Field Trip Schedule and Descriptions

Field Trip Descriptions

All-day trips

Trip 16 and 37: Shackleford Banks via boat ($) - East End

6:00 a.m. Start at Hotel. Bring lunch, extra water, insect repellant, sunscreen or rain jacket and boots or water shoes. Conditions will be muddy in some marsh side areas. We will walk several miles throughout the day. Conditions will be humid and wind is always a factor. If weather cancels the trip alternate trips will be available on the mainland.

This early start takes us to Harkers Island for the ferry to this section of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. We will bird the woodland around the terminal or adjacent museum before our departure. The pond in the woods behind the museum often holds surprises. Before embarking at the dock at 9:15 a.m. use the restroom as there are no facilities while with the Captain and trip leader, nor on the island. When we beach the ferry expect a slight chance for water underfoot as we get ashore, but the water temperature will near 80.Birding will start around the point on the ocean side while water rises. Brushy areas will be searched for migrating landbirds. We will then return to the north shore as the tide will push shorebirds into the sand flats and bars that. Among the shorebirds we hope to see Piping and Wilson's Plover. Reddish Egret and Long-billed Curlew would be fine additions. Will this be the sixth year in a row a Bar-tailed Godwit showed the last week in September? Water shoes are not required yet some may appreciate the freedom they allow while moving around the wetter marsh edges. Time after disembarking back on the mainland may allow further exploration of the habitat at this birding hotspot.

Cost: $18 payable to the CBC Weekend Coordinator at start of the trip at the hotel, by cash or check, and to receive your boarding pass. Maximum number of attendees: 15

Travel time 55 Minutes to 1785 Island Rd., Harkers Island, NC.

Trip 17 and 38: Cape Lookout via boat and land buggy ($)

6:00 a.m. departure from hotel. Bring lunch, extra water, insect repellant, sunscreen or rain jacket. We will be walking on the sandy shore for considerable distances. Plan your footwear accordingly.

Conditions will be humid and wind is always a factor. If weather cancels the trip alternate trips will be available on the mainland. Restrooms will be available.

We travel early to Harkers Island, bird briefly the woods and pond around the terminal and museum and then board the boat at 9:15 a.m. for the dock in front of the Cape Lookout lighthouse. We will search the brush for landbirds before meeting our land buggy for the 3-mile ride to Cape Lookout. Raptors will be seen overhead for those attentive to passing birds. Wilson's and Piping Plovers will be on our target list. Gulls will be scanned and hopefully the terns will include a Roseate that has been found here. Time may allow further exploration of the habitat at disembarkation back on Harkers Island, an eBird hotspot.

Cost: $18 for the boat ride and $13 for the land shuttle ("Mega" Truck) payable to the CBC Weekend Coordinator at start of the trip at the hotel, by cash or check, to receive your boarding pass. Maximum number of attendees: 15

Travel time 55 Minutes to 1785 Island Rd., Harkers Island, NC.

Trip 18 and 39: Cedar Island NWR

6:15 a.m. start at Hotel. Bring lunch, extra water, insect repellant, sunscreen or rain jacket and boots or water shoes. Conditions will be humid and wind is always a factor. A scope will be the tool to have throughout the trip. With over 14,000 acres Cedar Island NWR holds habitats of sandy beach shoreline, marsh and both maritime and upland forests. We will start with a brief stop across the ICW to look for Seaside Sparrow and maybe a Least Bittern will fly by. Any brushy area may hold a Sedge Wren, especially along Lola Road, and the shoreline adjacent the Ferry Terminal will allow shorebird viewing. Western Sandpiper is a possibility. The beach walk will be about a 2-mile round trip with firmer and softer sand footing. Down the beach we can scope from atop the dunes the ponds and water on the inland side of this spit. We will also make a stop near the Ferry Road Bridge for Sparrows and Rails. There is a restroom at the Ferry Terminal and picnic tables will allow a leisurely lunch.

Travel time 1 hour till we begin birding on our way to 3619 Cedar Island Road, Cedar Island, NC.

Trip 19 and 40: VOA Site A and Cool Springs Preserve

6:30 a.m. start at the Hotel. Cool Spring is a private Reserve donated by Weyerhaeuser Lumber for environmental education. Several miles of trails are available with open fields, woodland edge and woodland birding, including a boardwalk through a wetland. Prothonotary Warblers are common as is Acadian Flycatcher. This unique area of about 1700 acres on the Neuse River includes a trail along a Longleaf Pine ridge that adds significant diversity to the trip's birdlife.

VOA is known as the area to search for Henslow's Sparrow, Field Sparrows, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Vireos, Loggerhead Shrike, Grasshopper Sparrow and other field and brush species.

Travel time 50 minutes to Cool Springs, 945 Cool Spring Rd., New Bern, NC. A restroom is available at Cool Springs. VOA site A is at 10000 Cherry Run Rd., Washington, NC. There are no facilities at the VOA.

Trip 20 and 41: Rachel Carson Reserve - East End

7:30 a.m. Start at Hotel. Bring lunch, extra water, insect repellant, sunscreen or rain jacket and boots or water shoes. There will not be extensive walking. Conditions will be humid and wind is always a factor. If weather cancels the trip alternate trips will be available on the mainland. We will meet our boat in Beaufort's waterfront, 8:15 a.m.. At the terminal use the restroom as there are no facilities while with the Captain and trip leader. Narrow Taylor Creek is a contrast of the ages, with the historic tourist zone on the north and wild Rachel Carson on the south. Immediately you will see birds of the marsh and sand bars. We are planning to bird at high tide along Bird Shoal. When we beach the boat for our 3-4 hour visit expect a slim chance for water underfoot getting ashore but the water temperature will near 80.

This tour will be geared for birders, not to the scenic stops for tourists. We will look for Piping and Wilson's Plover and hope we find a Long-billed Curlew. We may be able to visit a landbirding locale after disembarking prior returning to the hotel.

Cost: $15 per person, payable at the dock by cash, check or credit card. Maximum number of attendees: 15

Travel time 40 minutes.

HALF DAY TRIPS:

Trip 1, 10 and 30: North River Wetlands Preserve ($)

Check the Trip list for starting time at the Hotel. Bring water, sunscreen or rain jacket. Walking will be on grassy roads. (Protect yourself from chiggers and ticks.)

North River Preserve is managed by the NC Coastal Federation. This is an area of over 6,000 acres being returned from farmland to upland and lowland forest, freshwater and tidal wetlands, open water and mudflats. This has been a reliable site for Dickcissel in recent years. The restoration provides habitat for shorebirds and nesting ducks. Kingbirds from the western U.S. are being found, and we must always look for Swallow-tailed Kites. Shorebird habitat will be scanned for residents and migrants. In the breeding season Dickcissels are found and we will look for lingerers

Cost: $5 per person, payable at the gate by cash or check only.

Travel time 40 minutes to 973 US70, Beaufort, NC. Some GPS may find/require North River Farms Rd., Otway, NC. Restroom near barn.

Trip 2 and 23: White Oak River Sojourn

Start at the Hotel at 7:00 a.m.. This trip concentrates on sites along the White Oak River. The NC Birding Trail's Cedar Point Tideland Trail is near the mouth of the river at the Sound while Haywood Landing is upstream. Tideland Trail's one mile loop allows views of the salt marsh and pine and hardwood forest on a well-maintained sand and boardwalk system. Summer Tanager is common as is Brown-headed Nuthatch and woodpecker species. Wading birds are common and occasionally Painted Bunting is located. Haywood Landing birding along Croatan Forest roads allows for more forested species. Both sites will offer migrants in late September.

Travel time 30 minutes to 391 VFW Road, Cedar Point, NC. Then Haywood Landing Road, Maysville, NC.

Trip 3 and 25: Patsy Pond and Emerald Isle Woods

Start at the hotel at 7:15 a.m.. Patsy Pond is within a coastal savannah, a Longleaf Pine Flat Woods, offering opportunity for woodpeckers including red-cockaded and Red-headed. Pine Warblers and Brown-headed Nuthatches are common as you walk several trails. We will then travel to gorgeous Emerald Isle Woods, an upland woodland with water filled depressions that are home to Prothonotary Warblers. Great-crested Flycatchers call overhead and along the water edges look for Oyster Catchers, Skimmers, terns and other shorebirds.

Travel time 20 minutes to 3614 NC24, Newport, NC, then on to 9404 Coast Guard Rd, Emerald Isle, NC. Restroom at Emerald Isle Woods.

Trip 4 and 27: Bogue Inlet

Start at the Hotel at 7:15 a.m. Friday or 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Get out on the beach with one of the Beach Bird Stewards of Emerald Isle who help monitor the nesting birds of the inlet and point. Terns galore, Piping and Wilson's Plovers, gulls and more. Sand conditions range from firm to deep sand. This will be a 2 mile walk at yet another eBird hotspot.

Bring water, insect repellant, sunscreen or rain jacket. Plan your footwear accordingly. Conditions may be humid and wind is always a factor.Parking is limited and requires a 0.4 mile walk to the trailhead.

Travel time 40 minutes. Use Bogue Ct., Emerald Isle, NC the beginning of which is the beach access for the Inlet. No restrooms. Nearest would be Emerald Isle Woods.

Trip 5 and 24: Millis Road Savannah

Start at the Hotel at 7:30 a.m. Friday or 7:15 a.m. Saturday. Travel time 15 minutes to Millis Road, Newport, NC. We may also travel to Millis Swamp Road. Our goal is Bachman's Sparrow and Red- cockaded Woodpecker. Pine Warblers and Yellow-throated Warblers in the canopy and Ovenbirds, Worm-eating Warblers and Swainson's Warblers in the understory will be our goals.

Bring water, insect repellant, sunscreen or rain jacket. Walking along a dirt road.

Travel time 20 minutes. Use Millis Road, Newport, NC on your GPS. No restrooms, nor nearby.

Trip 6 and 26: Swansboro Coast Birding by Boat ($)

Start at the Hotel 7:30 a.m.. This will be a trip along the inland isles behind Bear Island, in particular White Oak River, for viewing birds that will include terns, oystercatchers, skimmers, waders and much more. The trip is geared to the birder. Expect to be in the boat 2 hours, planning for wind, sun, or other weather conditions. Bring water.

Cost: $30 payable to the leader at the dock by cash or check only. Per trip minimum number of 15 required. Maximum number of attendees = 25.

Travel time 35 minutes to 139 Front St., Swansboro, NC

Trip 8 and 29: Quarry/Martin Marietta Park

Start at the Hotel at 1:00 p.m.. Formerly the Quarry on eBird the name of this primary birding site at New Bern is now the Martin Marietta Park, an 888 acre property with several borrow pits with a 3.3 mile trail around their perimeter. The trail is bordered by upland woodland. The site also borders fresh water wetlands along Bachelor Creek with the Neuse River in the background. Every visit has potential for all categories of birdlife. Bald Eagle and Osprey are seen daily, Marsh Wrens call and peek out of their dense cover, and migrating warblers draw the local bird club for walks. The city is now heavily developing this land and some grasslands will be lost but the woodland surrounding the property will be impacted very little.

Bring water and comfortable shoes, a hat and consider the weather for your layer comfort. Cars are not permitted.

Travel time 30 minutes to 700 S. Glenburnie Rd, New Bern, NC. Restroom at the entrance parking lot on the right near the canoe launch.

Trip 9 and 31: Bear Island (by Boat - $)

Start at the Hotel 1:00 p.m.. Our goal is to take the ferry to Bear Island which fronts on the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Inlet. We will always be on the lookout for Painted Bunting. Several other islands and creeks on the inland side allow and demand your attention for the birds all along their shoreline and those flying overhead. We will bird along the trip for waders, skimmers and Oystercatchers, terns, and gulls. On the island we will walk the ½ mile to the beach, birding small woodlots for passerines. Piping Plovers and Wilson's Plover will be target birds and birds of the marshlands will fully round out the walk.

Cost: $15 payable at the dock to the leader by cash or check only. Minimum 4 and maximum 15 members. There is a restroom on the island on the Ocean side.

Travel time 35 minutes to 1572 Hammock Beach Rd., Swansboro, NC or 139 front St. Check at the Registration Desk and Sign-up sheets for the trip address.

Trip 11 and 35: Gallants Channel and Trails

Start at the hotel 1:15 p.m..Gallants Channel is a new property owned by NC and operated by the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum. Along the waterfront sightings are common of heron, egrets, terns, gulls, pelicans, black skimmers, and oystercatchers. The trails have been designed to access several habitats. These woodlands are becoming scarce along the coast and are expected to be stop over sites for migrating birds. Painted Bunting have nested here.

Travel time 35 minutes to 245 W. Beaufort Rd. Extended, Beaufort, NC. There are no restroom facilities.

Trip 12 and 32: Glenburnie Park & Simmons Street Marshes

Start at the Hotel 1:15 p.m.. We will start this tour at Glenburnie Park with a ¼ mile walk to an area with resident and migrant passerines. Then we visit the constructed marshes of Simmons Streetwere built to function as polishing ponds for the City of New Bern treatment system. The surrounding woodland is searched by the locals for migrating birds while the wetlands hold Marsh Wrens. Sedge Wrens are sometimes located as is the year-round resident Virginia Rail. Other shorebirds can be found in any of the flooded areas.

We start at Glenburnie Park, 340 Glenburnie Park, New Bern, NC. There is a restroom at Glenburnie Park up the hill from the parking lot. We park at the first lot on the left immediately after turning into the park. Travel time 30 minutes.

It is then 5 minutes to the intersection of Simmons Street and Oaks Road. A gravel parking is just past Ruth's Chapel, 2709 Oaks Rd, New Bern, NC.

Trip 13 and 34: Ft. Macon

Start at the Hotel 1:15 p.m.. Local birders visit this site daily and clubs travel frequently to this point of land facing the Atlantic Ocean, and Newport River with the channeled and deep Beaufort Inlet that funnels birds and Fort Macon Creek facing the Morehead City Channel. All of that water quickly explains the significance of the site for this Fort. This land prominence funnels migrating land birds around the fort and larger birds constantly fly over the tip to and from the water bodies. Pelagic birds are occasionally seen near Shackleford Banks on the horizon and reported over the channels. A feeder at the fort is a required stop and a flooded depression off the end of the parking lot holds land birds as they fatten for the next segment of their migration. The feeder has been the site for Painted Buntings. The top of the fort on the south side is the stop with the best chances for migrating swallows and hawks. One never knows what may be seen.

Wind is always expected. Sunscreen is advisable. There is a restroom on the left side of the Visitor's Center.

Travel time 40 minutes to 2303 E. Fort Macon Rd., Atlantic Beach, NC

Trip 14: NC Birding Atlas Basics

Would you like your eBird reports to contribute valuable data and become a source for the scientific study of birds in North Carolina? Sit down in the hotel meeting room with a local Atlas Coordinator to learn how your efforts can make a difference as a citizen scientist Atlaser. Discover easy methods to advance what we know about the birds in North Carolina. Bring your cell phone and you can get started immediately. Every extra observer adds to the knowledge base.

Trip 22: Billfinger & Little Deep Creek Roads - Croatan Forest

Start at the hotel 1:15 p.m.. The Neusiok Trail is 26 miles long from the Neuse River to Newport, NC. Billfinger Road parallels sections of this trail through upland and lowland forest, and ancient savannahs harboring nesting Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Our walk may yield Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow- throated Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher and Eastern Wood Pewee. We will concentrate our efforts along the eastern portions of the Neusiok, east of the Marine Base.

Travel time: 15 minutes. Use Cahooque Creek Rd, Havelock, NC on your GPS but travel past Cahooque to the first dirt road on the right (no sign for Billfinger Rd.).At the end, at 3.7 miles, turn left onto Little Deep Creek Rd. (again, no sign) No restrooms, nor nearby.

Trip 33: Birding from Day 1 to Day 10,000 (Birding 101)

Trip starts at 1:15 p.m. at the hotel. This is a trip for newer birders and those more experienced who want to gain tips for identifying birdlife. Use of binoculars and using bird shapes to hone in on a species will allow you to feel comfortable using the field guide of your choice. Don't be surprised to learn long time birders must practice these skills too.

Travel time dictated by the leader's choice of birding sites.

Trip 43: Trip for Uncommon/Unexpected Birds Found over the Weekend (on land only, not those on boat trips)

Start at the Hotel at 7 a.m.. A Trip for those who will not be leaving after breakfast and have time to bird in the area. If there is sufficient interest a second trip may be scheduled.