PO
Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA E-mail: font@focusonnature.com Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-888-721-3555 or 302/529-1876 |
A Focus On Nature Tour
in
North
Carolina
Our
Springtime
"Carolina Caper"
(since 1992)
for Birds, Butterflies,
and Other Nature
May 5-9, 2016
(tour: FON/NC-1 '16)
Land-birding for "southern
specialties":
Red-cockaded Woodpecker,
Bachman's Sparrow,
Painted Bunting, Wilson's
Plover, Mississippi Kite,
Swainson's Warbler
Plus: for those who
wish, an evening
excursion for Black
Rail
A Tour with some of the
Best Birding in the Eastern US,
and some good butterflies
and other nature too!
To be led by Armas Hill.
If you're from
somewhere else, you'll have a great time,
with "nothing
finer than this birding in Carolina".
Tour begins & ends in
Raleigh, North
Carolina.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
(drawing by Sally Brady)
Links:
North Carolina Birds (with some photos)
Lists
with Other North Carolina Nature (each with some photos):
Mammals
Butterflies
Moths Dragonflies & Damselflies
Amphibians
& Reptiles
Wildflowers &
Other Plants
Marine Fish
Other
Marine
Life (including
jellyfish, mollusks (shells)
& arthropods: crustaceans & echinoderms)
Some Highlights of Previous FONT North Carolina Tours
A Narrative about Carolina Birds (some interesting reading)
A male Painted Bunting
Itinerary:
Thu:
May 5 The tour begins at the airport in Raleigh,
North Carolina. Flights, for those on the tour, should be with an arrival about
mid-day (between 12 noon & 2pm).
In the afternoon, our birding will begin not too far east of Raleigh, in an area
with interesting birding in the valley of the Neuse
River, in Johnston County.
The area may be particularly good for Mississippi
Kites in the afternoon.
And during mid-day it is also a very good area for dragonflies and butterflies,
which we should observe this afternoon and the next morning.
Among the dragonflies and
butterflies
that we should see during our Spring North Carolina Tour
are the Twelve-spotted Skimmer (above)
and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (below).
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail below
was photographed in North Carolina in May 2015.
After dinner, we'll do some evening and nocturnal birding, for those who wish, for owls and
nightjars. And possibly a mammal or two. Overnight near the Neuse
River valley.
Fri:
May 6 Our morning
birding will again be in the Neuse River valley, in woodlands - that can be particularly
good at places that time of day for the
Swainson's Warbler and other "southern"
specialties.
Later in the day, a visit to an area of fields where in the past we've seen Henslow's
Sparrows. That species tends to move to different places from year to year,
but we'll aim to see it, along with another assortment of fine birds. Later in
the afternoon, we'll travel south to where we'll spend the night near the Croatan
Forest.
Sat:
May 7 Much of our birding this day, particularly in the morning,
will be in the Croatan
Forest for specialty birds of the Carolina
pinewoods such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman's Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch,
and more. Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers, Summer Tanager, and
warblers and flycatchers will be among other birds seen.
In the afternoon, we'll do some coastal birding for Wilson's Plover, Painted
Bunting, and other birds near the sea.
At dusk, both Whip-poor-wills
and Chuck-will's-widows should be heard and seen.
After dark, there will
be an excursion (for those who wish) to an area where Black Rails can be
heard, and possibly seen. Overnight again near the Croatan Forest.
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sun:
May 8 Birding,
again, this morning in the Croatan Forest (in
case any of our targets the previous
day were missed, we'll have another chance). If they were all seen, some will be
seen again, noting at the same time some other interesting nature of the forest,
notably plants indigenous to the area.
Travel, in
the afternoon, north along the coast, with a ferry ride, toward yet another
interesting area for birds and other nature, the Alligator
River Wildlife Refuge.
In the early evening, for those who opt to do it, an excursion there for wildlife, including mammals such as: Black Bear,
Bobcat, and Red Wolf, and owls of various kinds. We've seen Black
Bears there numerous times and Bobcats on occasion. Red Wolves
are in the area (a population of this animal brought from Texas has become
established), and some luck and persistence is required in order to see them
(but we have!).
Overnight near Alligator River, in Manteo.
Mon: May 9 Our birding this last morning will begin early back at the
Alligator
River Wildlife Refuge, where warblers abound, particularly Prothonotary,
but others occur as well including the Swainson's, and the local nesting race
of the Black-throated Green Warbler known as the "Wayne's
Warbler". There are very few places anywhere with more breeding Prothonotary
Warblers.
Later in the morning, we'll head west to airport at Raleigh for those departing
for home. (Departures could be anytime after 2pm. We'll be at the airport by
1pm.)
Tour Price: US$ 695 per person, based upon double
occupancy.
Single supplement: US $195.
Includes:
Overnight accommodations, all outings for birds and other wildlife, and services of birding leaders.
And ground transportation (starting & ending in Raleigh).
Does not include:
Meals. Drinks & any items of a personal nature. Any air transportation
(to/from North Carolina).
Focus On Nature Tours can arrange
air travel,
and would seek the best possible fare.
A deposit
of $300, per person, is required to register for this tour.
The Wilson's Plover
(above)
and the Piping Plover (below)
both occur on North Carolina coastal beaches.
(photo above by Marie Gardner,
photo below by Kim Steininger)