Wednesday, January 22, 2020

PEA ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA

My sister-in-law took us to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.  
The birds were in hiding during the time we were there, but maybe they were in an area we didn't walk to.  Nonetheless it was a fun ride there and back, and we had a very interesting browse around the visitor center.  It was where we saw the display I shared in a previous post here.
The Refuge is on Hatteras Island and covers 13 miles of Cape Hatteras National Seashore land.  It is a completely undeveloped piece of land, with gorgeous views and peaceful, off the beaten path nature trails.  You can read about it here.  This was on display outside of the visitor center, poor whale.
The volunteer at the desk, a very nice lady, answered our questions about the local area.
Aloft was a Tundra Swan.
She had this book where she explained the differences between the types of swans.  If you enlarge the photos you will get more detail.
She let me take photos of the pages.


There were several display cases of the wildlife in this area.
Black-necked Stilt and an American Oystercatcher

Snow Geese

River Otter
There is a short video where you can see them swimming here.

A replica of a turtle's nest.  This website shows information.
Lots of posters and information signs.
 If you enlarge the photos you can just about make out all the names.





This area is one of the many places I would like to visit again, and next time we will find those birds.

 Added note as of 1-22-20, I have just read that "Pea Island is about to undergo a restoration project to excavate sand in order to create open water intertidal pool areas for multiple bird species, including the piping plover, American oystercatcher and terns.  I found that here from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.





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25 comments:

  1. Elephant's ChildJanuary 22, 2020 at 3:44 PM

    I do love wild life centres and this looks like a beauty. Thank you for taking us along.

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:49 AM

      You are very welcome EC, so glad you enjoyed my post :)

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  2. Linda StarrJanuary 22, 2020 at 3:53 PM

    Pea Island, never heard of it, must get there soon; I just love the wild life centers,, much to learn about there

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:50 AM

      Thank you Linda, we never pass a place like this up. As you say, there is much to learn :)

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  3. ellen b.January 22, 2020 at 4:51 PM

    So great that we have areas like these in the USA to explore.

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  4. Ginny HartzlerJanuary 22, 2020 at 6:11 PM

    We have this book! It is kind of the bible of birdwatching. I have never seen a whale skull! I would love to visit here!

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:52 AM

      Hi Ginny, good to see you and I trust your computer issue has been resolved :) I saw a whale skull before down in North Carolina at another visitor center, and from a beached whale. I always wonder why this happens, poor things.

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  5. ChristineJanuary 22, 2020 at 6:37 PM

    Hope the birds return especially after all that renovation! Thanks for sharing the information.

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:55 AM

      Thank you Christine :) I am thinking that perhaps we weren't looking in the right place that day, but I also was having a problem with walking too far. Some days you wake up thinking you can do cartwheels, at least in my head, lol. Other days not so much :)

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  6. RedJanuary 22, 2020 at 9:09 PM

    there are excellent phone apps that give you a complete bird book.

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:55 AM

      I am going to check one of those out, thanks Red :)

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  7. Tanya BreeseJanuary 22, 2020 at 11:06 PM

    What a great place to visit!

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  8. GosiaJanuary 23, 2020 at 4:44 AM

    Interesting place love From Katowice Poland

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:56 AM

      It certainly was and love from Virginia, USA Gosia :)

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  9. Beatrice P. BoydJanuary 23, 2020 at 6:23 AM

    Places like this are always more interesting to us, as well, Denise.

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  10. ROJanuary 23, 2020 at 7:48 AM

    Wow! I live in NC and never even knew this place existed! Very cool find! Hugs, RO

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:58 AM

      Hi RO, hope you get there one day. One reason I love reading other blogs, you find out about so many neat places I would not have known was there. And the same can be said for me in Virginia :)

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  11. eileeninmdJanuary 23, 2020 at 8:24 AM

    Hello, I have been to Pea Island, it is a great place for birding and the visitor center is very nice. They have wonderful exhibits on the wildlife seen in the area. Great visit. Happy Thursday, enjoy your weekend ahead.

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:58 AM

      That's great Eileen, glad to know someone who has been to that place. Happy Thursday to you too and have a wonderful weekend :)

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  12. DeniseinVAJanuary 23, 2020 at 11:50 AM

    Great, hope you will be in the area one day. Thank you Laurie :)

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  13. William KendallJanuary 28, 2020 at 1:18 PM

    A fascinating place!

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    1. DeniseinVAJanuary 30, 2020 at 5:22 PM

      I felt so too and would have enjoyed another hour there.

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