POCOSIN NWR "SWAMP ON A HILL"

BURNED OUT AREA AT POCOSIN


SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY

BLACK BEAR AT POCOSIN

Day 27 --Pocosin-“Swamp on a hill” NW Refuge

Did you ever go into an isolated area (no ‘civilization’) of about 110,000 acres with a map that you felt was adequate , and ended up finding out (after you were ½ way into the area) that the map really didn’t tell you where you were or where you are”.? That happened to us this day,

but first we had to get the amenities out of the way. This NWR was 28 miles from our Park, and in Columbia N.C.. The Fish and Wildlife HQ was where we had supposed we could get some good directions. We had a “basic” map, but needed to know especially which road allowed us to enter the Reserve. The HQ was closed on Sat and Sun so that ended that quest.
I felt I needed to get an oil change and that would be wise to do it while we were in town. There was a BP station that had three bays so I stopped there to inquire if he could do an oil change and filter for our truck. (Toyota Tundra ’07) He said he could. This turned out to be fortunate as we got right in. They did have to go to a parts store for the filter but after an hour we were on our way .NO 10 MINUTE LUB HERE AND NOT AT 10 MINUTE LUB PRICES! $54.00 WAS THE COST. But we were on our way to the Refuge.
Earlier on the way way up to the HQ. we passed NO signage that told of this place, yet, there was an entry along this road (NC 94) somewhere. (None of those official brown signs) We stopped a mail carrier and she did not know how to get into it (she was delivering mail one road away from the entry). We asked a couple in a car. They lived there but did not even know of the Reserve!!! Finally I stopped at a house and the gentleman named Carl, told me to go to “Frying Pan Road” (Really) then he said to turn left there and not the direction of the sign. He was right as there was no sign for that side of the road. It was the entrance to the Reserve and the gravel road all the way through was adequate and maintained There were no signs at all. Now began a 4 hour test of direction and intuition. The official map for the Reserve did not have a correct scale, nor were any deviating roads that we came to while driving that were on the map. This area is a forested, peat bog, small timbered piece of real estate that goes on and on and on. We drove 75 miles after we got into the Reserve and 80 miles previously trying to find the entrance and also while driving home. (we drove down three, long dead ends). .
The ride was filled with good observations however. The wildlife in this area was excellent and although we did not see any cougar (there are some here) we did see deer, fox, turkey, and TA TA TA A BLACK BEAR. It was ahead of us a few hundred feet and moving for an opening . I said to Ruth “Get the camera” It was in her lap but when you get “beary” excited everything stops focusing except the animal. She did get one snap off and it is “decent”. The fox we saw twice as we backtracked to see him stalking a Turkey and we never did know if it actually tangled with it or not.. There were lots of Turkeys , some rabbits, and a few birds. Last year there was large fire in the reserve and we did pass by much of that . 10,000 acres were burned and the peat fires were long-lasting.
There were other birds; the Green Heron, Bobwhite (flushed two of them) , another Red Tailed Hawk, Wood Duck (m and f) Great Crested Flycatcher, Killdeeer, Meadowlark, and the Prothonotory Warbler one more time. There were many of the latter. We saw 32 bird species. There are two large lakes for fishing and wildlife in the Refuge.
There were a few birds that we did not identify as they were elusive in the heavy cover. For those of you that have driven the back roads in the UP of Michigan, this would be similar with more deciduous trees and each road having a canal alongside. I have not seen any reasons for the canals as yet.. I suspect that the road system in the Reserve (built in 1987) was built from the dirt that was dug from where the canals are now. I’ll check on that.. This 110,000 acre plot was donated in part form the conservation fund in conjunction with the Richard Mellon Foundation. It is an awesome and isolated Refuge. We were on the Reserve/Refuge 4 hours and did not see single car or person , until the last 30 minutes when we saw two people. It was a great day for nature and the out of doors.
We headed home, as we finally, at 4:30, drove out of the Reserve and onto the pavement of NC 45 that led us back to the campground. A simple supper and some relaxing time and the day was tied in a bow, with the colors of the setting sun.
Tomorrow we will get to one of the local Methodist churches. There is one in every town here no matter how small. Those circuit riders did a great job.. Our nature program for Sunday will be local as there is a small refuge in Swan Quarter that we will seek out. Isn’t it time for laundry you say? Thanks for reading and send an e mail to crazy4birds@comcast.net

FACT : Did you know that Rachel Carson (“Silent Spring”, was an employee and chief editor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? (1932 -1952)POCOSIN NWR

Day 16 SOUTHERN DELAWARE- LIGHTHOUSES AND WW 2

Day 16 SOUTHERN DELAWARE- LIGHTHOUSES AND WW 2

This Tuesday we looked south of the campground to see what was just between the Maryland border and Lewes Delaware. We had not explored this section of land. In between these points are two lighthouses on land and a number of wildlife viewing areas. The first objective was the State Park at Henlopen just a block away from the Lewes Ferry docks.

This Park has a number of features relating to WW2. In May of 1945 just after the war ended, a German submarine surrendered to the US Marines here and were interred first at Fort Miles (now the park land) and then in northern New Jersey. Also from WW 2 the giant 12 inch gun emplacements are still present at the preserved Fort Miles along with the fire tower, Battery 519 and the barracks. On the beach atop a large dune are the “off limits” nesting areas for the Piping Plover. These birds are “late” arriving this year due to the inclement weather. (Six consecutive days of rain.) In 1964 the US Gov’t. Returned the land to the state of Delaware turned the Fort into a tourist attraction and it was made into a 543 acre park. Much of the beach at the park is only accessible for fishermen with special $150,00 permits to surf fish. One access road that led to Gordon Pond (see later) was “Liaise Faire” to us. We had been warned not to mess with trespass laws.

FORT ,MILES 12 INCH GUN, BARRACKS AND ANTI-SHIP,ANTI-AIR BATTERIES. (3”)

On the beach atop a large dune are the “off limits” nesting areas for the Piping Plover. These birds are “late” arriving this year due to the inclement weather. (Six consecutive days of rain.) In 1964 the US Gov’t. Returned the land to the state of Delaware turned the Fort into a tourist attraction and it was made into a 543 acre park. Much of the beach at the park is only accessible for fishermen with special $150,00 permits to surf fish. One access road that led to Gordon Pond (see later) was “Liaise Faire” to us. We had been warned not to mess with trespass laws.

Also at Henlopen State Park was a former site of the immigration service’s holding camp for immigrants who came into the country with diseases or were very ill. They remained here until they were well and then released. Over a period of 35 years (1884-1918) some 200,000 of them were processed through. There is no facility there at this time.

The birds were minimal here but a friendly Wood Thrush helped the day count.
Then we worked our way to the southern end of this park by driving 15 miles roundabout to the other end and a pond called Gordon’s Pond. This site of 100 acres had been a Pirate den , a salt mine, and more recently a cooperative agreement among the various agencies to make it wildlife Preserve. There are many excellent biking and hiking trails here, and many youth camping sites. We met some retired ladies from D.C. who shared our telescope with us to spot a Wilson ’s phalarope. This is the bird that spins in the shallow water to stir up the food. It was a beautiful bird and a first for Ruth and me.
We drove by the homes and beautiful landscaped yards in Henlopen Acres that wound around the streets to show their spring blossoms and beautiful manicured lawns. The trees were tall and the colors vibrant and varied. The dominant bush was the many deep colors of the Azalea Bush. Yet few birds in all this “over cover”.

FENWICK ISLAND (DEL) LIGHTHOUSE .--- OSPREY AND MATE ON NEST

The last effort of the day was to drive to the very southern border of the state (borders with MD) and locate the lighthouse that marks the border between the two states. With only one short “turn back” we located it on the “inside bay”.

This lighthouse is on the site referred to as the “Transpeninsular Line” and was establish in the 1700 by agreement with the King of England and the US Government. It marked the line between the state of PA at that time and the COUNTY of Maryland, and the state of Delaware. The survey was undertaken by 4 men, two from Delaware and two from Maryland. It stretched east and west past the center of the state 35 miles west. It is (the lighthouse) 78 feet high and has a third order Fresnel lamp. Not in use today it was presented to Friends of the Lighthouse in the 1960’s. It is not used today as almost all lights are automatic and electronically operated as “front” and “back” lights. Both residences (the lighthouse keepers and the assistants) are occupied still.

FACT: Did you know that over 400 US ships were sunk off the coast of the US during WW2?

THE TRANSPENINSULAR LINE PLAQUE THE ORIGINAL STONE BEARING THE
SEALS OF THE PENNS (NORTH) AND CALVERTS (SOUTH SIDE) (1769)

The rain held off today until we started back and the prediction was that we will not have rain tomorrow when we break camp at least until afternoon. We will head for Chincoteague as the next camping spot. Thanks for reading and send an e mail anytime to: crazy4birds@comcast.net with any comments or questions. I will design a short quiz in the next few blogs. Just to keep you on your toes!!! (About the trip of course).