Mattamuskeet NWR

Howdee all,

Before heading out to explore for the first time

  Mattamuskeet NWR

We stopped at Lake Phelps, just a hop skip and a short walk from our campsite at Pettigrew State Park.

It was foggy…

We did see this lone Forster’s Tern

It was about a forty minute drive to the refugee from our campground.

We arrived on the road the splits the lake in two.

Refuge’s main feature is Lake Mattamuskeet (40,000 acres) and is North Carolina’s largest natural lake.
Significant wintering populations of ducks, Canada geese, snow geese and tundra swans. Also, concentrations of bald eagles and other raptors, wading birds and shorebirds occur seasonally.
Significant fishery resources including largemouth bass, sunfish (bream), white perch, crappie, alewives (herring) and blue crabs are associated with Lake Mattamuskeet and canals.
Habitats consist of open water (40,000 acres), freshwater marsh (3,180 acres), forested wetlands (3500 acres), managed wetlands or impoundments (2600 acres), croplands (520 acres), and forested uplands/admin. lands (80 acres) ~via http://www.fws.gov/mattamuskeet/nathist.html

 

We started birding..

The morning started out blustery and we were bundled up.

We found these areas that the water was allowed to flow thru attracted birds…

Great Blue Heron

A Forster’s Tern diving for fish..

It is successful

There were a few clouds to the east

Rain was forecast, but so far no rain.

We continued to bird the sides of the road..Stopping at most of the pull offs

And boardwalks..

Looking for whatever we could find..

Do you see two birds below?

We leave the main road and take the road into the park toward the Refuge center.

Many ducks, geese and swan.

Until a Bald Eagle fly's thru..

then they take to the air.

Many different shapes and sizes..

There we turtles everywhere!

Most times when I walk by turtles they seem skittish and go into the water..

not these turtles..

One bird I didn’t expect to see here

Common Gallinule

The ranger said there are two being seen in the park.

This was the one bird that ebird flagged when I entered my bird list last night.

It started to cloud up a bit more..and becomes warm.

We shed some layers..

We birded a few of the little peninsulas that jut off the park road.

Lots of sparrows and a surprise Black and White warbler.

Many hiding in the reeds.

Find the Great Blue Heron

The end of the road..

And Wood Duck land.

Wood Duck box

We did have a brief shower soon after I took this shot..

and headed for the car.

It quickly cleared and the last light of the day

lit up the grasses and birds.

Tundra Swan and ducks..

The sun starts to leave us and it becomes chilly …Jeff bundles up.

Our last glimpse of birds before dark..

Pintail, Coot, Shovelers

Another Lovely Day!

Check out our bird list for the day…

Jan 16, 2013
Lake Mattamuskeet NWR
Traveling
15 miles
420 Minutes
Observers: 2
All birds reported? Yes
Comments:  
Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.1
  Snow Goose
  Canada Goose
  Tundra Swan
  Wood Duck
  Gadwall
  American Wigeon
  American Black Duck
  Mallard
  Blue-winged Teal
  Northern Shoveler
  Northern Pintail
  Green-winged Teal
  Canvasback
  Bufflehead
  Hooded Merganser
  Ruddy Duck
  Pied-billed Grebe
  Double-crested Cormorant
  American White Pelican
  Great Blue Heron
  Great Egret
  Snowy Egret
  Glossy Ibis
  Turkey Vulture
  Bald Eagle
  Northern Harrier
  American Kestrel
  American Coot
  Bonaparte's Gull
  Ring-billed Gull
  Great Black-backed Gull
  Forster's Tern
  Mourning Dove
  Belted Kingfisher
  Red-bellied Woodpecker
  Downy Woodpecker
  Pileated Woodpecker
  Eastern Phoebe
  Carolina Chickadee
  Tufted Titmouse
  Carolina Wren
  House Wren
  Winter Wren
  Golden-crowned Kinglet
  Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  American Robin
  Northern Mockingbird
  European Starling
  Yellow-rumped Warbler
  Palm Warbler
  Black-and-white Warbler
  Common Yellowthroat
  Chipping Sparrow
  Savannah Sparrow
  Song Sparrow
  Swamp Sparrow
  White-throated Sparrow
  Northern Cardinal
  Red-winged Blackbird
  Eastern Meadowlark
  Common Grackle
  Brown-headed Cowbird
  Common Gallinule -- One bird seen and photographed - 2 birds at refugee