Bald Eagle Spotted

Bald Eagle Spotted from the Bridge over the Pond Overlook

This past Tuesday proved to be a very quiet and peaceful walk out on the trail of the Greensprings Interpretive Greenway Trail.  Just about the time I was telling myself that "there is nothing out here today", I noticed far off in the distance a very VERY large bird on a tree limb high above the main portion of the wetlands.  I tried the best I could to get photos of this magnificent creature, however my camera was just inadequate for the distance that had to be covered. 

Historic Green Spring 2011

This year on October 8th, 2011 the Friends of Green Spring will host their Annual Public Tour from 10:00am until 12:00 noon.  Parking is at the Historic Jamestown Island parking area.  There will be transportation provided from the Island to the are of Green Spring Plantation. 

http://www.historicgreenspring.org/

For more information, resources of the history of the area, newletters from Friends of Green Spring please see their website posted above. or

http://www.historicgreenspring.org/resources.php

According to the Friends of Green Spring website:

The Friends

The Friends of the National Park Service for Green Spring, incorporated in 1997, is a non-profit organization dedicated to researching, preserving, and presenting Historic Green Spring and its history for public education and enjoyment. The Colonial National Historic Park has been the steward of Green Spring since 1966.

Green Spring

Built as a home for Governor Sir William Berkeley in 1645, Green Spring is located three miles from Jamestown, near Williamsburg, Virginia. This historical site, while closed to the public, is significant in its potential for learning about the complex roots of what we know today as the United States of America.

I had a magnificent time last year attending the days events.  The National Park Rangers offered excellent information and the "Friends" were a great group of people to meet.

My photos of the 2010 event can be seen at:

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6074972234073998523#editor/target=post;postID=1127991342676040368

Thank-you Greenspring Neighbor

One man fighting boredom when his electicity was out was a act of generosity to those using the trail!

Thank-you to the crews from James City County who cleared the trail so quickly around Greensprings Interpretive Trail.  Within a matter of 2 or 3 days the many trees across the trail were cleared away or cut into pieces so the trail could be used. 

A Special thank-you to the retired Gentlemen who was being a great neighbor to all who use the trail by clearing a large portion of the Capital Bike trail with his leafblower.  Keeping himself entertained while the electricity was still out was a gift to the entire community. The photo below shows what the rest of the trail looked like.

Aftermath of Hurricane Irene 2011

Effects of Hurricane Irene on Greensprings Interpretive Trail

During the weekend that the area of Jamestown, Williamsburg, James City County were seeing the effects of Hurricane Irene, the waters quickly rose upon the Wetlands at Greensprings Interpretive Trail.  While we had some winds and a lot of rain, there were often periods of a sort of calm.  The rain continued but there was a break from the damaging winds. 

At about 6 pm the storm had almost arrived right over head.  During a band of green on the weather channel, we took our two labradors out for a walk to stretch their legs after a long day stuck in the house.  As we were playing in puddles out on Main Land Farm, the winds began to kick in again and there was some concern getting back to our home through the trails which wander through the park.  By about 7 pm, the beginning of the worst winds arrived to the Jamestown area. 

Throughout the day we had endured quite a show from Irene.  After 7 pm the worst of the storm arrived and I am willing to predict the most damage occurred after this time closer to 8 and 9 pm.  Until that time we had power which was lost at about nine.  We all got through the night well. I was on the trail at 7 am on Sunday morning to find a great deal of damage that had not been present 12 hours earlier.

Photos during Hurricane Irene at Greensprings Interpretive Trail, Virginia

Photos taken of the Greensprings Interpretive Trail in James City County near the area of Jamestown and Greensprings near Williamsburg, Virginia.  These photos were taken after approximately 12 hours of rain and wind due to Hurricane Irene.  During a calmer band of the storm, we ran out with the dogs who had been in the house most of the past day.  We timed our trip during a slow down in the storm.  Before making it back to the house, the worst part of the storm began to arrive which caused the most damage and knocked out power.  The water at this time was about 1 foot above where I have seen it previously.  Along the footbridge crossing the main pond, the water was about a foot high under the bridge which is usually not under water.  The main pond was flowing rapidly.  Please compare photos to previous blog post which shows the area prior to the storm arriving. 

Large pool of water along Main Land Farm at about 6:30 pm Saturday evening

Greensprings Wetlands from footbridge which crosses from Trail to Virginia Captial Trail

Main Land Farm during Hurricane Irene adjacent to the Virginia Captial Trail

Main overlook from footbridge along the Greensprings Interpretive Trail

water standing about 8 to 12 inches above normal during Hurricane Irene at Greensprings near Williamsburg

Puppies taking a look at a small tree down along Greensprings Interpretive trail during Hurricane Irene

Greensprings Trail Calm before Hurricane Irene

Photos capturing the Calm before the storm known as Hurricane Irene.  Life along the trail this August 2011 hours before the storm moved into the area of Jamestown/Williamsburg, Va

First clouds start to arrive before Hurricane Irene reaches the Jamestown/Greensprings area of Williamsburg, Va

Main pond area from the footbridge crossing over the wetlands at Greensprings Interpretive Trail

Main Land Farm near Green Spring and Jamestown, Va before Hurricane Irene

Deer drinking from the wetlands at Greensprings Interpretive Trail before Hurricane Irene

Gully near Jamestown High School along Greensprings Interpretive Trail in Williamsburg, James City County before Hurricane Irene

Main pond of Greensprings Interpretive Trail before Hurricane Irene

An Abundance of Rain

After more than a week of "Isolated Thunderstorms" the region has seen over 6 inches of rain.  Two of those fell from Friday to Saturday.  The portion of the wetlands which can be seen from the footbridge overlook welcomed the rain. 

Main Land Farm - July 2011

On Saturday morning, I ventured out to see the pond overflowing rapidly as well as the areas especially those under the Virginia Capital Trail boardwalk, rapidly flowing into the wetlands to replenish the drought-like conditions that were already at this time of year beginning to occur. 

Water Saturday Morning pouting into the wetlands from the Greensprings Road side of the park

An abundance of water after over 6 inches of rain, two having falling over the early morning

Pond at overlook refilled after this weeks rain and thunderstorms

Egret near overlook footbridge

Mushrooms growing along Main Land Farm

Blacksnake making his home in a fallen tree earlier last week

Fawn on the wetlands pond

Dragonfly - I never knew there were so many types.

I have been out walking or biking the entire length of the Greensprings Trail and portions of the Capital Trail several times over the past couple of days.  The construction area is as ugly as ever.  Gathering the photos for the "Protect Main Land Farm" I was saddened to see how much of a change there is to our little corner of the world. 

An abundance of Blue and White

This past month has been great for observing both Great Blue Heron's and Great Egret's on the wetlands of Greensprings Interpretive Trail in Williamsburg, near Jamestown.