Assateague & Chincoteague – 2012
Assateague Island National Seashore is over 37 miles of beautiful beaches located along the Atlantic Ocean coast of southeastern Maryland and northeastern Virginia. More than 300 wild ponies wander the beaches, inland pine forest, and salt marshes on the island. Some people believe that the wild ponies arrived on Assateague when a Spanish galleon cargo ship of horses sank off the coast and the horses swam to shore. Others believe the wild horses arrived there from early colonial settlers. In 1997, a Spanish shipwreck was discovered off Assateague Island, which lends credit to the first theory. In any event, the ponies have become well-adapted to the seashore ecosystem where they feed on salt marsh grass, dune grasses, bayberry twigs, rosehips, and persimmons.
The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is located on Assateague Island on the Virginia side and is one of the most popular birding destinations in the United States, boasting over 320 species of migratory and residents birds. Assateague is an essential part of the Atlantic flyway and is a perfect habitat for thousands of waterfowl and other birds that migrate from the north.
My photos follow from my recent visits, latest first. I hope you enjoy and thank you for stopping by to see Assateague Island through my lens!
Visit – January 16, 2012 – Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
Great Egret
Great Egret
Great Egret
Great Egret
Great Egret
Tundra Swan
Great Egrets
Great Egrets
Wild Ponies
Wild Pony
Great Egret
Great Egret
Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
Great Blue Heron
Snow Geese
Snow Geese
Snow Geese
Snow Geese
Snow Geese
Snow Geese
Sika Deer
Sika Deer
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Great Blue Heron – “WHOA!”
Great Blue Heron
Green-winged Teal
Great Egret – Heart!
Great Egret
Great Egrets & Great Blue Herons
Great Egrets & Great Blue Herons
Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
Great Egret
Great Egret
Great Egret
Great Egret
Visit – January 15, 2012 – Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland
Wild Ponies
The next pony gave a grin for the camera before proceeding down the road…..
Thanks for taking your time to visit and view my photos. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoy sharing them!
All I can say is WOW! I am so glad I signed up to your blog, I love the photos, and love seeing what nature is like in your part of the world!
You are an excellent photographer Keep up the good work and thank you so much for these pics. Hope you will be adding more later.
Thank you for your kind words! I have a wonderful time trying to capture the beauty & habitat of birds and nature in general.
Donna, You are Mrs. National Geographic. You should publish a book with all your great works. It would surely make the best seller list. Also love your sense of humor and I am enjoying your blog as well. I am a novice so I can learn so much from you.
Thanks again,
Linda/SC
Thanks Linda for your sweet comments! It’s all about patience really, and being at the place at the right time. Sure wish I could do it every day all day long! 🙂
These pictures are great!!
Thank you so much and for stopping by! I wish I could visit these areas on a regular basis. 🙂