Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge & Nine Inches of Snow

Hampton Roads saw about 9-10 inches of snow. We hardly EVER get that much snow.. If it even snows at all...Anyways Brian and I went four-wheeling of course!! We didn't want to drive to far in the snow, so we went to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge again. It's such a beautiful area, I love the trails! The snow was an extra bonus...helping in spotting those smaller birds, we usually overlook.

Best part of snow! Dark-eyed Juncos!

When we woke up...we were so excited to see so much snow on the ground! We just couldn't wait to take the jeep out to play in the snow! We drove to my dads house and watched the birds at his neighbors feeder. There were SO many! We saw Tuft Titmouse, House Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Juncos, Chickadees. At that moment, I got my father into birds. He was so excited, talking about what kind of feeder he should get, and asking about bird books and so on... Oh it was awesome! Hope he really gets into it! It's just an awesome hobby not to mention CHEEP! lol After we left my dads, we drove around Virginia Beach and had Lunch at The Jewish Mother.

Robin Foraging Berries from a Red Cedar Tree

A very cold White-throated Sparrow

After Driving around checking out the pretty white snow in Virginia Beach, We headed to our original destination.

Snowy Sand Dune - Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Egret foraging in a ditch - Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Gray Catbird

I've never seen a Brown Thrasher, It was pretty interesting watching  it forage with its beak in the mud! Do you see the mud on it's beak?

Brown Thrasher with Muddy Beak from foraging

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Brown thrasher having a sip of melted snow"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Chick-a-dee-dee-dee singing its little heart out"][/caption]

The snow was fun, and we ended up at a snow party with four wheelers and friends! We had a wonderful weekend!

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge & Hatteras Seashore, NC

We love going down to Hatteras. It's only about a two hour drive.  A beautiful place to visit - even in the off-season! We have such a blast seeing all the birds and four-wheelin' on the beach!  The weather was a bit cloudy and very windy with a few stray showers... Pretty much normal for this time of year. The sun did peek out a few times, which was so nice! We visited Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Hatteras National Seashore on Saturday and Sunday and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on our way home Sunday. We decided to take a different route in hopes of seeing a bear or an alligator! We didn't see either this time. DARN IT!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Very Angry Atlantic Ocean"][/caption]

Saturday was a windy overcast day. We stopped at Pea Island to check the birds. We knew we weren't going to stay long the first day because it was just way too windy, too cold and too cloudy! I managed to snag a few pictures of birds I've never photographed before!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Green-winged Teals"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Northern Pintail"][/caption]

I also saw a White Ibis! I was so excited! I had never seen one before!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="White Ibis coming in for landing"][/caption]

AND American Avocets!

Our first day  on the National Seashore we wanted to go on the Ocracoke Ferry. We were five minutes late catching the four o'clock ferry. The voyage is about an hour and it would have been dark by the time we got back....we really needed to get a hotel. The ferry is right across the street from the Southern most beach access on the National Seashore so we went four-wheeling.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Sea of Seagulls"][/caption]

Once we got to the "tip" of Hatteras Island, there was about 50,000 seagulls...All different kinds! It was a sight! We also spotted three White tails playing in the dunes

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="White Tailed Deer Checking The Area"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Dunlin and tattered sand bag"][/caption]

As always there were several fisherman on the "tip" It's so neat to watch them tackle the huge waves and have a good ol' time casting out, praying for that record breaker catch! But this day there was a beggar... going from truck to truck to see what he could get thrown to him.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Beach Beggar"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Handsome Brown Pelican ready for take off!"][/caption]

We got out of the jeep for a bit and looked for sand dollars, Whelk shells, and Moon snails. While walking, we spotted a oystercatcher. I just love their bright beaks and they are really interesting to watch in action! I also snapped a quick shot of the Hatteras light.

American Oystercatcher

Hatteras Lighthouse

We stayed in an amazing hotel Called "Breakwater Inn" I'm not into hotels that have too much. But this hotel was just right. We had an amazing view of the sound and the sunset.... Also a restaurant, a grocery store less than 30 seconds up the road and it was very clean!! Great Prices and Great off-season rates!

The next morning when we woke up we decided to do some more four-wheeling on the beach and slowly make our way to back to Pea Island so I could catch the birds while the sun was out. Another storm was on the way...Once we made it to Pea Island, there must have been 30,000 or more Tundra Swans. They were literally everywhere!!

Tundra Swans Preening

I saw more Ibis. I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to see these little guys... I didn't realize they were up this way!

L to R: Blue Heron, Great Egret, & Two Ibis (one's on a nest!)

We saw Tons of coots, Northern Shovelers, and Black Ducks. It was fun watching the coots play! While walking the trail we caught some Ruddy Ducks catching a light snooze ;)

Ruddy Ducks Sleeping

I have never seen a Tricolored Heron. Nor did I ever expect I would see one. Anyways, I happened to be looking for Black Stilts and I spotted this guy! Score!

Tricolored Heron

We took a different route home, and headed towards Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. It's a really neat place for birders as well. Except this is a drive through refuge, rather than trail only. We saw tons of Tundra Swans, Northern Pintails, Northern Shovelers, and lots of tree swallows. I love this place, and can't wait till the season starts so I can explore it deeper. We only skimmed the park a little, because we were on our way home and didn't want to get home too late. We had an amazing Weekend as always! Support your local National Wildlife Refuges and National/State Parks by visiting OFTEN!! They need you!

Greater Yellowlegs

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bay Trail Overlook"][/caption]

It rained this morning, so we went to Sam's Club and the mall to find me  a jewelery box. When we left the mall, the sun was shining and it was 70 out! What a surprise to such a gray day! We figured we shouldn't waste a perfectly beautiful Sunday. I suggested going down to Sandbridge for a couple of hours. I forgot how much Sandbridge has changed...Big Condos EW! What happened to the pretty secret beach of Virginia Beach? I blame it on travel magazines and the news paper. I remember when I was a kid, the long road of awesome simple beach houses ending in a small park with Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park. Now, you can't even see past the big eye sore of brightly colored condos at the end of the street right before Little Island City Park.

Still, Back Bay is absolutely breath-taking. It's hard to believe that we have amazing little spots in Virginia Beach like we do. I love this area! with the temperature difference being so great in the past couple of days, there was a very neat fog throughout the marshy refuge.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Layers of fog"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Backbay Fog"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Rain clouds rolling out"][/caption]

We set out to walk the "Bay Trail" I was hoping to see a few Red Winged Black Birds, but I didn't. In my last condo there were Red Wings everywhere! Sometimes, on time! lol

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bay Trail"][/caption]

Back Bay Refuge has over 9,000 acres, situated on and around a thin strip of coastline  of barrier islands found along the Atlantic coast. The refuge also provides habitat for a wide variety wildlife, including threatened and endangered species such as Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Piping Plovers, Peregrine Falcons, and Bald Eagles!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Brian taking pictures"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="I can hear Swans! but I cant see them! darn it."][/caption]

We headed back down the Bay Trail and Saw a few Swallows and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Yellow-rumped Warbler"][/caption]

Once we got back to the parking lot, we decided to walk the Dune Trail down to the beach....Just to check it out.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Protect Natures natural barriers! STAY OFF THE DUNES!!!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Windy foggy and cold Sandbridge"][/caption]

There was a 20 degree difference! The wind was blowing so hard it felt like needles! We walked quickly back to the Jeep to get warm and head home. A great day!

please read my other post about Back Bay NWR - Back Bay & 9inches of snow!

Boat Ride on the Intracoastal

Down the Intracoastal Waterway.... Another beautiful day! Sun was shining and the water was like glass...A great day for pictures!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Cormorant "][/caption]

We started our voyage out of Great Bridge in Chesapeake, Virginia on Brian's beautiful boat 'Rogue Wave'

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Inside the Rogue Wave with Capt. Brian"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Rogue Wave"][/caption]

"Great Bridge Bridge - Great Bridge Bridge... This is south bound power, waitin on your eleven o'clock opening..." Brian said over his VHF. "Roger Cap'n, You headin' south?"  Said the guy in the bridge control room. "Yes sir" replied Brian "Well, Take it slow up there - NO wake! There's divers down there where  a boats gone under" said the guy. So we head up the way to see a boat half under water and people salvaging what they had left. The water was an iridescent color with oil.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Sinking Fishin' Boat "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Sinking Fishin' Boat"][/caption]

...we made our way through the locks and three bridge openings...and saw an eagle couple that we thought might have been the ones who passed our bedroom window the other evening!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bald Eagle Couple "][/caption]

It was like we were in the middle of a neighborhood of Eagles... I've never seen as many as I did today. It was SO amazing! I think every time we would look up in a tree, there one was.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bald Eagle Number 3"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bald Eagle Number 4"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bald Eagle Number 4 again"][/caption]

We saw lots of  juveniles too!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Juvenile Bald Eagle Number 5"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Juvenile Bald Eagles Number 6(flying) & 7"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bald Eagle Number 8"][/caption]

Tons and tons of Eagles! There were so many! Some, I didn't get a picture of because we didn't slow down enough in time to get a picture! We couldn't believe it!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Juvenile Eagles Number 7 & 8"][/caption]

We rode down to North Carolina and back and tried to go up near the cabin in North Landing Campground, but the water was just too shallow.  So we stopped and had lunch. It was an absolutely gorgeous day! The sun was high in the sky and it was about 60 outside! we couldn't have asked for a better day in winter to go out and take a cruise. While we were eating lunch we noticed the grass was burning...probably a controlled burn. Awesome to watch!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Controlled Burn"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Flames burn the invasive growth"][/caption]

Check out the HEAT in that picture! WE went as far as Mile post 35 on the Intracoastal waterway and Saw lots of amazing sights. The water stayed like glass the entire day. We rode past a permanent sunken wreck. Watch out! Might be what will happen to the boat we passed earlier in the day...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Danger! Sunken wreck"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="353" caption="Cormorants guard their channel marker"][/caption]

Got my first in flight bird picture today!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Cormorant In Flight"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Blue Heron Mile Post 35 "][/caption]

This guy is funny! I love how he's standing on the channel marker, ready for action!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Cormorants hangin' on a log"][/caption]

On our way back we spotted several more Bald Eagles. Some I wasn't able to catch a picture of..I'm sure they were probably the same ones we saw coming down the waterway.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bald Eagle Number 9"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bald Eagle Number 10"][/caption]

We had an awesome day on the boat! I am so fortunate to live on the water, let alone have an awesome boyfriend who will take me out in his boat. I hope to see even more Bald Eagles the next time we go out!