Birds Come Together on the Outer Banks

By Julie Suman
Jan. 13, 2022

The Outer Banks welcomed migrating birds long before human travelers arrived. Set on the Atlantic Flyway, these barrier islands offer excellent habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds moving through the region. You do not have to be a seasoned birder to appreciate them. Between Duck and Buxton, winter brings miles of birding possibilities, along with chances to encounter wildlife you might not expect.

A Walk Along the Boardwalk

Start gently with waterfowl viewing from Town Park and Duck Boardwalk. More than 11 acres of pathways move through maritime forest beside the Currituck Sound, and the 1-mile boardwalk offers an easy way to take in the inviting town of Duck. On our winter outing, we saw Bufflehead Ducks, Canadian Geese, and Great Blue Herons.

The boardwalk also connects visitors with local restaurants and shops. At SeaDragon & Yellowhouse Gallery, we found distinctive art inspired by beach scenes, wildlife photos, and more. Owner and artist Eve Turek gladly shares what she knows about the Outer Banks.

For additional OBX history, visit Duck's Cottage Coffee and Books and browse fiction and non-fiction titles about the area’s lore. We finished our stop with hot chocolate. While we drank cocoa outside in the courtyard, songbirds moved through the area. Carolina wrens, clearly comfortable around coffee house guests, hopped closer in search of a bite.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

A winter visit should include Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. In a single day, we identified over 36 species. Birding there is easy because many birds feed close to the road. Driving Route 12 before sunrise brought views of Snow Geese, Northern Pintails, and Gadwall Ducks in the early light. Farther out, Tundra Swans and White Pelicans came in to land.

Make time for the Visitor Center, where educational exhibits and helpful volunteers add context to what you are seeing. The center also provides spotting scopes for better views. We were fortunate enough to see the Eurasian Widgeon, which usually winters on the West Coast.

Grassy trails extend from the Visitor Center. The North Pond Wildlife Trail, which is wheelchair accessible, leads to a raised observation deck with views over the refuge’s wild landscape. As we continued toward the rear of the pond, a Peregrine Falcon made an appearance.

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

About a ten-minute drive from Nags Head, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge protects habitat for endangered species including red wolves, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, and American alligators. Alligators can be seen here, but our goal was black bears.

We rose early and drove to Wildlife Drive with guide Mark Buckler. Expect some mud on the refuge’s dirt roads. Mark explained that North Carolina black bears do not hibernate because food resources are plentiful, though they are less active in winter. When we pulled up beside a cornfield, two bears were grazing. One bear entertained me by dropping onto his belly to keep eating. Mark said he has seen as many as 37 bears at one time in these fields.

During winter, some fields are flooded to support migrating birds. We watched Tundra Swans making noise while Northern Pintail Ducks moved through the water. Redwing Blackbirds and an American Orchestral drifted in and out of the fields. A Red-tail Hawk watched from a tree, half-hidden. Other birds of prey, including owls and eagles, may also be seen.

Wild Places

The southernmost reaches of Cape Hatteras Island still suggest the earliest Outer Banks, where unspoiled nature remains plentiful. We took in that wilderness on a ¾-mile self-guided trail in Buxton Woods. The trailhead sits near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, a site with a notable history of its own.

The winding path passes beneath a wooded canopy. Along the way are varied plants, marshes, and ponds. We did not see major bird activity there, but we did share a staring contest with a young raccoon. Deer, river otters, and red tail foxes are also known to spend time in this maritime forest.

Bird-Inspired Stops

The Wright Brothers drew on birds when developing their wing-warping design. They selected Kitty Hawk for their first flight because the area offered strong wind and sand that could soften landings. For a fuller look at flight history, the Wright Brothers National Memorial is an essential stop.

Wildlife memories can come home with you through wooden shorebirds and decoys. The Bird Store and Seaside Art Gallery are Outer Banks treasures. Along with a gallery of antique decoys, the Bird Store offers wildlife prints, carved waterfowl, and decorative tiles.

The Seaside Art Gallery celebrated sixty years of award-winning art in 2021. The Society of Animal Artists has recognized several artists shown there. Melanie Smith, a second-generation owner, is happy to introduce visitors to her impressive collection of watercolors, etchings, and miniature wildlife art.

Birding by the Ocean

This is the beach, after all. Migrating shorebirds are drawn to the Outer Banks' sweeping dunes. The Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station stands among those dunes and remained a working part of the coast guard until 1988. It is a good access point for the dunes and oceanfront. Nearby Bonner Bridge Pier offers chances to see brown pelicans and thousands of cormorants.

OBX piers also make ocean birding enjoyable. Jennette's Pier extends into the Atlantic Ocean, creating a distinctive setting for fishing and birding. Around sunset, birds begin collecting near the pier. Northern Gannets and Black Ccoters floated on the waves, while Red-throated Loons dove beneath the water. Brown Pelicans and several gull species used the wind currents overhead.

Winter Wildlife in Any Number of Days

The Outer Banks stretches across over 100 miles of shoreline, yet it works well for birding and wildlife trips of almost any length. Along the route, you can enjoy the beach setting, try local beer and wine, and fit in fine dining. Independent exploring is simple, though expert guide services are also offered. For guided tours, look to Jonathan Cooley at Native Birding Tours, or for photography adventures, Mark Buckler at Mark Buckler Photography.

Category

Outdoor Enthusiast

Author

Julie Suman

Julie Dee Suman (@seebyjuliedee) is a Maryland-based freelance travel writer and photographer. Her travels span over 43 countries across 5 continents. Along with covering the Mid-Atlantic Region, Julie writes about destination travel, especially nature and wildlife excursions. She belongs to the Travel Writers Café, International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and TravMedia.

Julie is also a pharmaceutical scientist and co-editor of Respiratory Drug Delivery. Peer-reviewed journals and trade magazines have published her research.