Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival

Schedule:

6:00-11:00 am - Red-cockaded Woodpecker at Palmetto-Peartree Preserve (P-3).  This is a two-part trip. First you meet at Creef Cut Trail parking lot on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Then you will caravan in your vehicle following the leader to the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve, app. 15 miles west of Creef Cut Trail parking lot. There you will look for several colonies of endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers who live in the 'P-3.' Most of the sites are visible from the network of unpaved roads. We may also look for six other species of woodpeckers, and various songbirds that can be found in this area. Binoculars, cameras, water and insect repellent recommended. Meet: Creef Cut Trail parking lot, corner of Hwy 64 and Milltail Road (app. 5.5 miles west of Roanoke Island).
Cost: $25.00

7:00-9:am - Alligator River Refuge Nature Photography Van Tour.  A unique customized tour on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge hoping to provide the optimal locations to see wildlife. We'll be looking for black bears, river otters, wild turkeys, alligators, red wolves and much more.  This is not a camera instructional tour, but a tour taking you to locations where you might obtain the best photos with your camera.
Cost: $30.00

7:30-11:00 am - Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge the South Pond Birding Experience.  Bring your own spotting scope/binoculars  for some serious birding with an expert leader who will help you identify unusual species and direct you to special areas of this usually closed impoundment. Expect the usual songbirds, raptors, migratory shorebirds and waterfowl. Hope for the unique! Meet: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.
Cost: $25.00

7:30-11:00 am - Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge North Pond Birding. This walk, suitable for all levels of birding, will include the south and north dikes and will be paced to give participants an opportunity to study species found. Likely birds include dabbling ducks, herons, egrets; Brown Pelicans, White Ibis, raptors, shorebirds, gulls; terns, warblers, sparrows and blackbirds. App. 1.5-mile walking distance.  Meet: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 14500 NC Hwy 12, app. 4 miles south of the Oregon Inlet (Marc Basnight) Bridge on the west side of Hwy 12.  Leader/Field Expert: Simon Thompson.
Cost: $25.00

7:30-11:00 am - Roanoke Island Birding. Explore Roanoke Island's birding hotspots: from open lawns to dense forests, from salt marsh to scanning the sound. Lots of photo opportunities. Look for year-round resident bird species as well as a mix of fall migrants, including warblers, vireos, kinglets, creepers, nuthatches, woodpeckers, thrushes and sparrows. Binoculars and insect repellent recommended. Meet: National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center, 100 Conservation Way, Roanoke Island. Carpooling may be an option, otherwise we will caravan to the various locations.
Cost: $25.00

8:00-11:00 am - Exploring Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary.  Explore one of the gems of the region with special access to the various habitats of the 2600-acre Audubon Sanctuary. This guided walk, although focused on bird watching, will feature all the nature and history that the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary has to offer. 2-mile walk on solid terrain. Meet:  Audubon Nature Sanctuary, 300 Audubon Drive, Corolla, NC 27927 (app. 32 miles north of Roanoke Island off of NC Hwy 12).  Pull onto Audubon Drive, wait at wooden gate. https://pineisland.audubon.org/visit   32 miles north of Roanoke Island off of NC Hwy 12.
Cost: $25.00

8:00-11:30 am - Cape Hatteras Birding.  Cape Hatteras is one of the Outer Banks' premier birding locations. The Point, the Salt Pond and adjacent flats, dunes and wetlands are historically important to both anglers and birders. Expect to see not only Brown Pelicans, gulls, terns, seabirds, shorebirds, ducks, and waders, but also a variety of raptors and passerines are possible. Northern Gannets and an assortment of grebes and sparrows are possible as well.  In years prior to the pandemic, this trip was in leader-driven  4 wheel drive vehicles with some walking. But, because of restrictions, the trip this year must be done on foot, app. 1  1/2 miles. Walking conditions vary from hard-packed shell surface to deep sand.  Alert: App. 45 miles south from Roanoke Island (Manteo) to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (Buxton). Meet: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse parking lot,  46368 Old Lighthouse Road, Buxton, NC  27920.  Leaders/Field Experts: John Wright, Taylor Piephoff, Kevin Burke and Carson Wood.
Cost: $25.00

8:00 am-2:00 pm - Ocracoke Island Birding (Distant Trip). Explore this wonderful 15-mile-long barrier island which is entirely in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Birding can change from day-to-day, especially in the fall. We will be on the lookout for lots of shorebirds, including Red Knots, White and Glossy Ibis, Peregrine Falcons, Eurasian Collared-doves, Palm warblers and Red-breasted Nuthatches and, hopefully, spectacular views of Northern Gannets feeding just offshore. Stops will include a maritime forest, the dunes for an overview of migrating raptors, marshes, the beach, views of Pamlico Sound and Springer's Point. Meet at the northern Ocracoke ferry terminal parking area. ALERT: This trip is one of WOW's most southern programs. Plan your WOW schedule considering the travel time. It is 63 miles from Roanoke Island to the Hatteras ferry terminal. The free ferry ride takes approximately 65 minutes and does not take reservations, loading first come, first served. Call 1-800-BYFERRY to confirm ferry schedules or check on-line. On your ferry ride crossing Hatteras Inlet, look for waterfowl, gulls, terns, cormorants, and pelicans.
Cost: $25.00

9:00-11:30 am - Mashoes Marshes Kayak Tour.  Kayak with an experienced, local guide through the backwater canals and creeks of the Mashoes community. This is a lesser-traveled portion of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, making it one of the most pristine kayak locations on the Outer Banks. The trip combines open water and narrow, winding paths through cordgrass fields. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore on foot a remote beach and maritime forest along the Albemarle Sound. We provide the leader, the kayaks, paddles and personal flotation devices, you provide the paddle power! Meet: Mashoes Road roadside canal launch area 3.3 miles northwest of Hwy 64/264, Manns Harbor. Look for leader and kayak trailer and park on roadside completely off the roadway.
Cost: $40.00

12:30-2:00 pm - How to Listen-An Introduction to Birding by Ear.  Introducing birding by ear for those interested in learning basic information helpful in identifying and remembering common bird songs. Many beginning birders wonder how to identify a bird by sound when the bird cannot be seen. Using recorded bird songs, this class will give you the techniques of how to be a good listener. Learning the techniques of how to listen is an important aspect of our day-to-day human interaction, but it is also an excellent basic tool for bird identification. Cathryn Sill leads this short class on the ways to listen. Especially designed for beginning birders and anyone who wants to improve their listening skills. Most advanced birders will have already developed the skills taught in this class.
Cost: $20.00

1:00-4:30 pm - Bodie Island Lighthouse Birding.  Look for songbirds around the lighthouse and on wooded trails, and for waterbirds (swans, geese, ducks, grebes, herons, egrets, ibis, rails, etc.) from the boardwalk by the ponds. While the emphasis will be on birds, the search will also include identifying butterflies and dragonflies (weather permitting). Local plant life will also be pointed out, and fun flora facts will be mentioned relating to both human culture and the importance to birds.  Meet: Bodie Island Lighthouse parking lot near the north end restrooms, 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road S. Nags Head, NC  27954.
Cost: $25.00

1:00 - 5 pm - Oregon Inlet Marsh Birding . Check the Inlet's beach and flats for shorebirds, including Piping Plover.  Then wade the marsh in search of Clapper Rails, marsh sparrows (including Nelson's and Saltmarsh) and Marsh and Sedge Wrens. Meet at easily visible parking area on Ramp Four's new all-vehicle road that leads oceanside from the north end of the Oregon Inlet Bridge.   Bring boots for walking in calf-deep water.  This can be a strenuous birding excursion. Leader John Fussell is author of, A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina.
Cost: $30.00

2:00-4:00 pm - Hummingbird Banding (Family Friendly) (Waves) NEW! This program is being held in a different location this year: mid-way between Nags Head and Buxton. Hummingbird expert and licensed bander, Susan Campbell will demonstrate techniques for capturing and banding hummingbirds. The yard where the program will take place has hummingbirds twelve months a year. The program also will provide useful tips on attracting hummingbirds. Consider bringing along a folding chair.  We will be in one spot and standing may get tiring.  ALERT: Because this is a 'Family Friendly' trip, two children 12 or under may accompany a paying, supervising adult at no charge. To include your child or children you must make reservations by either calling or emailing. 252-216-9464 or  wow@coastalwildliferefuge.com  Meet: at the Lebing residence which is located at 25962 Hwy 12 in the town of Waves.
Cost: $25.00

2:15-4:15 pm - Bird Drawing and Watercolor with John Sill.  If you have ever wanted to learn to draw, sketch and paint birds this is the class for you! John Sill is one of the country's top nature artists. You will enjoy your time learning to draw with John. Besides being a nature artist John is the illustrator of over 2 dozen nature books written by his wife, Cathryn. John was the 2012 Wings Over Water keynote speaker. Each year since, John has returned to teach a basic class in bird sketching, focusing on waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds. This year John has modified the class from only basic pencil and paper bird drawing to a class that now includes watercolors. You will spend the beginning of the class learning the basics of drawing a bird. Using an overhead projector, John will demonstrate how to outline and draw what you see. By the end of class you will have a good idea of how to draw basic birds and maybe more. If you are beyond the basic drawing level, John will help you refine and develop your skills. Then you will transfer your bird drawing to watercolor paper and render a watercolor of your bird. We will provide all basic supplies but you are welcome to bring your own.  Meet: National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center.
Cost: $30.00

5:30-8:30 pm - Owl Prowl.  We hope to hoot up Barred Owls, Eastern Screech-owls, and Great Horned Owls on this trip with special nighttime access to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Owls can be secretive and hard to see, so you never know what species we will encounter in the wild. The program will begin with a presentation on the natural history, distribution and identification of local owl species.  Transportation is by car caravan in your vehicle behind the leader. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight or headlamp. Meet: Creef Cut Trail parking lot, Hwy 64 and Milltail Road, app. 5.5 miles west of Roanoke Island (on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
Cost: $25.00