October is a great time for birdwatching on the Outer Banks, with the arrival of migratory waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds and songbirds, here just in time for the Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival that continues through Sunday.
Wildlife & Nature
Our Celestial Coast: October’s Fireballs
October begins with dark skies on the heels of a black moon, ideal conditions for viewing deep-space objects, and offers monthlong meteor showers with a good chance of spotting a fireball.
Our Celestial Coast: Andromeda Rules Sept.
This is a good month to view the Andromeda Galaxy, the home to more than a trillion stars that are 2.5 million light years away from our home.
Catch a Glimpse of a Turtle Nest
Visitors to Cape Hatteras National Seashore are invited along to watch rangers excavate hatched sea turtle nests. If they’re lucky, they might even see a baby turtle scurry to the sea.
Some Birds Get A Head Start on Migration
For some birds, the “fall” migration actually starts in July and August when they leave northern nesting grounds and head south looking for more food.
N.C. Aquarium Turns into Turtle Hospital
The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores last week opened its tanks to five injured or sick baby turtles, the first of the nesting season. Many more are expected.
Celestial Coast: Perseid May be Showstopper
The Perseid meteor shower will be the main show in the night sky through mid-August, and experts think this year’s display will be particularly spectacular.
Our Celestial Coast: Planets, Meteor Showers
July will begin with Jupiter, Mars and Saturn all prominent in the evening sky and will end with two meteor showers, the Delta Aquairids and the Perseids.
Our Celestial Coast: A Triangle of Planets
The triangle formed by Mars, Saturn and Antares will continue to parade across the southern sky this month. And Saturn will be about as bright as it gets.
Our Celestial Coast: The Red Planet
Mars is the celestial star this month. It will be in opposition on May 22, which will be a great opportunity to view the planet.
Our Celestial Coast: Jupiter Rules the Night
Jupiter is the most prominent of the three planets that will be visible through most of April. The month will start with Orion, the hunter, as the most prominent constellation and It will end with the Lyrid meteor shower.
Our Celestial Coast: Jupiter’s Evening Display
Venus, Saturn and Mars will be visible in the pre-dawn skies during March but Jupiter, at its closest to Earth, will be on full display for evening stargazers this month.
Coyotes Emerge as Coastal Predators
Coyotes are rarely seen in numbers along the N.C. coast but state wildlife officials say there is evidence of large populations here and throughout the state, prompting concerns about pets and livestock and crossbreeding with red wolves.
Panthers Still Seize N.C Imagination
Before the football team, there was the real deal — a magnificent cat that roamed the length and breadth of America. Though it’s been extinct in North Carolina for more than a century, this animal of many names has become an enduring wildlife legend.
Our Celestial Coast: Parade of Planets
Five planets line up in the early morning sky through most of February. All can be seen without binoculars or telescopes.
Photo Contest: And the Winners Are …
Best of the best: We announce the winners of Coastal Review Online’s 2015 photography contest, a showcase of marine life, coastal scenes and unique perspectives of our natural environment.
