jlphoto
10-24-2008, 05:20 PM
So the refuges out on the peninsula are shutting down their access to photographers to the area. Waterfowl impoundments that they once permited photographers to work from and set up portable blinds in now off limits. Sure, you are welcome to drive through the "wildlife drive" like everyone else, but that it.
This puts a serious damper on one of the most serious waterfowl photography spots in our region.
I have spent the last few days scouting the entire area to see what is happening as far as birds on the tried and true spots, as well as finidng new areas that allow photographers.
so far Mattamuskeet is the only lake holding birds out there in numbers. Of course this is still somewhat "preseason." Pungo and Phelps were completely empty.
Phelps allows open acces to the area through out the season to photographers, which is good for swans, but its not Mattamuskeet or Pungo.
A new area that I have been scouting for the last three days is the Morgan Futch Game Lands, located between the Alligator River bridge and Columbia. The the place with the big sign that says "Waterfowl Impoundments." Talking with one of the wildlife resource guys there, the area is fantastic for ducks. The feilds are beeing flooded as we speak but the standing timber is already outrages. There must have been a thousand wood ducks in a one 10 acre tract of flooded forest today. Only thing is, the outer edges are thickly covered. There are a few open areas in the tract of land but you are not going to have a succesfull day working the banks here. Waders, and a 4am breakfast are what it will take based upon the last 3 days of scouting. Bears here are innumerable. Everywhere you walk, there are black bear tracks. I even found a couple red wolf prints as well.
the morgan futch game lands have controlled scheduled hunts in the impoundments so that is definitlely something that needs to be taken into consideration. These things only happen on certain dates however. Come Feburary though, according the the guy in there i talked to, the hunts are over, the birds are in full breeding plumage, and numbering in the thousands.
Alligator River NWR is also currently filling thier impoundments along Milltail Creek rd, Sawyer Lake, and Twiford. No birds in there as of yet thos I would assume they are starting to come into Milltail Creek off of Buffalo City rd. I know that this refuge typically gets far more ducks, geese, and swans than Pea Island. However, I do not yet know that status of photographing in these areas once the birds arive. There is a covered blind on stilts along one of the impoundments.
I talked with the refuge biologist there a few months ago and she was just downright rude and unhelpfull. Though I suspect that she may have been leary of my questions considering the piping plover fiasco on the beach this summer.
If anyone knows of any other impoundments or proven waterfowl habitats please let me know!!!
Jared
This puts a serious damper on one of the most serious waterfowl photography spots in our region.
I have spent the last few days scouting the entire area to see what is happening as far as birds on the tried and true spots, as well as finidng new areas that allow photographers.
so far Mattamuskeet is the only lake holding birds out there in numbers. Of course this is still somewhat "preseason." Pungo and Phelps were completely empty.
Phelps allows open acces to the area through out the season to photographers, which is good for swans, but its not Mattamuskeet or Pungo.
A new area that I have been scouting for the last three days is the Morgan Futch Game Lands, located between the Alligator River bridge and Columbia. The the place with the big sign that says "Waterfowl Impoundments." Talking with one of the wildlife resource guys there, the area is fantastic for ducks. The feilds are beeing flooded as we speak but the standing timber is already outrages. There must have been a thousand wood ducks in a one 10 acre tract of flooded forest today. Only thing is, the outer edges are thickly covered. There are a few open areas in the tract of land but you are not going to have a succesfull day working the banks here. Waders, and a 4am breakfast are what it will take based upon the last 3 days of scouting. Bears here are innumerable. Everywhere you walk, there are black bear tracks. I even found a couple red wolf prints as well.
the morgan futch game lands have controlled scheduled hunts in the impoundments so that is definitlely something that needs to be taken into consideration. These things only happen on certain dates however. Come Feburary though, according the the guy in there i talked to, the hunts are over, the birds are in full breeding plumage, and numbering in the thousands.
Alligator River NWR is also currently filling thier impoundments along Milltail Creek rd, Sawyer Lake, and Twiford. No birds in there as of yet thos I would assume they are starting to come into Milltail Creek off of Buffalo City rd. I know that this refuge typically gets far more ducks, geese, and swans than Pea Island. However, I do not yet know that status of photographing in these areas once the birds arive. There is a covered blind on stilts along one of the impoundments.
I talked with the refuge biologist there a few months ago and she was just downright rude and unhelpfull. Though I suspect that she may have been leary of my questions considering the piping plover fiasco on the beach this summer.
If anyone knows of any other impoundments or proven waterfowl habitats please let me know!!!
Jared