Pea Island is a narrow spit of sand, varying from a few hundred yards to a mile or so in width, that separates Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean. The Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is managed to provide a resting place for migrating birds and a home for seasonal birds. Large, shallow ponds are maintained wherein small fish and other food grow. The shear size makes observation challenging with some ponds being more than a mile long and a half-mile wide. Here are some of the sights we found at Pea Island.
Mixed flocks of Great Egrets, Cormorants, and Ibis are common, as seen in these pictures.
A male Boat-tailed Grackle is seen above at Pea Island, while a female is seen below. This is another species where the sexes look very different.
Here a flock of female Boat-tailed Grackles feeds on the seeds of sea oats. They were having trouble with the stalks bending over from their weight.