe, take pictures, and identify as they land on our backdrops. This is a good way to observe handfuls of moths at one location at once and give you a sense of how many moths can be right around your house!

Meet at the Freeland Road Boardwalk parking lot at 6 pm

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater for what will be a laidback evening of birding along the Freeland Boardwalk which offers an up-close view of one of the numerous wetland ecosystems in Canaan Valley. The boardwalk enables us to view wetland species such as Green Heron, Alder Flycatcher, Yellow Warblers, and Swamp Sparrows that enable the wetland. By this date the snags of the wetland will likely be taken over by hordes of Cedar Waxwings actively hawking insects over the wetlands. The Canaan Fir plantation halfway around the boardwalk often holds interesting birds such as the frequent Purple Finch. The fields across the road from the boardwalk offers good birding as well as Eastern Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, and Savannah Sparrows. We hope you will join us for what we hope to be a productive evening out!

Meet at the Buxton and Landstreet Building in Thomas at 9 am

Leaders: Aaron Graham and Frank Gebhard

Join Friends of Blackwater for an exclusive look in the remnants of a much more northern land feature that is the Big Run Bog. Many of the plant and bird species present are species that were left behind after the retreating of the glaciers after the last Ice Age. At this site both species of cranberries can be found, bog clubmoss, round-leaved sundew and cottongrass, in addition to the purple pitcher plants that were transported here to avoid their destruction when High Point Lake was created over a bog that held this species north of the Mason-Dixon Line in Pennsylvania. Another interesting plant that can be seen around the bog is Golden Club. The birding here can be worthwhile as well with Northern Waterthrush and the occasional Nashville Warbler singing from the edges of the bog and the sweet songs of Canada Warblers and yanking of Red-breasted Nuthatches paired with the serenading tunes of Hermit Thrushes and the roller coaster ride that is the song of the Golden-crowned Kinglet bursting out from the spruce interior forest around the bog. Wear footwear that you don’t mind getting wet walking the edges of the bog, muck boots or water shoes are the best to wear. We return before lunch time.

Meet at the Buxton and Landstreet Building in Thomas at 10 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Friends of Blackwater is offering a trip to go and explore the North Branch Wetlands in Kempton, Maryland. While out on the site we will join the field crew who is working on the reclamation of these wetlands on one of their butterfly surveys along the wetland. Potential butterfly species that could be seen are Atlantis Fritillary, Appalachian Brown, Black Dash, and Delaware Skipper, all found on this survey route last summer. We hope for good views of the butterflies we can find out here and hope to net a few to offer up close looks. While here, the field crew will explain what they are doing to help reclaim this wetland complex from the effects of previous coal mining operations and how they effected the area long term and how they are still affecting the wetlands today. Wear appropriate attire and sunscreen to be out walking along the gravel road here.

Meet at the Davis Shop n’ Save parking lot at 7 pm

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater for the second rendition of this trip as we plan to go out and look for a variety of birds and other fauna along Camp 70 Road as dusk approaches. While out there we will be able to see the natural transitions as a variety of local breeding birds such as Hermit Thrushes, Chestnut-sided Warblers, and Canada Warblers sing their last songs of the day and nocturnal species such as American Woodcock, Common Nighthawk, and Eastern Whip-poor-will become active for the night. We plan to park at a location or two along the road and walk short distances while hopefully taking in a tranquil mid-summer sunset. Wear appropriate for hiking short distances along the gravel road on Camp 70. Will attempt to carpool as much as possible from Shop n’ Save since we will be going a short distance.

Meet at the Nature Center at Pendleton Lake in Blackwater Falls State Park at 11 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater in association with Blackwater Falls State Park where you can join naturalists out in the field to observe birds, butterflies and potentially salamanders and other fauna in addition to taking a look at the current blooming wildflowers. Bird life around the nature center can include Alder Flycatchers, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Purple Finch, and Swamp Sparrow in the variety of habitats right around Pendleton Lake. In addition to any butterflies flying, the edge of the lake and waterways flowing into it offer an interesting opportunity to observe the various dragonflies and damselflies. Bring the whole family as we net some of the butterflies and dragonflies and hold them in hand! Plan on a shorter walk so wear appropriate hiking attire.

Meet at the Buxton & Landstreet Building upper parking at 9 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Friends of Blackwater will be offering a walk in` association with Mountaineer Days along the rail trail that follows the North Fork of the Blackwater River in downtown Thomas. Along the trail we will immerse ourselves in the natural world that exists on the banks of the Blackwater as well as learn a thing or two about the rich local history that was and is the Blackwater River today. We will keep an eye out for whatever crosses our path such as birds like Chimney Swifts, Yellow Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Indigo Buntings, to butterflies such as the abundant Summer Azures to the vibrant Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and elegant Atlantis Fritillaries, as well as take a look at the wildflowers in blooms and perhaps what dragonflies are patrolling above the waters of the Blackwater. Wear appropriate attire to hike a short distance along a maintained trail.

Meet at the Kayak/Canoe Launch parking lot at the far end (Opposite than the end in Davis) of Camp 70 Road at 10 am (Bring Your Own Boat)

Leader: Aaron Graham, Atlee Wise, Frank Gebhard

Join Friends of Blackwater as we transverse the upper stretches of the Blackwater River as we head into the northern reaches of Canaan Valley by your choice of watercraft (canoe or kayak). With little to no current on the river here and no rapids to traverse it is one of my personal favorites to go out on to observe the natural world, but this event will be B.Y.O.B (Bring Your Own Boat!). While out we hope to hear a variety of bird species such as Belted Kingfishers and Wood Ducks along the waterway, Alder Flycatchers and Swamp Sparrows in the swamps along the edge, and Golden-crowned Kinglets and Magnolia Warblers singing from the forests along the stream, as well as watching a variety of dragonflies hunting over the river and butterflies collecting moisture on the silt shoals along the various riverbends. We plan on going roughly around a mile upriver with a mile on the return leg unless there is interest to go farther. This event is subject to sudden cancellation due to conditions on the river, so we suggest RSVPing on this trip more than any!

Meet at the Beall Tract lot at the end of Beall Lane on Canaan Valley NWR at 10 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater for a trip out to see the area’s butterflies! The old hayfields and wood edges offer excellent pollinator habitat where we will hope to see a variety of Swallowtails, Northern Pearly-eye, Appalachian Brown, Common Ringlet, a variety of grass skipper, and perhaps specialties such as Pink-edged Sulphur. We hope for some up-close views of these species on the area’s wildflowers. This site also offers a variety of grassland breeding birds to encounter such as Savannah Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Northern Harriers.  If time allows, we might check some other spots in the valley for butterflies and grab lunch somewhere after. Wear appropriate gear for hiking.

Meet at the end of Rail Falls Road at the Douglas Falls Parking Lot at 10 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater for a walk along the rail trail where we will observe the natural world in what was once the booming coal town of Douglas. Plan on seeing a variety of wildlife such as Chimney Swifts buzzing over the canyon, Cedar Waxwing hunting from the taller trees lining the road, and Black-throated Blue and Canada Warblers singing from the woods around Douglas and Kennedy Falls. The butterflying along this section of the trail can be productive as it transverses a variety of habitats where we could find Long Dash skippers along the sedge dominated wetlands, Red-spotted Purples puddling in the road, Carolina Satyrs in the wooded openings, and Atlantis Fritillary and Tiger Swallowtails nectaring on the flowering species along the road. While on the tour we will stop at all three of the waterfalls along the road, Albert Falls, Douglas Falls, and Kennedy Falls. Wear appropriate attire for hiking around a mile on the maintained flat rail trail.

Meet at Friends of Blackwater in Thomas at 8am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater as we bird along Canaan Loop Road that transports us through the northern spruce forests that exist on the rim of the valley that are home to Blackburnian, Yellow-rumped, and Canada Warblers as well as others. Having Red Crossbills along the road is also not unusual. In addition to the forests, there are many bogs along the road where species such as Alder Flycatchers can be heard singing. Most of the birding will be done from the road with occasional forays to some of the trails off of the road to get more immersed in this northern ecosystem. Trip duration will only be a couple hours so no need to worry about bringing lunch, just bring yourself and proper hiking and birding attire.

Meet at the Buxton and Landstreet Building at 8:30pm

Leader: Frank Gebhard

Join us for some salamander shining after dark! We will meet at the Davis Shop N Save parking lot at 8:30pm and caravanning to Canaan Loop Road from there. We will be hiking along the road/trails in search of nocturnal animals. The conditions will be rocky, wet, and dark. Please be prepared with a flashlight/headlamp, sturdy shoes, and rain gear. Conditions are looking optimal for seeing some nocturnal salamanders, get ready for a fun time!

Meet at the Blackwater Falls State Park Nature Center at 11am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join the Friends of Blackwater for a butterflying trip around Blackwater Falls State Park where we hope to encounter a variety of butterfly species such as swallowtails, fritillaries, Eastern-tailed Blue, azures, skippers, and other species around the open areas at Pendleton Lake. After we finish our walk around here, we can do a few other trails around the park where we hope to encounter species of butterfly who are more home in the woods such as Appalachian Brown and Common Wood-Nymph. We hope to have up close views but bringing binoculars and a camera will amplify your viewing experience! Perhaps we can also net a few individuals to offer looks at like that. Wear appropriate attire to be out hiking the trails. We hope you will join us!