Our naturalist Sam Bland spotted these two unusual finds that washed up from the deep ocean on a beach walk in Emerald Isle.
Wildlife & Nature
Horseshoe Crabs: Our Coast’s Living Fossils
Conch fishermen, little shorebirds called red knots and flu vaccinations all share something in common. That’s right. Horseshoe crabs.
Thunder Moon
Our naturalist Sam Bland explores the lure of full moons on coastal animals and residents and takes stunning photos of a recent “supermoon.”
A Wetland for Wood Storks
Our naturalist Sam Bland kayaks through a wetland along our southeast coast and into the heart of a wood stork rookery. Here are his story and amazing photos.
Great Blue Heron
Statuesque and graceful in movement, the great blue heron is one of North America’s most familiar and adaptable wading birds.
A Spring for the Birds
Ungainly brown pelicans, stately blue herons and boldly patterned oystercatchers are just some of the birds you can see on cruises sponsored by the N.C. Coastal Federation this spring.
The Coming of Spring
Baby goslins, snapping turtles looking for nests, green anoles hunting mates. All are signs that spring is coming to the freshwater marshes of the coast.
A White Christmas at Hatteras
The unusual appearance of a snowy owl has excited birders flocking to Cape Hatteras. Our naturalist, Sam Bland, joined them.
The Resiliency of Jellies
Moon jelly fish stranded on an autumn beach seemed like a sad story of dislocation and abandonment, but they were also testaments to the resiliency of nature.
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.
A Sign of Autumn: Fall Webworms
Look for the white, cottony webs in the trees this fall. Inside are hundreds of caterpillars munching on leaves, fattening up for a winter’s hibernation. They will emerge as moths next spring.
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.
Take a Birding Cruise Along White Oak
Local bird expert Joanne Powell will guide birding cruises along the White Oak River, and she says participants are almost guaranteed to see something special: birds, other wildlife or just stunning beauty.
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.
Turtle Tales
Young hands can touch a sea turtle shell and inquiring minds can learn about our coast’s most beloved sea creature at weekly programs at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Take a Drive to See Bears
The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge offers guided drives this summer to view black bears. More bears live in the refuge than in just about any other place on the East Coast.
