Camping at Chippokes Plantation State Park

Chippokes Plantation is one of the nicest campgrounds I've ever been to. The campsites aren't on top of each other and the bathroom is conveniently located. There's so much to do! (be sure to read my earlier post) Brian and I had a great time checking out The Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum and we got to meet a cute little pot-bellied pig  with so much personality! His name was Taz and he was the sweetest little guy! We spent two nights at the campground and met wonderful camp hosts, Doug and Cathy, very nice folks and very helpful! I will definitely visit this campground again.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Eastern Bluebird after an early morning shower"][/caption]

Our first night went kind of fast, we didn't get out of the house till late but we managed to get to the park before it got dark. We set our tent up and built a campfire. It was a beautiful night the stars were out and we were relaxing around the fire with s'mores yum! The next morning I work up early - this was our first camping trip of 2010, so of course I was overly excited! It rained a little in the morning, but the sun shined through and pushed out the clouds. I didn't want to wake Brian up so I took a quick walk through the campground to check out the birds.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Chipping Sparrow foraging in a campsite "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Bald Eagle soaring high over the campground"][/caption]

On the way back to the campsite I got to see a few smaller butterflies. I was very fortunate for them to land and let me take their picture.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="464" caption="Horace's Duskywing Skipper Butterfly basking in the sun"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="443" caption="Eastern Tailed-blue having a short rest on a clover leaf"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="A very curious Silver-spotted Skipper "][/caption]

I walked back to the campsite after watching the little butterflies flutter around. We made a bowl of cereal and discussed what we were going to do first. We walked to the beach and the visitor center. Lots of Zebra Swallowtails fluttered by on our way down the shady road. when we got to the visitor center we looked through the binoculars and checked out the James River. I spotted a Blue Heron who was on the hunt.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="476" caption="Blue Heron hunting"][/caption]

After leaving the beach & visitor center we went and looked at all the farm and forestry exhibits, we headed over to the plantation house. I don't think i could ever get tired of walking through the garden - It's such a beautiful place!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="433" caption="Five-lined Skink basking in the sun on the plantation house"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Close your eyes, make a wish...& BLOW!"][/caption]

On our way to the car, I stopped to look at the beautiful bluebells again...to my surprise there was a tiny white crab spider! I think they are the most interesting looking spiders.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="White Crab Spider guarding a set of Bluebells"][/caption]

I really didn't want to leave Chippokes... but on our last day we decided to get up early, get on the ferry ride it over to Jamestown and ride the entire colonial parkway to Yorktown. Once we got on the ferry we were literally 10 ft from an osprey in the middle of constructing a nest, and once we got to the other side of the James river I could see inside an Osprey's nest from the top deck of the ferry. It was so awesome!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Osprey building a new nest"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Osprey Mom from the top deck of the ferry"][/caption]

Yorktown Battlefield National Park has a lot to see as well, but we only drove through this time. I got to see a Mute Swan very briefly. They are so graceful to watch glide through the water.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Beautiful Mute Swan"][/caption]

Brian's Mom Sibyl and Her Husband Norris Live in Yorktown. It would have been silly for us not to have stopped by and at least say hello for a bit while we were in the area. We chatted, caught up on what everyone was doing and Sibyl told me they had Canada geese babies at their little pond in front of their neighborhood. It was so sweet to see them!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Momma Canada Goose and Goslings"][/caption]

Chippokes Plantation State Park

A beautiful sunny spring day! It got to be 80 degrees, and we took a ride to check out Hogg Island State Wildlife Refuge. The trip to Hogg Island was about an hour from our house. Once we got to the Refuge we soon found out that Dominion power had a plant right in front of the refuge and apparently you can get back there. Chippokes Plantation State Park was right down the street and Brian had never been to the park before. Chippokes is absolutely beautiful and not to mention one of the oldest working farms in the United States. The State Park currently has bike trails, hiking trails, horse trails, a picnic area, beach on the James River, camping, and colonial style cabins. The plantation has several historical exhibits and also The Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum. We wanted to see everything today, but there was so much to see! We decided we would come camping sometime this month to see everything.... I can't wait! Spring has just started and all of the trees and flowers were blooming!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Osprey nesting at Chippokes Plantation State Park "][/caption]

We started with a walk on the beach. Its not your typical ocean sand, but the beach does have sand and lots of shells! We picked up a few scallop shells, WOW! they were huge! The beach has trees and plenty of shade to sit and relax on those hot days....

After walking on the beach we headed towards the plantation house to walk though the garden. Oh how wonderful it was to see  all of the wildflowers blooming!

Also in the Plantation's Garden there were tons of butterflies! BUT because I'm sill learning my camera, I missed out on alot of opportunities... not being prepared - o well! Some of the butterflies we saw today include a Pearl Crescent on the beach, tons of Cabbage Whites, Clouded Sulphurs, Blues and lots of different Swallowtails.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Eastern Tiger Swallowtail"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Black Swallowtail"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Black Swallowtail"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Zebra Swallowtail"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Black Swallowtail"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="437" caption="Honey Bee "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Honey Bee"][/caption]

Valentines Day in Hatteras, NC

For Valentines Day we spent the weekend in the outer banks.  We did a little four wheeling on the beach in my brand new 1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ!! Brian and I stayed in cute cabanas on the beach. They were all one room cabins on stilts and were privately owned so each one had its own personality! When we got to Hatteras National Seashore, we checked out the light house and the snow started coming down! Quite a sight!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Cape Hatteras Light and heavy snow coming down"][/caption]

When we got to the tip of Hatteras, where all the fisherman usually are.....we sat and watched hundreds of thousands of Great Comorants fly in from the south in the snow. We were so amazed! We drove around a little on the beach, but it was cloudy and snowing so we decided to head to the Cabana for the night. We had homemade meatballs and rice. yum! The snow finally stopped and the moon came out. It was beautiful!

The next day, we went back to the seashore and drove on the beach a little more.  I was kind of hoping to see purple sandpipers. But instead I saw a Black-bellied Plover! I probably have seen these guys before, just didn't know what they were. This little one was hanging out near lots of seagulls and sanderlings all by itself.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="319" caption="Lone Black-bellied Plover"][/caption]

I was also pleased to see the Forster's Tern return. They have such tiny legs!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Forster's Terns Preening"][/caption]

A couple of months ago, we found a short trail that went behind the dunes. We usually see a small family of deer back here. They had two little ones with them this time. I coudln't get a shot with all of their heads up! This little one ran right out in front of the jeep! I read that Hatteras has tiny deer like Florida has, but I'm not sure if this is just a white-tailed deer. Cute little deer - isn't it?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Tiny Deer"][/caption]

I think it is so fun to watch the little sanderlings searching for anything they can hide behind to protect them from the wind... just to catch a light snooze.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Sanderlings hiding from the wind"][/caption]

We Left Hatteras to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. My FAVORITE place!! I could never get tired of this refuge. Always tons and tons of birds.... AND GUESS WHAT?!? I FINALLY GOT TO SEE SNOW GEESE! Oh I can't begin to tell you how excited I was! Brian and I were driving to the parking lot of pea Island and I about had a heart attack. They were literally 50 ft away. I made him pull over on the side of the road so I could capture the moment but most of them flew away when we stopped.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="My winter goal - to Photograph Snow Geese!"][/caption]

After snapping a couple shots, hoping at least one was in focus, We headed up Route 12 to Pea Island's parking lot...

OH MY GOD BRIAN PULL OVER!!!!

A bittern was on the side of the road... Literally on the side of the road.  I couldn't believe it! I made him turn around and creep up slowly  so I could snap a shot of this elusive bird. A lifer for me.... I've heard their distinctive mating call at my camper, but have never seen one. I managed to snap a few shots before he did a really cool move into the reeds. We took off, only to see another only 15 ft away!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="377" caption="American Bittern - A Lifer Bird"][/caption]

When I got home  and reviewed my pictures, I had in fact seen 5 that day! WOW! Bitterns will freeze, stretch their necks up with bill to the sky and sway side to side to imitate reeds! neat huh? Another lifer bird for me was the White Pelican. I'm sure people see them all the time, but I have never seen one of these birds before. They were so HUGE!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="White Pelican in Flight - Breeding Male (Lifer)"][/caption]

Once we made it to Pea Island's parking lot. We set out to walk the trail. There were tons of birds! Tundra Swans, Shovelers, Pintails, Weigons, Coots, Mallards, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, Egrets, Blue herons, and lots of Brown Pelicans. I think they dive for fish very oddly.... I watched one fall to the surface of the water and PLOP! I thought he was dead! But he had an awesome catch apparently!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Pelican Gobbling down his catch"][/caption]

I Enjoyed watching the Buffleheads forage. There were so many at the refuge. I think pictured here is a juvenile and a female. Maybe mom is teaching the little one to dive for food? Anyways, it has a pretty nice size frog!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Buffleheads - One with a Frog Dinner!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Pretty Female Bufflehead"][/caption]

It was sort of a windy day, so we didn't walk the whole trail. On our way back we saw tons of white ibis. I have never seen a juvenile. They sure are different looking.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Juvenile White Ibis with two Adults"][/caption]

I had a really great birding weekend!  I've only seen ring-necked ducks at Pea Island one other time, but they were too far away to photograph. I had a couple swim close to me while walking the trail. I'm happy I could get them together in a picture! :)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Sweet Ring-necked duck couple"][/caption]

Brian treated me to a very nice weekend for Valentines Day. What more could a girl want - Birding, Beach Cabin and Four-wheeling in her new JEEP!? Hell yah!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Brian in my 1994 Classic YJ Jeep Wrangler "][/caption]

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Alligator River NWR is absolutely beautiful. They have paddling trails, wildlife drive trails, and nature trails, where you might be fortunate enough to see black bears, alligators, or even red wolves! We've been here before...We just wanted to come down again to explore all of the driving trails on 154,000 acres! We did a little "four wheeling" on some of the more muddy and over grown trails. It was a beautiful sunny day!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Brian's muddy TJ from wildlife trails"][/caption]

We were really hoping to see alligators, but it was cold. My dad had visited Alligator River a couple weeks earlier and he told me he saw one... so I know they are here, but I'm sure we won't see any till this summer. I also wanted t0 see SNOW GEESE! Brian and I over heard a man talking about seeing them here when we were at Pea Island NWR. Unfortunately we didn't see any.  We saw lots of Tundra Swans, Northern Pintails, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Most of them where too far away to photograph.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="391" caption="Lone Tundra Swan "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Tundra Swan Family :)"][/caption]

The winter has been really cold this year! Today, it was a little warm and in the upper 50's. All of the Tree Swallows were going nuts over all the little gnats hovering in the sunshine. I managed to capture a couple of neat shots.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Tree Swallow hovering over water"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Tree Swallow swooping in for a gnat snack"][/caption]

While driving on the wildlife trails.  We saw lots and lots of red-tailed hawks. One flew directly over top of the jeep.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Red Tailed Hawk scanning for food"][/caption]

And while I was taking pictures of the Red-tailed, a tree swallow landed right in front of our jeep, and wouldn't move!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Stubborn Tree Swallow"][/caption]

We enjoyed our sunny day at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. I can't wait to visit in the spring and summer and maybe I'll get to see some gators or even a Red Wolf! till then...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Kestrel "][/caption]