After the 40 minute ride and some very chilly time on the deck watching the birds, we arrived and headed down to the Lighthouse on the south end of the Island. Along the way we passed the Pony Pasture where there were a few ponies near the barn. We walked across the street and over the dune on the walkway to the beach.
Great long expanses of sand and water...and not a soul in site! We really had the place all to ourselves. Then back on the road to the lighthouse.
Ocracoke Lighthouse, North Carolina's oldest operating lighthouse. It was closed, but great to walk down to. Then a brief walk through a Nature Preserve by the shore and then back up the Island to the Ferry back. On this leg there were hundreds of birds passing in front and behind us.
In this particular area some bait fish were running and the birds were just crazy going after them. There were pelicans, cormerants, gulls, and several other species. It was incredible!
And as we were coming into the dock, this nice pelican dropped in.When we landed we stopped at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, a new one featuring pirates and many of the ships that have run aground in this area. It's brand new and still in development, but what was there was interesting.
Next stop was the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. This is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America, standing at 208' high. It was moved 2780' several years ago from it's original location as the shoreline had eroded to the point that the Lighthouse would soon be in the water. They tried all kinds of dikes, barriers etc. but to no avail so finally did the controvertial move. We had been here while they were preparing for the move. Was nice to see it snuggled in and safe.
We drove down to the old location and found these cute little shorebirds wandering the area.
It was getting late so we headed home. Very fun day! In 2 days Gretchen had driven to the Northern and Southern tips of the Outer Banks!
Next stop was the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. This is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America, standing at 208' high. It was moved 2780' several years ago from it's original location as the shoreline had eroded to the point that the Lighthouse would soon be in the water. They tried all kinds of dikes, barriers etc. but to no avail so finally did the controvertial move. We had been here while they were preparing for the move. Was nice to see it snuggled in and safe.
We drove down to the old location and found these cute little shorebirds wandering the area.
It was getting late so we headed home. Very fun day! In 2 days Gretchen had driven to the Northern and Southern tips of the Outer Banks!
