CHINCOTEAGUE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
The Chincoteague ( pronounced Shink co tee ) National Wildlife Refuge is located mostly on the Virginia end of Assateague Island off the Delmarva peninsula north of the Chesapeake Bay bridge. Founded in 1943, the refuge is comprised of 14,000 acres of wetlands, pine woods, and Atlantic beachfront. It is home to more than 320 species of birds who reside here or migrate during the seasons. It is an important part of our nation's management system to support our migratory waterfowl, including large numbers of Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, and many duck species. Wading birds are plentiful at all seasons. The endangered Piping Plover is provided a secure nesting area here. Another endangered species that is protected here is the Delmarva Fox Squirrel.
This is a very beautiful and serene place. It is listed by the Audubon Society as one of the top 10 birding sites in the U.S. In my birding efforts, it ranks in the top three that I visit along with Mattamuskeet National Refuge and Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina. As a bird photography site, it may well rank as number one because of the open access it provides to the birds' locations with its many trails and access points. There is much to see and photograph here, including beautiful sunsets and sunrises, the lighthouse, the open grasslands, the wildlife, and the ocean views. Also a part of the history and landscape here are the Chincoteague ponies who have been on the island since at least the 1700s and some say earlier. Some believe they are remnants of a herd who swam ashore from a sunken Spanish ship. A more likely explanation is that they are descendants of early settlers in the 1700s who used the island for their livestock to graze. For a complete description and history of the Refuge as well as maps and driving instructions, see this site.
In the past few winters, the refuge has seen sightings of the Snowy Owl, a rare sight this far south of their far northern habitat. These rare visitors seem to be driven this far south by food shortages in their northern locations. They are nocturnal as are most owls, which makes seeing them in daylight even more difficult. On my visit here Jan. 9-12, 2014, I was shocked and tickled to see one within 50 feet perched on a small dune on the beach, and was able to photograph him for fifteen minutes or so!! See a few of these pictures below in the attached Gallery, and visit my Journal entry about this experience.
This is certainly an area that should not be missed if you are a nature lover and especially if you love the birds as I do. The town of Chincoteague is a very quaint place with interesting house colors and yard art, and a unique history. My wife, Glyn, took a few pictures of the town which reflect this uniqueness. They are in the picture gallery below. The seafood here is excellent. I recommend BIlls on Main Street and The Village. SEE PHOTOS BELOW.
This is a very beautiful and serene place. It is listed by the Audubon Society as one of the top 10 birding sites in the U.S. In my birding efforts, it ranks in the top three that I visit along with Mattamuskeet National Refuge and Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina. As a bird photography site, it may well rank as number one because of the open access it provides to the birds' locations with its many trails and access points. There is much to see and photograph here, including beautiful sunsets and sunrises, the lighthouse, the open grasslands, the wildlife, and the ocean views. Also a part of the history and landscape here are the Chincoteague ponies who have been on the island since at least the 1700s and some say earlier. Some believe they are remnants of a herd who swam ashore from a sunken Spanish ship. A more likely explanation is that they are descendants of early settlers in the 1700s who used the island for their livestock to graze. For a complete description and history of the Refuge as well as maps and driving instructions, see this site.
In the past few winters, the refuge has seen sightings of the Snowy Owl, a rare sight this far south of their far northern habitat. These rare visitors seem to be driven this far south by food shortages in their northern locations. They are nocturnal as are most owls, which makes seeing them in daylight even more difficult. On my visit here Jan. 9-12, 2014, I was shocked and tickled to see one within 50 feet perched on a small dune on the beach, and was able to photograph him for fifteen minutes or so!! See a few of these pictures below in the attached Gallery, and visit my Journal entry about this experience.
This is certainly an area that should not be missed if you are a nature lover and especially if you love the birds as I do. The town of Chincoteague is a very quaint place with interesting house colors and yard art, and a unique history. My wife, Glyn, took a few pictures of the town which reflect this uniqueness. They are in the picture gallery below. The seafood here is excellent. I recommend BIlls on Main Street and The Village. SEE PHOTOS BELOW.
