MASON NECK STATE PARK - PART 1 - VISITOR CENTER

We haven't been here in many years.  I don't know why.  It's not as if it is any further than some of the places we have been to.  I said as much the day we decided to go when Gregg suggested it.  I was interested in how it got its name, and you can read that history here.

It was hot and humid but not so bad really, I have felt worse.  We managed a couple of hours walking before we decided to go.

But first, time to enjoy the park.  A statue of an eagle was outside.  This is one I took and below is Gregg's photo, which I used for my 4th of July post.  We took a few photos of the statue and Gregg took the one below.  It is my favorite.  

 I had fun with it later, removing objects to make it look like the Bald Eagle was flying.  I made him free-floating in Paint Shop Pro, and also used my ArtCard app.  I will share those eventually.

Below is the plaque about this beautiful piece.  I did a search and found a website for historical markers, and this was featured.  You can look at them at this link.  If you are searching for another historical marker, this would be a good source of information.  The sculptor's home page, sharing other pieces of his, can be found here.  He is exceptionally talented.

The plants were in front of the visitor center. I realized when I got home and looked at our photos, I didn't have many of flowers, except for these few.

I am always drawn to Coneflowers...

but can't remember seeing yellow ones.

There was also a Common buttonbush on our walk later on, and a couple of leaf photos (those will be part of my next post).  

The visitor center was impressive, and we enjoyed browsing.  On the floor is an area map and we are in the darker section, on the State Park side.  We are looking forward to exploring the wildlife refuge another time.

There is an interactive map where you can remove the buttons at the bottom, and place them where you have seen that particular wildlife, if you end up here after a walk.

A clever idea. Fun for little kids and big kids alike.  

There were birds on display.

I missed taking a photo of the ID of the gull above, but I believe this is a Glossy Ibis...

and A Great Blue Heron.

Another display showing, a Bald Eagle and a Juvenile Bald Eagle...

with explanation.  Enlarging my photos helps with reading.

On one wall a TV screen, and then there are wooden decoys, a punt gun for duck hunting, arrowheads, a page from the will of George Mason who is one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, old bricks, a recreation of a woolly mammoth tooth, petrified wood, and an old still.

Not for the faint of heart if you are not a hunter, but for many it was a way of life, to put food on the table for their families, and an income to put a roof over their heads.

A casting of a Mastodon Tooth.

We found a back room with terrariums.  In one we met Myrtle the Turtle.  This area looks like it is a classroom for young people.  We headed for the back door but first we had a look around. Myrtle was very curious and stared back at us through the glass.

Myrtle is a Red-eared Slider and you can read the information about her below and again, enlarging the photo will allow you to better read the information.

I also came across this cute frog.

I have never heard of a Fowler's Toad before.

A poster of various songbirds found at the park.

And that is about it for the visitor center.  We found a door open at the back of the building and went outside.  A follow-up post will be shared as soon as I can put one together.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

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.