Oceanside

While I can't say things are winding down in North Carolina, the field season is certainly coming to a close. We're busier than ever, seeing lots of great birds, and even have a trip or two in the works. I also got my hands on a few great pictures taken by Matt and Lauren who spend spring, summer, and fall working on a few islands off the coast of Maine for the Project Puffin. Very cool.


The weather is warming up, and this means our Swamp Sparrows are beginning to migrate north toward their breeding ground. And so the bird banders will also part ways. After my first season of bird banding, I'm am sure there will be more. So before we close up the nets one last time, how 'bout more NC pics?

Here's one of a few Willets on a beach at the Outer Banks. We went a couple of weeks back and had a great, great day. The beaches were deserted, and the birds were out.

I'm planning a bike trip early next week from the southern Outer Banks up to Nags Head. I'll leave the refuge here, and take a ferry over the the southern point of the OBX. Then I'll cruise 30 miles the first day, and 45 the second. I'm excited to make one more trip out there. I'm just hoping that there isn't a strong wind coming from the north. It has potential to be a long 75 miles!

The picture above was taken just a few days ago. It's me and a tiny bird called a Yellowthroat. The picture below is a nice closeup taken by Matt. It was the first Yellowthroat we caught this season- they're great looking warblers.


I've been able to get out on the old bike when the weather's been warm. I always do a nice 20 mile ride on a highway that goes across Lake Mattamuskeet to a town nearby. Normally I hop off the bike once in a while to see what birds are around. Recently, in one ride, I saw: white pelicans, osprey, tree swallows, a bald eagle... and this turtle crossing the road! I put it there on the bike seat for a quick picture, and then placed the turtle near the woods.


So I have about 2 weeks left to soak up coastal NC. The Outer Banks bike tour is happening early next week. Then in April I'll make my way inland to Asheville, where I'll be visiting family and friends in what sounds like a pretty great town. Hope spring is on its way for everyone!

Bird Banders Head to the OBX

This week, the old Nissan (seen in the background) proved to be a very seaworthy vessel as the other bird banders and I spent some time in the Outer Banks. Our trip started with a ferry ride to a southern point on the Outer Banks called Ocracoke. It's a quaint town that reminds me of neighborhoods in Martha's Vineyard. We visited a maritime forest that had Live Oaks, which are the same great looking trees I saw on Cumberland Island in Georgia (see pic of Live Oak below).

Then we traveled north to Nags Head and roamed around a deserted beach looking for birds out at sea. We saw Gannets and Red-breasted Mergansers not very far off shore, and enjoyed a surprisingly wind-less afternoon for the OBX. The next day we were kept indoors by lots of rain, but that didn't stop us from enjoying our mini-vacation. Matt's friend Catherine works at the North Carolina Aquarium in Manteo. We were in for a treat because she gave us a full tour of the place and the inside scoop on the fish, sharks and turtles there.


Back in Hyde County, NC, work has been going great. We're banding lots of Swamp Sparrows and I'm thoroughly enjoying each and every day of working with these folks and keeping track of the birds. I have a couple more Hyde County wildlife pics here. Above is a Carolina Wren. They're great looking birds, with that very white eyeline. Their call can be heard every morning... it's a "teakettle tea-kettle teakettle" or so they say. This guy below is the Carolina Anole. The only anole native to the US, and we just found him in our backyard!


We've almost reached a pretty great fundraising goal for Bike and Build, and I'll be sure to post when that happens. Until then, hope everyone is doing well up north and elsewhere!