Much too cold and frozen for any sort of garden activity, so we took a ride to the Mackay Wildlife Refuge which sort of straddles the Virginia and North Carolina border.
Mackay Island is found in the northern portion of Currituck Sound and the southern portion of Back Bay on a peninsula/island which juts into the Sound. The habitat ranges from freshwater and brackish marsh to upland and lowland eastern pine hardwood forest.
Concentrations of snow and Canada geese, ducks, osprey and other raptors, wading birds, and shorebirds. An active wood duck breeding population are present, along with one active bald eagle nest and many osprey nests.
Endangered and threatened species include: peregrine falcons and American bald eagles (active nesting pair).
From this location there was a cacaphony of snow geese honking in the distance.
We found a flock of Ibis...mixed bag of mature and immature.
I think they are sort of amusing looking....
Still as a stone, the Blue Heron.
Why stand on one foot?
Why stand on one foot in a tree????
New nest? Maybe a sign of spring or my wishful thinking?
The pines are majestic.
The Kingfisher was a hoot...
He dove several times into the pond. We could see small bugs and such moving in the unfrozen areas...Cold bug snack? YUM!
Thin ice throughout the refuge...
Bought a gardening magazine on the way back...will dream gardeny dreams while I park in front of the TV for football.
1 comment:
I went there early last summer and thoroughly enjoyed the views and solitude. It is nice to see it in winter, especially with all the birds.
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