NORTH CAROLINA'S OUTER BANKS: Seabirds and Swamp Warblers
May 28 - June 4, 2008

Note: This tour is currently filled.  Please contact us at
travel@njaudubon.org if you wish to be wait listed.

GENERAL INFORMATION: For the naturalist, southeastern Virginia and coastal North Carolina conjure up images of windswept barrier islands and vast swamp forests. There is arguably no better location for viewing a diverse array of pelagic birds and wildlife than the Gulf Stream waters off the Outer Banks. This “surf and turf” tour will visit famed locations like the Great Dismal Swamp, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, as well as lesser known gems including Merchant’s Millpond State Park and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Expect a variety of southern landbirds including Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Summer Tanager, and Blue Grosbeak. We’ll do our best to view uncommon species including Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Kentucky Warbler, and Swainson’s Warbler. Waterbirds should be in evidence, including a wide variety of herons, egrets, shorebirds, and terns. An optional evening excursion will listen and look for Black Rail, Barred Owl, and Chuck-wills-Widow. No trip to the Outer Banks would be complete without a boat trip, and we have scheduled two full-day pelagic trips to sample the 15 or more true seabirds that may be seen in or near the Gulf Stream. Late May and early June is the peak season for seabird migration and we should see Black-capped Petrel, up to five species of shearwaters, Band-rumped and Leach’s Storm-Petrels, jaegers, and Bridled Terns. Other wildlife such as tuna, billfish, flying fish, and sea turtles are all possible.

PACE, WEATHER, AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS:

Our days in the field will usually begin about 7:00 a.m. and will end about 6:00 p.m. On two days a very early start is required for the pelagic trips. We will have a “slow day” between our boat trips with a later start and earlier end to the day. On most days lunches will be in the field (we have coolers for cold food and drinks), and we will provide ample opportunity to get them before the day begins. Optional evening excursions to look for rails, owls, etc. will be offered on one or two nights. The trip involves easy to moderate walking over mostly flat terrain.

Temperatures will be generally warm, though early morning and evening may cool down. Expect a temperature range from approximately 60-80F degrees. Rain is a possibility, so raingear is advised. The sun may be strong, especially at sea, so sunscreen and a brimmed hat are advised. Biting insects such as mosquitoes, gnats, and deer flies could be bothersome during the tour.

Travel during this tour will be in vans, with no more than 6 participants plus a leader in one "12 person" van. Tour size is limited to 12 participants. Most terrain is flat and walks are not strenuous.

Additional information about the tour, with specific meeting times, a list of participants, addresses of motels, lists of things to bring, a reading list, a list of probable/possible birds, further information about weather, dress, etc., will be mailed to all participants well in advance of the tour.

DATES:  Wednesday, May 28, 2008 (meet at our hotel in Norfolk at 8:00 pm) to Thursday, June 5, 2008 (flights home anytime).

PRICE: Cost for this tour is $1850 based on double occupancy; single supplement $300. A deposit of $500 will hold your place until March 28, 2008 when full payment becomes due.

PRICE INCLUDES: Motel accommodations for eight(8) nights, tour leadership, ground transportation while in Virginia and North Carolina, 2 gulf stream pelagics, and entrance fees to all areas on the itinerary. It does not include meals or airfare to/from Norfolk.

 

SEND DEPOSITS & OTHER PAYMENTS TO:

NJAS Eco-Travel
9 Hardscrabble Rd.
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
(908)-204-8998
Make Checks payable to NJAS.

TOUR LEADERS: 

Scott Barnes began birding at the age of twelve and has been an avid naturalist ever since.  Encouragement and learning came from his parents and many birders, including members of the Urner Ornithological Club and staff of New Jersey Audubon Society.  An interest in travel and natural history has led him from northwestern Alaska to the desert southwest to Trinidad and Tobago in search of plants and animals.  He cut his birding teeth at Sandy Hook, where he is the Senior Naturalist for the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory.  Scott is the Region 3 Editor for Records of New Jersey Birds, compiles the Sandy Hook Christmas Bird Count, is the current Chair of the New Jersey Bird Records Committee, and has led tours for the NJ Audubon Travel Program for over five years.

 Linda Mack is a member of the New Jersey Audubon Society's Board of Directors, an Associate Naturalist, and Co-Bookstore Manager at Sandy Hook Bird Observatory.  She is a past President, Program Chair, and Conservation Chair for Monmouth County Audubon Society.  Linda has a special interest in seabirds and other coastal species; she co-leads pelagic birding trips off New Jersey with See Life Paulagics.

For tour itineraries, to register, or for more information contact:

NJAS Eco-Travel at: (908)-204-8998
9 Hardscrabble Road
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
or email travel@njaudubon.org.

If you are not a member and would like to become one, consider Joining New Jersey Audubon Society.