In a location noted for its great weather, we don’t get days as nice as it was today on the Outer Banks very often. Bright sunshine, low humidity, temperatures in the low 80s and a nice breeze from the south.
A perfect day to explore Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.
PINWR is the north end of Hatteras Island, the section from the Marc C Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe. It’s bee a part of the National Wildlife Refuge system since 1938 making it one of the older wildlife refuges.
It’s a place of marsh open water and an amazing diversity of bird life. Every season of the year there is a fascinating and wonderful reason to visit.
The best way to explore what PINWR had to offer is to drive down to the Visitors Center about four miles south of Oregon Inlet. There is a trail along a dike that parallels a 500 acre impoundment US Fish & Wildlife manages.
This time of year there are a lot of Canadian geese in the pond. There were a couple of pie-billed grebes in the water as well, and a few other diving ducks.
The end of the trail looks out over a series of marsh ponds verdant with swamp grasses at this time of the year. There’s a pocosin in the middle of the ponds with low scrub trees growing on it.
It’s the perfect roosting place for great egrets and the ponds and the islands are filled with the brilliant white of their feathers against the darker colors of the trees and water.
For the adventurous, the trail continues along the western side of the impoundment. It’s a flat, easy walk, although there are a lot of pear pads so pay attention. Bug repellant is a must at this time of the year.
Across the road from the Visitors Center is an absolutely beautiful beach. Be aware, there’s no lifeguard, but the beach is wonderland typically there are not quite as many people enjoying it as other Outer Banks beaches.
The Outer Banks is calling out to be explored. Begin your adventure in a Brindley Beach Vacations home.
