From the Virginia border down the barrier islands to Ocracoke, North Carolina's Outer Banks is one of the premier destinations in the Eastern U.S. for birds and birders.
Wide beaches juxtaposed between partially vegetated sand dunes and the Atlantic ocean characterize the Outer Banks. 4 March 2006 |
Outer Banks beach at Pea Island 23 Feb 2014 |
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In winter, many gulls may be found on the NC beaches. From RIGHT to LEFT: Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull 4 March 2006 |
The Outer Banks are known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic because of the hundreds of shipwrecks that have occurred here. Occasionally, new pieces of ancient shipwrecks are brought ashore by storms. Cape Hatteras23 Feb 2013 | |
Shipwreck Cape Hatteras23 Feb 2014 | |
Shipwreck Cape Hatteras23 Feb 2014 |
Although this was taken on a perfectly sunny day, the thick haze seen along the horizon was from a huge plume of smoke from a controlled burn on the mainland near Alligator River NWR and the U.S. Navy Bombing Range in Dare Co. 4 March 2006 |
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Here's another view of the smoke plume from the controlled burn on the mainland. This photo was taken from offshore. 5 March 2006 |
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Fishing piers, like this one in Avon, NC, can be great places to bird, attracting gulls and sometimes sea ducks or alcids in the winter. |
View from Jeannette's Pier in Nags Head 24 Mar 2014 | |
View from Jeannette's Pier in Nags Head 24 Mar 2014 | |
View of buildings on Roanoke Sound. 23 Feb 2014 | |
Many winged horse statues can be found here, especially along the northern Outer Banks. Click here for more photos and information about the "winged horses of the Outer Banks." |
Brackish marsh near Wanchese, NC is prime Black Rail habitat. 4 March 2006 |
The Outer Banks have several very popular lighthouses, including this northernmost one at Corolla. Click here for more NC lighthouse photos. |
Bodie Island Lighthouse 4 March 2006 |
The Bodie Island marsh & ponds attract many species of birds from rails & raptors to wigeon & waders. Just before sunset on 10 Nov 2006 | |
Oregon Inlet separates Bodie Island from Pea Island. Looking north in the distance in this photo, the Bodie Island lighthouse can be seen. 10 Dec 2005 |
The old coast guard station at the north end of Pea Island (just south of the Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet) is both an Outer Banks icon and a great birding area. 10 Dec 2005 |
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Since it was decomissioned many years ago, the shifting sand dunes are taking over the old coast guard station. 10 Dec 2005 |
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the reasons that the Outer Banks is one of the best birding locations in the eastern U.S. 4 March 2006 |
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 10 Dec 2005 |
North Pond, one of 3 impoundments on the refuge, harbours thousands of ducks, swans, geese, shorebirds, etc., depending on the time of year. 4 March 2006 |
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Wide dikes with observation platforms make for excellent birding access. South dike, North Pond4 March 2006 |
The north dike of North Pond at Pea Island 10 Dec 2005 |
Buxton Woods Nature Trail near Cape Hatteras Point goes through some excellent maritime forest habitat and can be a great place for migrant songbirds. 4 March 2006 |
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Typical maritime forest with Live Oak, Yaupon Holly, and Wax Myrtle at Cape Hatteras. 4 March 2006 |
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Around Thanksgiving 2006, several days of stormy, easterly winds & rain flooded the Cape Point area for weeks! This is the traditional parking area/fish cleaning station near ramp 44. 3 Dec 2006 | |
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest and most famous of all of the Outer Banks lighthouses. 4 March 2006 |
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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 4 March 2006 |
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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 4 March 2006 |
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 8 Nov 2007 | |
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 23 Feb 2014 | |
Cape Point often hosts scores of vehicles of surf fisherman 26 Oct 2014 | |
A large salt pond exists very near Cape Hatteras Point. This pond often hosts a wide variety of birds and has hosted many rare birds over the years. 23 Feb 2014 |
At other times, the birds can be hiding... 4 Mar 2006 |
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Dune vegetation at Cape Hatteras Point 4 March 2006 |
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Dune vegetation at Cape Hatteras Point 4 March 2006 |
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Sunset over North Pond Impoundment on Pea Island 4 March 2006 |
Sunset over North Pond Impoundment on Pea Island 2 Dec 2006 |
Created on ... March 7, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com