Blog Archives

RIVER PARK NORTH IN SEPTEMBER

9/25/2016

I have not been to this local park since late May primarily because the weather this summer has been so hot here. September is usually the first month in which we see the first migrant warblers here. It is also a time when summer and fall overlap and one can see summer birds and flowers as well as many late summer insects such as butterflies. Last week, I spent a couple of hours here and was able to see several early American Redstarts. They are usually among the first warblers of the fall to arrive in the area. The annual nesting Ospreys were still around, diving for fish in the ponds. I saw several varieties of butterflies and early fall flowers.To see the main page for this site , click here. See the pics below---

SEE PICS BELOW. CLICK ON ANY PIC TO ENLARGE. USE SIDE ARROWS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH.

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CALICO CREEK, Morehead City, NC.

9/13/2016

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My wife and i spent two days in Morehead City, NC last week. Each morning for a couple hours I walked the nice boardwalk trail at the Calico Creek access on 21st Street. For a full description of this site, see the main page here. Each morning I was there from about 7AM-9AM.and the tide was at its lowest. Because many shorebirds feed in the shallow water and mud flats of the creek, it is important to visit at low tide to have the best chance of seeing them.. One of the things about this location that I always appreciate is the diversity of the habitat. There is not only the marsh habitat of the creek, but also the old growth forest which stretches along the shoreline. This presents the possibility of both the water and shore birds, but also forest birds. In early September, we are still a few weeks away from fall, cooler temperatures, and color changes in the trees, but it was still possible to see occasional subtle signs of fall along the trail. There were also quite a few late summer wildflowers to see. Both days i was there were very productive and enjoyable and I hated to leave.See the nice photos from the two days below.

SEE GALLERY BELOW. CLICK ON ANY PIC TO ENLARGE. USE SIDE ARROWS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH.

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LATE SUMMER AT FORT MACON, NC.

9/5/2016

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The area around Ft. Macon at Atlantic Beach is one I frequent often, and it is one of my favorites. In late summer around the Fort, the presence of birds and insects is quite striking. Not so much the shorebirds--they will come later in fall and winter-- but the summer songbirds are still around, including the Painted Bunting. It is the abundance of insects that is most impressive this time of year. I was there on August 31 for a morning walk and enjoyed a variety of birds and insects including several Monarch butterflies, who at this late date were no doubt on their southern march back to Mexico and their winter habitat. There was also a Ghost Crab. Enjoy the pics below.