The Crystal Coast Stargazers celebrate International Astronomy Day April 21 with a star party at Fort Macon State Park. The astronomy group’s monthly parties, hosted by Park Ranger Paul Terry, are open to the public and well attended. Photo: Doug Waters
Featured Photo
Coastal Scenes: The Pitcher Plant
The carnivorous pitcher plant features a “pitcher” – a modified leaf creating the tube and an overhanging lid – where a sweet, nectar-like liquid collects and attracts insects. Downward-pointing hairs and slippery walls keep the insect trapped in the pitcher, where it eventually slips into the liquid and is dissolved by enzymes so it may be absorbed by the plant. Pitcher plans live in soils poor in nitrogen. They evolved by getting the necessary nitrogen from insects. Photo: Sam Bland
Blue Tubes Installed in Emerald Isle
Ricky Lanier, left, and Jerry Talton of Emerald Isle’s parks and recreation department install a receptacle for plastic bags called a Blue Tube at the town’s western beach access Wednesday as Kristin Gibson, an AmeriCorps coastal community engagement specialist working with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, and Sabrina Hylton, director of guest services at Emerald Isle Realty, look on. BlueTubes sponsored by Emerald Isle Realty were placed at the town’s two beach accesses and hold clean, used plastic bags. Visitors can grab a bag, pick up trash and throw it away. Photo: Mark Hibbs
Touch Tank Committee Meeting
Rep. Pat McElraft, R-Carteret, reaches toward a small ray swimming in the touch tank at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores Tuesday during a tour of the facility for legislators and staff in town for a meeting of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources. Photo: Mark Hibbs
Puffer Prize
Sam Bland captured in Emerald Isle this photo of a gull with a puffer fish trapped in its beak.
Nor’easter Brings Flooding
The Town of Manteo experienced flooding Friday, March 2, due to high winds and waters. Photo: Town of Manteo
Winter Home for Snow Geese
Snow geese take flight over the Pungo Unit of the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina. Photo: Sam Bland
A View From Above: Icy Albemarle Sound
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, on NASA’s Earth Observing System satellite Terra captured this image Jan. 7, that shows ice in the Albemarle Sound after a powerful nor’easter dumped snow across the East Coast and another blast of bitterly cold air drove frigid temperatures lower still.
White Cliffs of Bogue Banks
Our Sam Bland captured Thursday this image of snow-capped dunes at the Point in Emerald Isle, the westernmost tip of Bogue Banks.
Light At the End of the Rainbow
Doug Waters of Morehead City captured this image of a rainbow over the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in November at Buxton.
Lady’s Day Among Zinnias
Doug Waters of Morehead City captured this image of a female monarch on Oct. 2 in the zinnia field in Cape Carteret.
Sunset Flight
Carl Lewis of Rocky Mount recently shared this image he captured of pelicans at sunset.
Sam’s Lens: Sandy Path to the Milky Way
Our Sam Bland captured this image of the Milky Way Aug. 20 from a public beach access boardwalk near the point of Bogue Banks in Emerald Isle.
A Coastal View of the Eclipse
Our Sam Bland captured this image of the solar eclipse near its peak Monday at the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s headquarters near Newport.
Emerald Isle Sunset
Carl Lewis of Rocky Mount captured Wednesday evening the sunset in Emerald Isle. Photo: Carl Lewis
New EMC Members Sworn In
Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, far right, administers the oath of office recently to newly appointed members of the state Environmental Management Commission, from left, Stan Meiburg, Richard Whisnant, Mitch Gillespie, Marion Deerhake and Steve Keen. Photo: Contributed
