The unusual appearance of a snowy owl has excited birders flocking to Cape Hatteras. Our naturalist, Sam Bland, joined them.
A Coastal Christmas Icon
Nick Harvey of Davis had an idea several years ago about making Christmas trees from crab pots. They’re everywhere now, even in Hawaii and Alaska.
Sam’s Field Notes: Glasswort Offers Colorful Display in Marsh
The three species of glasswort that grow along the coast are hardy and salt tolerant and go out in a blaze of glory.
Flounder Gigging
Each fall, flounder begin to find their way to the ocean, with fishermen in pursuit. Some use hook and some use net. Sam Bland, our intrepid naturalist, explains the age-old art of gigging for them.
B95 the Red Knot: The Tale of a Famous Flyer
A red knot known as B95, aka Moonbird, has been delighting bird watchers almost 20 years. Its epic migrations are almost equal to a round-trip to the moon.
Nature’s Hints of Autumn
If you pay attention to the natural world, the signs are all around us that summer will soon give way to fall.
Life at the Surf’s Edge
During this long holiday weekend, summer’s last hurrah, take a stroll on the beach at the water’s edge. There, look for the brightly colored coquina clams, the scurrying mole crabs and ghost crabs wetting their gills.
Cape Lookout
Come visit one of the three great capes that punctuate the N.C. coast. Here, you’ll find an amazing array of wildlife, great fishing, unique history and a breathtaking view from atop the famous lighthouse.
Sam’s Field Notes: The Magnificent Roseate Spoonbill
The big pink bird is rarely seen in North Carolina, so when reports of one visiting Bear Island reached Sam Bland, he had to check it out.
Shackleford Banks
Wild horses are among the many natural attractions that make this preserved barrier island near Beaufort worth a visit.
A Jaunt Along the Outer Banks
From lighthouses to live oak trees, our Sam Bland takes in the cultural and natural wonders of the northern Outer Banks.
Sam’s Field Notes: North Carolina’s State Shell, The Scotch Bonnet
Everybody has their favorite shell, but in North Carolina, the Holy Grail of seashells seems to be the Scotch bonnet.
The Serengeti of North Carolina
Thousands of migrating waterfowl are attracted to Lake Mattamuskeet each winter where they join the native black bears, otters, bobcats, mink, snakes, sliders, herons, egrets and dozens of other species. It is Sam Bland’s kinda place.
Bear Island in the Winter
Sam Bland, our naturalist, returned recently to the home of his heart, his spirit, his soul. Come walk with him on the winter beach as he rediscovers old friends — keyhole urchins and the murex, crystal skippers and fierce antlions.
Sam’s Field Notes: The ‘Spectacled Goose’
The largest seabirds in the North Atlantic, the northern gannets have long been tied to maritime culture.
Mistletoe: A Native Plant Steeped in Lore
Our naturalist Sam Bland traces the stories that link this semi-parasitic plant with Christmas and smooching and tells how you can collect your own mistletoe.
