Field Trip Schedule and Descriptions

Field Trip Descriptions

HALF-DAY FIELD TRIPS

Trip 1 – Palmetto Peartree Preserve & Futch Game Lands

We will look for the possible seven species of woodpeckers, including the endangered Red­cockaded Woodpecker. During our search we should also see a good assortment of woodland and edge species. Learn more about P3 by visiting https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1194645. After birding here, the group will travel to the Futch Game Lands where the flooded fields and catfish ponds hold ducks as well as other water birds and shorebirds.

Approximate Travel Time:

1 hour

Conditions:

Vary from uneven trails to roadside surfaces.

Facilities:

There is a service Station at Mann's Harbor; otherwise, plan on no restrooms.

Trips 2, 21 & 30 – Audubon Pine Island Sanctuary & Duck Boardwalk

Audubon Preserve is a remnant of maritime sandy forest and brush along Currituck Sound. The varied habitats and boardwalk will provide opportunity for land and water birds, and raptors are often encountered as they hunt over the woodlands. Duck Town Boardwalk is a 0.4-mile gem. We will scope the sound for loons and ducks. Orange- crowned Warbler is often found along the Boardwalk, as well as winter sparrows.

Approximate Travel Time:

45 minutes to Pine Island

Conditions:

Vary from wet turf to gravelly trails to a boardwalk.

Facilities:

Restrooms are available at Duck.

Trips 3 & 22 – Alligator River NWR (Rt. 264 Corridor to Milltail Road)

The east side of ARNWR has woodland but also many wet fields. We will travel Rt. 264 as far as Stumpy Point Bay, targeting Sound waterbirds. Then the drive will go west into ARNWR to Milltail Road's boat ramp area seeking woodland species and finishing at the fields across from the Maintenance Buildings or the trail at the Rt. 64 intersection. Uncommon birds in the area have included Golden Eagle and Rough-legged Hawk.

Approximate Travel Time:

40 minutes

Conditions:

Gravel roads.

Facilities:

Restroom options will be quite limited.

Trip 4 – Corolla Escapade (A Handicap Accessible Trip)

4 HC Accessible Trips are scheduled this weekend, and several others of our trips are partially HC Accessible. There should be space available for non-HC attendees—same great birding but with good footing. This trip will visit both public and privately owned boardwalks to the Sound at Currituck Banks Forest Trail Preserve, the OBX Center for Wildlife Education, and Duck Town Boardwalk.

Approximate Travel Time:

1 hour

Conditions:

Boardwalks.

Facilities:

Restrooms will be at Duck only, or a stop at a service station.

Trips 5 & 24 – Pea Island NWR Visitors Center and Southside Dike

In the morning the pond behind the PI Visitors Center is lit by the rising sun. Resting and actively feeding birds are in the best direction for viewing field ID clues. The adjacent dike affords views of North Pond and Newfield Pond, capped by a 2-story platform that also overlooks the inland waters and marsh.

Approximate Travel Time:

40 minutes to the Visitors Center

Conditions:

Wide grassy trail to the viewing platform.

Facilities:

Restroom at the Visitor's Center

Trips 6, 16, 27 & 37 – Jennette's Pier (Nags Head) Ocean Watch. ($3 entry fee)

A scope is essential on this trip to scan the Atlantic for the winter near-shore birds and occasional pelagic species that feast on the bounty of the ocean. If you don't have a scope, there should be plenty in the group. Your leader will scan the ocean with you as you watch the action for loons, grebes, Razorbills, Gannets, sea ducks, gulls, and hopefully a Dovekie or Shearwater.

Approximate Travel Time:

15 minutes

Conditions:

Boardwalk.

Facilities;

Restroom in the Pier Entry Building.

Trip 7 – Waterfowl ID Workshop/Field ID

This workshop will focus on key characteristics, such as profile, foraging behaviors, and habitat. The leader will provide clues to field ID features or activity which can aid birders on all levels to describe a species. The field trip location(s) will be as determined by the leader.

Approximate Travel Time:

TBD

Trips 8, 12, 25 & 34 – Oregon Inlet and Bodie Island

It seems every winter an unexpected bird spends the season in the dunes overlooking the ocean on the south side of Oregon Inlet. The fishing pier offers a great viewpoint for wintering sea ducks such as Harlequin and Common Eider. On the north side of the bridge is the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, where we will scope the inlet for Long-tailed Duck and other diving ducks. We'll continue on to Bodie Lighthouse Pond where we will scope for waterfowl, shorebirds, and waders from the observation platform. The boardwalk to the platform crosses marsh that is good for rails and marsh wrens. A late afternoon visit can be particularly rewarding for viewing waterfowl because of the light. If time permits, we will explore the “fisherman's” trail.

Approximate Travel Time:

30 minutes to Oregon Inlet

Conditions:

Sand paths on the south side of Oregon Inlet, pavement on the north side

Trip 9 – Nags Head Woods Preserve & Jennette's Pier Escapade (HC Accessible Trip) ($3 Entry Fee)

The forested sandy dunes of the Nature Conservancy's Nags Head Woods Preserve are home to woodland species, some of which curtail migration for the warmer zone of the OBX. Their Handicap Accessible Trail offers opportunity for chair users, and other participants, to search for birds in mixed foraging flocks. See Trip 6 for a description of Jennette's Pier. ($3 fee to the pier)

Approximate Travel Time:

10 minutes to Nags Head Woods

Conditions:

Packed trail and boardwalks.

Facilities:

A restroom is in the Pier Access Building.

Trip 10 – Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve area & Kitty Hawk Pier ($3 Entry Fee)

Several protected woodlands at Kitty Hawk will provide opportunity for wintering land birds. A Sound view stop is planned and special permission has been acquired with the Pier at the Hilton Garden Inn at Kitty Hawk for ocean viewing. This final stop will fully and truly round out the birding opportunities. If access is unavailable at the pier due to hotel events the Regional Beach Access will be used.

Approximate Travel Time:

20 minutes

Facilities:

The pier or Beach Access has a restroom.

Trip 11 & 35 – Pea Island NWR North Pond and Visitor's Center

North Pond is open to the public year-round. Simply enjoy the thousands of ducks and other water birds that winter here. Every winter a rarity or two shows up. We will also scan the ocean from the dunes opposite the Visitor's Center. A stop in the Oregon Inlet area may be included as time permits.

Approximate Travel Time:

30 minutes

Conditions:

Wide grassy trail to the viewing platform.

Facilities:

Restroom at the Visitor's Center.

Trips 13 & 36 – Roanoke Island Marshes & Wanchese Harbor and Marina

Habitats will include woodland edges for winter land species, marsh birding and water views over the sound. We will tailor the visit based on local observations but likely start at the Roanoke Marshes Game Lands in search of species such as Marsh Wren, Seaside Sparrow, and Clapper and Virginia Rails. The impoundment should hold a few shorebirds and waterfowl. Then we will stop by the harbor in Wanchese Village and scan the surrounding water and marina, interesting for the numerous gulls and landbirds that roam about oyster piles. Just south of the harbor is a road across the marsh ending at the Sound.

Approximate Travel Time:

25 min.

Conditions:

Grassy trails at the Roanoke Marshes to gravelly roads around the harbor.

Facilities:

Use service stations for a restroom.

Trips 14 & 32 – Alligator River NWR (Buffalo City Road to Milltail Road)

Alligator River NWR holds miles of huge impoundments with THOUSANDS of ducks, and often shorebirds. The trail at the end of Buffalo Road affords opportunity for land birds easily missed with so much flooded impoundments demanding viewer attention. The Buffalo Soldiers during the civil war resided here, the source of the namesake. Not a part of the tour is an option to stay in the Refuge at dusk after the tour at the intersection of Sawyer Lake Road and Milltail Road, the place to be for Short-eared Owl, Red Wolf and Black Bear.

Approximate Travel Time:

35 minutes

Conditions:

Gravel roads.

Facilities:

Restrooms are limited. There is a waterless toilet at the entrance to ARNWR (Rt. 64 at Milltail Rd.)

Trip 15 – Rodanthe Big Yard Birding

Join hostess Karen Lebing for a tour of her property on Pamlico Sound in Rodanthe. Gerry and Karen have observed 264 species to date on their two acres of heaven, one of the top yard lists in the country. From shrubby edge habitat to brackish marsh and open water, the birding potential on an afternoon in this spot is very good. Their feeder array (that includes sugar water for hummers) alone is a big draw in this very special Outer Banks backyard. Do not forget your camera if you decide to sign up for this unique experience!

Approximate Travel Time:

30 minutes

Conditions:

Easy walking on mostly flat terrain. There is a long boardwalk out into the marsh.

Facilities:

Restrooms are on site as well as at neighborhood convenience store.

Trip 23 – Duck Town Boardwalk and Kitty Hawk Pier Escapade (HC Accessible Trip) ($3 Entry Fee)

The almost 1/2-mile boardwalk at Duck is a viewing platform for both wintering landbirds and waterbirds. It is located along a brushy shoreline and the Sound. As time permits other Sound view locations may be included. The trip also includes the great opportunity granted to CBC for ocean viewing at the Hilton Garden Inn Pier ($3 fee). Scopes are the best tool for this last stop. If the pier is closed due to an event at the hotel the nearby Regional Beach Access will be our site for ocean viewing.

Approximate Travel Time:

35 minutes to Duck

Conditions:

Boardwalks.

Facilities:

Restrooms will be at both sites.

Trip 26 – Northern Roanoke Island–Fort Raleigh Area ($8 entry fee)

The northern area of Roanoke Island has several birding sites visited by the locals. Habitats range from manicured turf to woodlands and Albemarle Sound viewing. If Elizabethan Gardens is used by the leader, a fee is required ($8). The trip may go as far south as the Roanoke Island Marshes.

Approximate Travel Time:

25 min.

Conditions:

Maintained trails vary.

Facilities:

Restrooms will be available, either onsite or at a nearby service station.

Trip 28 – Jockey's Ridge State Park

Join an NC State Park Ranger to learn about this jewel of a park located adjacent to the famous Wright Brothers Memorial. Walk the trails in search of local flora and fauna associated with a variety of coastal habitat. Also, participants will be exposed to some of the rich human history associated with this part of the Outer Banks.

Approximate travel time:

10 minutes

Conditions:

Moderate. Most of the trip will be hiking on well-defined trails, but the group will also encounter loose sand and some hilly terrain.

Facilities:

Restrooms can be found on site at the park.

Trip 29 – Young Birders Walk

Details will be available at check-in.

Trip 31 – Split Pea Sojourn

Just south of Pea Island NWR's South Pond, “Split Pea” refers to the area around the inlet created by Hurricane Irene in 2011. This area is well known to local birders for its marsh sparrows and other marsh birds. We will visit this area, as well as the observation platform at South Pond. We will also walk over to the oceanside dunes and scan for seabirds.

Approximate travel time:

20 minutes

Conditions:

This should be considered a strenuous trip. Participants need to bring footwear appropriate for walking in ankle-to shin-deep water. Trails are sandy and dunes may be climbed.

Trip 33 – Pea Island NWR Visitor's Center and Bodie Light Boardwalk Escapade (HC Accessible)

The Pea Island Visitors Center viewing windows and area within the parking lot offer excellent birding on North Pond, especially for ducks, with chances for Brown and White Pelicans a distinct possibility. We will then travel to the Boardwalk at Bodie Light where we will scope for waterfowl, shorebirds, and waders from the lower portion of the observation platform. The boardwalk to the platform cuts through marsh that is excellent for rails and marsh wrens. The platform is the last stop as evening light can be spectacular on the waterfowl.

Approximate Travel Time:

35 minutes to PINWR

Facilities:

A restroom is available at both sites.

Trip 42 – Alligator River NWR or uncommon/rarities seen

Many of the unusual birds seen during the winter meetings on the Outer Banks are found at Alligator River. We will try to track down unusual species found the previous two days, and maybe find some more.

Trip 43 – Search for Uncommon & Rarities Seen

This trip will try to re-find the more unusual species found the previous two days on the Outer Banks and Roanoke Island. The actual route will depend on what was found, so be prepared!

FULL DAY FIELD TRIPS

Trips 17 & 38 – Lake Pungo and Lake Phelps (Pocosin Lakes NWR)

Pocosin Lakes is famous for huge flocks of wintering Snow Geese lifting off at sunrise, a spectacle in itself. We will look through flocks of blackbirds with hopes of spotting a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Overhead, we'll keep an eye out for Golden Eagles as this is one of the most reliable spots in the state for these awesome birds. Other possibilities include waterfowl species, and farm field and edge species, such as sparrows, pipits and Horned Larks. There is a lot of territory to cover on this trip with potential side trips on the way back in the Mattamuskeet NWR area.

Approximate Travel Time:

1.5 hours

Conditions:

Roads, boardwalks and dirt paths.

Facilities:

Restroom sites will not be available.

Trip 18 – Mattamuskeet NWR.

A birder's paradise, Mattamuskeet can be incredible. We will bird the Lake Landing area for waterfowl, shorebirds and waders, sorting through the more common species and hoping for something rare. We will also bird along the causeway, famous for its overwintering passerines and at other sections of the refuge where passerine habitat abounds. The entrance road follows the main viewing impoundment.

Approximate Travel Time:

1 hour 30 minutes

Facilities:

Restroom at Lake Landing and in the Refuge Visitors Center at the end of the entrance road.

Trips 19 & 40 – Hatteras Point & Hatteras Island

A full day that just has – well – promise. We will bird the Point Campground, the Salt Pond and the beach, sorting through the gull flocks in search of Iceland, Glaucous, and California Gulls. Lesser Black-backed Gulls should be common. We will scan the ocean for alcids and other rarities. The salt pond usually hosts good populations of birds. Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and a Sprague's Pipit may be present. Your leader may plan a stop at a local woodland area or some side trips on the way back depending on what has been seen that morning at points north.

Approximate Travel Time:

90 minutes

Conditions:

We will be walking primarily on sandy trails.

Facilities:

Restrooms available at the Visitor's Center near the lighthouse.

Trips 20 & 39 – Ocracoke Island

This is a new trip for the meetings. We will meet at the ferry terminal in Hatteras Village at 7:30 a.m. to make the 8 a.m. departure. The ferry ride across the Hatteras Inlet to Ocracoke can be very rewarding, with the possibility of sea ducks, loons, grebes, brown pelicans, northern gannets, and gulls. Once on Ocracoke, we will start at the parking lot at the ferry terminal and move across the island, stopping at access points to the beach, the pony pasture, campground, Devil Shoal's Road, the Hammock Hills Nature Trail and Springer's Point Nature Preserve and the Silver Lake Harbor in the village. Habitats include maritime forest and shrub, salt marsh, beach, and dune.

Approximate Travel Time (from hotel):

1 hour 45 minutes to the ferry terminal.

Conditions:

Trails are sandy and can have exposed roots.

Facilities:

Restrooms/port-a-potties will be available in several locations.

Trip 41 – Pea Island NWR (North Pond to Split Pea Bridge)

As an all-day trip you will have more valuable time to scan the area habitats and increase those chances for life birds, or to study the posture and feeding habits that are guides to shorebird ID. The trip also goes south of the Visitors Center to the Newfield Platform (NOT the dike) and the Oceanview Trail for pelagic species hopefully near shore and may possibly travel further south to the marsh area at Split Pea Bridge. A stop at Oregon Inlet will be considered dependent upon time. At Newfield (South Pond), DO NOT WALK THE DIKE BEYOND THE NEWFIELD PLATFORM. It is off-limits.

Approximate Travel Time:

35 minutes

Conditions:

Sandy road shoulders and path to the ocean, grassy trails.

Facilities:

Restrooms at Oregon Inlet and the PINWR Visitors Center.