Pea with a side of Alligator

Howdee all,

Our last day at Pettigrew State Park.

Jeff and I decided to take the drive to Pea Island NWR rather than going back to Mattamuskeet NWR.

This was a new area to explore, and I wanted some sand to sink my toes in.

It was about a 45 minute drive from the park to the Island.

We stopped at a few pull offs on route to the Visitor Center.

Checking to see what birds were around.

We took the pathway from the visitor center under the arbor..

We were greeted by Grackle and Shorebirds

Yellow-rumped warbler

And a River Otter who entertained the crowd..

We followed the birding trail to the last platform overlooking ponds on either side of us.

Shorebirds, Ducks, Swan and Geese

A Great Blue Heron struggles with a large fish..A nearby Pelican harasses the Heron in hopes of attaining the fish.

The Heron gives up and drops the fish for the Brown Pelican

It didn’t take too long for the Pelican to down the fish.

We hang out and chat with other birders at the overlook and watch the birds.

Its good to have a scope to pick up the distant birds.

The viewer above was useless.

Our stomachs began to grumble so we headed for the beach across the road to have our lunch.

And look for birds..

After lunch we drove south..

Sand was being cleared from the road.

Homes were damaged.

Vulnerable..so close to the ocean..

I am assuming this is damage from Hurricane Sandy but not sure.

Reinforcing with Sandbags...

I noticed the old sandbags like this torn and on the other side of the road.

After our short tour south we decided to Check out Alligator River NWR

We were told to go to the flooded fields.

To look for Ducks, Swan and shorebirds.

Do you see them?

Shorebirds..in the shallows

It was a great day of Birding Fun!

We will go back to this area again.

We are now packing up for a visit to CT and MA~Homey stays warm in NC while we freeze up north for a week.

I will pack my thermals!

 The below list is just from our Pea Island visit..I haven't compiled Alligator River bird list yet

Jan 19, 2013
Pea Island NWR--Salt Flats
Traveling
15 miles
200 Minutes
Observers: 2
All birds reported? Yes
Comments:  
Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.1
  Snow Goose
  Canada Goose
  Tundra Swan
  Gadwall
  American Wigeon
  American Black Duck
  Mallard
  Northern Shoveler
  Northern Pintail
  Bufflehead
  Hooded Merganser
  Ruddy Duck
  Common Loon
  Pied-billed Grebe
  Northern Gannet
  Double-crested Cormorant
  American White Pelican
  Brown Pelican
  Great Blue Heron
  Great Egret
  Tricolored Heron
  White Ibis
  Northern Harrier
  Red-shouldered Hawk
  American Coot
  Black-bellied Plover
  Killdeer
  Greater Yellowlegs
  Willet
  Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs
  Ruddy Turnstone
  Sanderling
  Dunlin
  Short-billed Dowitcher
  Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher
  Laughing Gull
  Ring-billed Gull
  Herring Gull
  Great Black-backed Gull
  Mourning Dove
  Belted Kingfisher
  Northern Flicker
  Tufted Titmouse
  Gray Catbird
  European Starling
  Yellow-rumped Warbler
  Savannah Sparrow
  Song Sparrow
  Red-winged Blackbird
  Eastern Meadowlark
  Boat-tailed Grackle