This was my first visit to this area after hearing much about it over the years. I spent most of the day on Thursday, March 24 at Fort Fisher, and the Fort Fisher Recreation Area and Aquarium, and especially at the south end of the island near the ferry terminal. See the main page for a full description of these sites. There were bluebirds, grackles, Brown headed Cowbirds, Woodpeckers, Yellow rumped warblers, sparrows, Pelicans, Gulls, and a few other woods birds at the Fort site. At the Aquarium, there were White Ibis in the ponds , and a few Yellow-rumps on the trails.
Most of the day was spent at the Ferry end of the island hanging out on the old 1800s rock jetty that extends out into the Cape fear River and sound. The shorebirds here were truly amazing. You can see a great variety of them here with quite easy access. The birds I saw and some I was able to get pictures of included Piping Plover, Semi-Palpated plover, Oystercatcher, Wimbrel, White Ibis, Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Sparrows, Pelican, Greater Yellowlegs, Common Tern, Royal Tern, Ring Billed, Herring, Bonaparte, and Laughing Gulls. I was not able to get a picture of a Rail, but I did see a flash of one in the reeds. The Shorebirds fly almost continuously in and out of this area all day, but best times are early morning and late afternoon. You can spend the day here with a constant turnover of birds to see. This will be one of my favorite spots for shorebirds. I love the Oystercatcher and Royal Terns. The Oystercatcher is a beautiful creature with its bright orange beak and reddish eyes. Don’t miss this site if you are in the area. For other photos on this trip taken up the road at Carolina Beach State Park, see this Journal link. To see photos taken today at this site, see the gallery below.
Most of the day was spent at the Ferry end of the island hanging out on the old 1800s rock jetty that extends out into the Cape fear River and sound. The shorebirds here were truly amazing. You can see a great variety of them here with quite easy access. The birds I saw and some I was able to get pictures of included Piping Plover, Semi-Palpated plover, Oystercatcher, Wimbrel, White Ibis, Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Sparrows, Pelican, Greater Yellowlegs, Common Tern, Royal Tern, Ring Billed, Herring, Bonaparte, and Laughing Gulls. I was not able to get a picture of a Rail, but I did see a flash of one in the reeds. The Shorebirds fly almost continuously in and out of this area all day, but best times are early morning and late afternoon. You can spend the day here with a constant turnover of birds to see. This will be one of my favorite spots for shorebirds. I love the Oystercatcher and Royal Terns. The Oystercatcher is a beautiful creature with its bright orange beak and reddish eyes. Don’t miss this site if you are in the area. For other photos on this trip taken up the road at Carolina Beach State Park, see this Journal link. To see photos taken today at this site, see the gallery below.
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