CNPA Winter in the Outer Banks Trip (Jan 16-19, 2009)
Pungo/Pocosin Photography Excursion by Chris Ogden

Here are some supplementary materials for the Pocosin Photo Safari I'll be leading in this beautiful region of southeast North Carolina.

I sure am looking forward to sharing amazing Pungo Lake with you!

I've been down there scouting over the past few weeks and have been blown away by the sheer numbers (ie, tens of thousands!) of Snow Geese, Tundra Swan, Red-Wing Blackbirds, Raptors, Vultures, Song Birds, Eagles, and Black Bears. It's easily on par with the more famous Bosque del Apache!

Of course, it's nature, so we never know what we'll see for sure, but I have been thrilled every time I've been down there, including four trips in five weeks.

Mark and Susan have already sent out lots of terrific info and have been logging lots of excellent volunteer hours - we owe them (and all the volunteers) our gratitude!

I'd like to add the following for our specific trip:
Sunrise at Pungo this Sunday is 7:14am. The snow geese are the first to leave Lake Pungo and come in to feed in the surrounding cornfields like clockwork 5 to 10min after sunrise. Normally I (and often some fellow CNPA-ers like John Stroud, Ken Tarleton, and John Bowden) are in full camouflage/waders in one of the drainage ditches a full hour before sunrise, but we'll save that extreme approach for smaller trips.

Depending upon how fast we as a group agree to drive (eg, speed limit only, +4mph, etc.), it could take 1.5hrs to 2hrs to get there from the hotel (Google Maps says 2.25hrs). It's light enough to see at 6:50a to 7a at Pungo. As such, I'm lobbying for leaving earlier than the previously published 6am (eg, cloud cover is supposed to be increasing from 33% at 1am to 64% for the sunrise, so we have a chance of a beautiful sunrise). Also, last week, we saw lots of black bears running through cornfields in the pre-dawn light. We'll see Friday night what timing works best with the rest of the groups' schedules.

On our trip, we'll explore to find where the snow geese are coming in and photograph from the dirt roads as they land and create pure white blankets on the ground and sky. Depending on where they descend, we have good chances to catch them landing, their white feathers backlit by the sun or conversely front-lit with warm morning light.

After we've had our fill of snow geese, we'll head over to check out the Tundra Swans on the lake and then create "car blinds" to photograph them as they fly over.

From there, we'll poke around in search of clouds of red wing/black birds, raptors, vultures, and whatever mammals may cross our paths...

As we explore the network of dirt roads that criss-cross the SE part of Pungo, I always have a ready-to shoot camera with a long-lens on my lap, ready to shoot from open car windows. It looks to be cold Sunday, so be sure to bring your warm and woolies, including gloves you can shoot in. As such, I've found chemical hand warmers and even "toesy-toes" a nice plus!.

Note: I'm primarily a Fine Art and Landscape photographer, so if you want to identify a given type of "blackbird" etc., you'll probably be best off bringing a good Bird Guidebook :)

Depending upon the group's interests and weather, we may wander to the North side of the Lake to see if we see black bears in the cornfields, etc.. As an aside, while there are lots of ducks in the greater Pocosin area, particularly SE of Phelps Lake, they seem very skittish this time of year (after being hunted) and may fly away as soon as cars approach.

Once the light starts getting flat (around 11a), we may head to see if the Bald Eagles are out at the research center or maybe even swing by Mattumskeet to see what's happening there.

Depending upon how the group feels, the weather, etc., we may plan to be in place to shoot the sunset somewhere (the North side of Pungo can be great, as can New/Alligator Lake, Lake Phelps, the Sound, Mattumuskeet, etc.). Civil twilight ends at 5:48p this Sunday.

While shooting the sunset could be terrific, the downside to staying in the Pocosin for the sunset is that then we'd get back to the hotel after sundown which would put pressure on our loading images, choosing our contest entry, processing/exporting it, and submitting it by the current 9pm deadline. In this case, the group may want to carve out a few hours early afternoon (assuming the light is not optimal) to go through the morning's shots. If you'd like to be open to that option, you may want to bring your laptop/card reader just-in-case.

Housekeeping Items:
* Please have a FULL tank of gas the night before; gas stations are relatively rare and we won't fill up until after our morning exploration.

* If any one has Walkie-Talkies or hand-held CBs, please bring them. It'll make keeping in touch while we caravan and/or explore easier. There is practically no cell phone service in much of the Refuge.

* Carpooling is a particularly good thing for a variety of reasons: ecologically, building CNPA camarederie, providing terrain flexibility and facilitating staying together in caravan. Also, since lots of birds/critters are seen/photographed along the roads, fewer vehicles means we can be in a tighter group so more can see opportunistic shots before they fly/skedaddle. I'll have two free spots in my 4WD if anyone is interested in riding with me.

* 4WDs? - while we can do the whole trip on relatively well maintained dirt roads, there are some places we can explore if we have 4WD's. If any of you will be bringing a 4WD and/or are willing to share a spot or two, please email me back. Maybe we could consolidate into a caravan of more rugged vehicles. Note: this is absolutely NOT a requirement, but a "nice to have".

* Bring snacks/drinks/lunch - we may not be anywhere near a restaurant when your stomach starts rumbling

* Dress Warmly (see notes above and weather link below)

* Camouflage - on this trip, not a necessity, but it's always nice to wear them if you have them. In general, clothes that blend-in are less likely to spook wildlife.There's a spot(s) I'd like to share with you where the Tundra Swans usually fly right overhead. We use a tree line and trucks to create a natural blind. Shots are easier/better if the swan don't spook right away. It'd be helpful to eschew your your hot pinks and electric yellows (or at least cover them up)!

* Respecting Refuge Signs - while this should go without saying to our most excellent group, last week rangers had to evict some inconsiderate photographers for walking/driving in places they were not supposed to. As a result, I'd like to remind everyone that this is a Wildlife Refuge (not a human refuge). We are fortunate that we have relatively unfettered access to this amazing area. We will strictly obey all "area closed" signs. Besides being the right thing to do (ie, reduces unneeded stress on the animals) but there are rocket nets on some of the closed paths used for banding birds, etc. Anyone not following the posted wildlife protection rules will be asked to leave immediately, or worse.

* Black Bears - I've heard some oohs and ahhs over the black bear thumbail I included. Also noted was a slight concern over bear interactions. While I don't claim to be an expert on black bears, the best advice I've been given seems to be that in the unlikely event you were to mistakenlyl get up close and personal with a bear, DO NOT RUN. Slowly wave your arms, make lots of noise, and slowly back away from the animal.

* GPS Track - I (as usual) will be recording a GPS track of our location. I use these to "geotag" my photos. It's also fun to view the tracks in Google Earth to see where we went. I'm happy to share it after the trip with anyone who would like a copy!

I look forward to enjoying one of NC's best wildlife photography locations with you soon!!

Downloads...
*** Birder's Pungo Aerial Map by Chris Ogden *** (med. resolution, v1.1 Jan 15 '09)

Official Pocosin Lakes NWR Map (older, low rez, but better than new official map)

Official Pocosin Lakes NWR Map ("new")

CNPA Winter Outing Flyer

Pea Island NWR Map

Mattamuskeet NWR Map

Links...
Pungo Lake Weather

Directions: Ramada Inn to Pungo Lake (90.5 miles, about 2.25 hours)
note: there may appear to be some shortcuts to Pungo, but the only really reliable access to Pungo is through "point B" on the above maps. Many of the roads shown on Google Earth are blocked by locked gates, esp. this time of year (ie, hunting and waterfowl protection). See downloads for my custom aerial map of the key roads we'll be on.