New River Day3~ Burnwood to Babcock

Howdee all,

Mornings at The New River Birding and Nature Festival start with a hot breakfast at 6am.

This particular morning we had breakfast sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee and tea.

It rained overnight…and I had some fun with water droplets again.

Our destination this day was Babcock State Park.

We stopped along the way to look for Birds...

I was distracted by

Water droplets..

Look at this big balls of water..wouldn’t they distract you too?

Drippidy Drop..

Of course we did see some birds too…

Babcock State Park..

The Glade Creek Grist Mill

The Glade Creek Grist Mill is a new mill that was completed in 1976 at Babcock.  Fully operable, this mill was built as a re-creation of one which once ground grain on Glade Creek long before Babcock became a state park.  Known as Cooper's Mill, it stood on the present location of the park's administration building parking lot.

 

Of special interest, the mill was created by combining parts and pieces from three mills which once dotted the state.  The basic structure of the mill came from the Stoney Creek Grist Mill which dates back to 1890.  It was dismantled and moved piece by piece to Babcock from a spot near Campbelltown in Pocahontas County.  After an accidental fire destroyed the Spring Run Grist Mill near Petersburg, Grant County, only the overshot water wheel could be salvaged.  Other parts for the mill came from the Onego Grist Mill near Seneca Rocks in Pendleton County.

The Fisherman…

He told us there were no more birds around~they were all dead.

We crossed the bridge to look anyway..

We followed the road on the opposite side of the river from the mill.

Very pretty park..with cabin rentals on the river..

It was at this spot we had awesome views of a Swainson’s warbler.

Again….my lens is not big enough to reach the warbler…

So I take pictures of smaller things..

And a cool rock Face..

A few last pictures of the scenic mill before we leave..

Goodbye funny little fisherman…

We drove to another point in the park for some birding and lunch..

Finally a bird I can get a photo of..

Chipping Sparrow..

Another wonderful day..

At The New River Birding and Nature Festival