http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/Thoughts to share from White's Creek gorge.ennoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:00:48 PSTBlogger http://www.blogger.com1570125This is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site, subject to copyright and fair use.http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2012/01/fossil-fuel-extraction-endangered-list.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:54:42 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-4377136337096947216The list includes a beautiful fish that the team at Conservation Fisheries is working hard to save: Kentucky Arrow Darter: Toxic waste from mountaintop coal mining is poisoning streams and killing the rare Kentucky arrow darter fish (and contaminating the drinking water of downstream communities). The arrow darter has been wiped out from more than half of its range. The full list and story is2012-01-21T09:54:42.071-05:002http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2012/01/today-at-hiwassee-reguge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:57:34 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-1377517307444975595 We did get a view of the Hooded Cane as it flew by but nothing to show a picture of. We had a Whooping crane for a few minutes until it turned into an albinistic Sandhill crane...a rare enough white colored sandhill but not a Whooper. I was amazed at the number of folks from foreign states and even countries that were hanging around. Some folks had been there for ten hours when we arrived. 2012-01-08T07:57:34.638-05:002http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/12/golden-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sun, 25 Dec 2011 04:16:34 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-4201061754035491879Our Christmas Eve hike led us by this little winter jewel, a blooming goldenrod on the lip of Walden Ridge. It sits in a small patch of dirt between the sandstone outcroppings that layer the last pitch to the ridge top. It would have been easy to miss or step on. I have no idea what species it is. In such harsh micro habitat, a particular plant can get dwarfed and twisted in the fight to survive,2011-12-25T07:16:34.671-05:001http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/12/december-anole.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:41:53 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-4425954650258134743Taken this afternoon with my Christmas present to myself... 2011-12-02T18:41:53.737-05:000http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/11/shes-alivefor-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:18:30 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-57061682706888792372011-11-30T18:18:30.035-05:002http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/11/in-morning-mist.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:39:51 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-2865853959102945397 2011-11-24T08:39:51.145-05:000http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/11/fossil.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sun, 20 Nov 2011 07:02:42 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-5149270627945451878I noticed this rock that turned up when I was digging on the edge of a service road above the creek. We see fossils in sandstone a lot but nothing like this in a conglomerate. The rock itself is about 6 inches across. What can anyone tell us about this? More pictures Whites Creek Fossil 2011-11-20T10:02:42.759-05:000http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-morning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sat, 05 Nov 2011 06:09:25 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-7629073820019323941 Seems like it is staying beautiful longer this year.2011-11-05T09:09:25.059-04:003http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/10/morning-after-storm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:33:19 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-943303200616866609 I was expecting all the leaves to be knocked to the ground but this was the view in the early light. As you can tell, in winter we don't get first light. The Rhea County side of Whites Creek Gorge hogs it all. That's fine with me because we get the views.2011-10-29T18:33:19.172-04:006http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/10/looking-up-hill.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:53:40 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-4988887992758525937 Taken from the bedroom balcony looking north. We're getting storms today so this may be the peak. I am amazed at how the same view looks so different as the light changes at different times of the day.  Here's another shot in different light. The main tree species from left are black oak(still green), shag bark hickory, tulip tree (triple trunk, also mistakenly called yellow poplar), 2011-10-28T08:53:40.630-04:002http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/10/evening.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:14:47 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-3331117660804345742 2011-10-26T18:14:47.273-04:001http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/10/morning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:33:05 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-6175756673766813665 2011-10-26T08:33:05.286-04:001http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall_23.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:02:16 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-3684816678882314670 A Dahlia from the garden. I think this plant is the most under appreciated plant in Tennessee. It'a a Farkleberry. (Yeah, I know) It's native and is a most beautiful landscape plant. The berries are edible, though a bit seedy. The foliage is spectacular in Fall. And it grows in lousy soil...But slowly. So it won't be a nursery favorite. Would you pay a bit more for a native plant that was 2011-10-23T19:02:16.071-04:000http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:56:00 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-6947658349127115140 2011-10-19T07:56:00.388-04:001http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-visitors-now-dropping-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:19:08 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-2703525982603092803This Summer Tanager hasn't been seen all summer but is hanging out at the suet feeder for a few days now that it's fall. We've had scarlet tanagers all summer until a few weeks ago. This guy seems almost tame. Too bad he likes the shadows. A full sun photo would be spectacular. 2011-09-26T07:19:08.475-04:000http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/09/crack-them-dams-wide-open.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sat, 17 Sep 2011 05:10:33 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-8208398321560859118American Rivers is the premier organization in the USA that works on the restoration and protection of America's waterways. One of their projects is to remove old dams and restore free flow where it can be done safely. You can watch this happen today.2011-09-17T08:10:33.109-04:000http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/09/whites-creek-gorge-natural-area.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:05:44 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-6354035022732901776I'm working on a slideshow for a project that involves Whites Creek. 2011-09-15T18:05:44.533-04:001http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/09/difference-day-makes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:13:14 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-4274222436461979716 Compare to the last set of pictures. 2011-09-06T13:13:14.317-04:003http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/09/before-storm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Sun, 04 Sep 2011 11:51:43 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-3355982620910061762There's a big blow currently drowning the Gulf Coast that is supposedly on its way here. We can use it. In the winter this is usually a class two/three shoal just above the Blue Hole. Here's the view of the same spot from below. Here is the entire flow of Whites Creek coming into the Blue Hole at the moment. That leaf will just fit through the slot. There is a historical measurement of zero 2011-09-04T14:51:43.644-04:001http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/09/spotfin-chub.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:26:41 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-2426453550535404787Spotfins used to live in Whites Creek and may still. We certainly haven't seen them lately, as in 50 years or so. Whitetail shiners, however, are abundant. 2011-09-02T14:26:41.533-04:000http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/08/flowers-from-todays-walk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:16:37 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-1708071052156507328These are taken near the start of the classic Whites Creek whitewater run. I think the orchid is the showy orchis but I don't know for sure. It was a pleasant surprise to see them after my hiking buddy spotted them. 2011-08-26T19:16:37.818-04:002http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/08/things-that-make-me-happy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Mon, 15 Aug 2011 05:57:20 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-5988270820892719074Placing an area into a biological reserve is often fought by extractive interests, in this case fishermen. But ten years later the fishing along the perimeter of the reserve has more than made up for the loss and the reserve itself is the healthiest and most productive in the world. Opponents of conservation, however, argue that regulating fishing will destroy jobs and hurt the economy–but they2011-08-15T08:57:20.372-04:001http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/07/whites-creek-palooza-2011.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Tue, 26 Jul 2011 05:04:20 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-2793052121516773647Here are some shots taken by Pat Rakes of Conservation Fisheries Inc. We found a species previously unseen on the Palooza surveys but missed several that we know are in there. Things go on in the fish world that we just don't understand or even know about yet. Ten days ago there were scores of huge gar. We had a big rain and now there are only a few left in the big pools. I'll post more later. 2011-07-26T08:04:20.929-04:002http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/07/polyphemus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:23:39 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-4235010018083352547The measured wingspan of this beautiful polyphemus moth is just over 6 inches. It's not the biggest of our native moths but danged close. The caterpillars live on most of our hardwood trees and can eat 80,000 times their birth weight before metamorphosis. They rarely cause harm to their host trees. This one has expired and is a bit faded but still magnificent. 2011-07-20T14:23:39.839-04:002http://whitescreek.blogspot.com/2011/06/hes-baack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Whites Creek)Thu, 23 Jun 2011 06:23:51 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325606.post-6273900694724857261OK, I confess. Been to the beach. We were staying at a 1939 era Inn with no phone, no TV, no Internet, and no air conditioning. It was 101 degrees Monday and I developed a relationship with an electric window fan. We were the new kids since most of the other guests have been coming on the same week for decades. They book the next year as they are checking out. The other guests included an 2011-06-23T09:23:51.101-04:003