Down East Critter Pix
  • HOME
  • JOURNAL
  • NATIONAL REFUGES
  • EAGLES IN THE EAST
  • STATE &LOCAL PARKS
  • THE FIELD

MIDWINTER SURPRISE AT FORT MACON

1/16/2017

0 Comments

 
Readers of this Journal know that Fort Macon State Park is one of my favorite places for bird photography because of the many and varied species that pass through in migration, as well as the local population of residents. This includes wading birds, shorebirds, as well as woods birds. I spent a couple of hours on the trails there this past Saturday and was pleased to see and photograph a good variety of species. Ever-present this time of year are the Yellow-rumped Warblers, Robins, Cardinals, and Mockingbirds in the brush, as well as the White Ibis in the freshwater pond. The new trail through the marsh produced a Great Egret, an Oystercatcher, and a Tri-colored Heron . The surprise came when i returned to the Visitors Center and found that the staff are already offering seed in the feeders, something that is not usually started until May or later. But the real surprise was to see a female Painted Bunting feeding on the White Millet being offered. These birds who migrate to Florida and Mexico for the winter, are seldom seen back in our area until late April or May. A mid-winter presence is unusual . There have been recordings of their presence here in January, but rarely. So this sighting was a pleasant surprise!! There was also a Carolina Chickadee on the feeder. The pictures below are the evidence of a successful mid-January birding effort. Check out the Fort Macon trails if you are in the Morehead City/Atlantic Beach area. See pics below.

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

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013


    Categories

    All
    River Park North

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly