Venture to Joyce Kilmer Forest and Stewart Ridge
April 24, 2004
with Beth Brinson
Wildflowers were in abundance on the 2-mile loop trail in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Six different trilliums were in bloom as well as Showy Orchis, Yellow Mandarin, and Doll's Eyes, to name just a few. On the upper part of the trail among the giant trees there were places where Canada Violet, Creeping Phlox, and Bishop's Cap literally carpeted the ground. The forest was full of singing Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, and Black-throated Blue Warblers and the group was treated to great looks of Hooded and Blackburnian Warblers toward the end of the trail.
After lunch we walked a gated forest road in an area known as Stewart Ridge. The wildflowers on this rich slope rivaled those of Joyce Kilmer as we viewed beautiful stands of Large-flowered Trillium, Crested Dwarf Iris, and Purple Phacelia, among many others. The road allowed good views into the tree canopy where we were able to see Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, and Black-throated Green Warbler. It was a great way to spend a beautiful spring day in the mountains.
| Birds: | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk—SR * | American Robin—JK, SR * | Ovenbird—JK, SR * |
| Chimney Swift—JK * | Blue-headed Vireo—JK, SR | Hooded Warbler—JK, SR * |
| Pileated Woodpecker—JK | Red-eyed Vireo—JK, SR * | Scarlet Tanager—JK, SR |
| Carolina Chickadee—JK | Northern Parula—JK, SR * | Northern Cardinal—JK, SR |
| Tufted Titmouse—JK | Black-throated Blue Warbler—JK | Rose-breasted Grosbeak—JK |
| Brown Creeper—JK | Black-throated Green Warbler—JK, SR * | Eastern Towhee—SR |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher—JK, SR | Blackburnian Warbler—JK * | Song Sparrow—JK, SR |
| Wood Thrush—JK, SR | Black-and-White Warbler—JK, SR * | American Goldfinch—JK, SR |
| *Birds seen | ||
| Butterflies: | ||
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Pearl Crescent | Silver-spotted Skipper |
| West Virginia White | Juvenal’s Duskywing | |
| Blooming Plants: | ||
| Little Sweet Betsy | Dolls Eyes | Carolina Silverbell |
| Yellow Trillium | Creeping Phlox | Flowering Dogwood |
| Painted Trillium | Foamflower | Fraser Magnolia |
| Large-flowered Trillium | Dwarf Ginseng | Perfoliate Bellwort |
| White Erect Trillium | Showy Orchis | Clustered Snakeroot |
| Purple Wake Robin | Wild Ginger | Bluets |
| Vasey’s Trillium-bud | Indian Cucumber Root | Bishop’s Cap |
| Smooth Yellow Violet | Crested Dwarf Iris | Robin’s Plantain |
| Sweet White Violet | Star Chickweed | Rue Anemone |
| Canada Violet | Slender Toothwort | Jack-in-the-Pulpit |
| Common Blue Violet | Sweet Cicely | Blue Cohosh |
| Yellow Mandarin | Mayapple | Purple Phacelia |
| Solomon’s Seal | Dog Hobble | Wild Strawberry |
| Solomon’s Plume | Sweet Shrub | |
| Clinton’s Lily-bud | Yellow Buckeye | |