Text and photos by Peter Vankevich Ocracoke gets unusual visitors throughout the year and some of them have wings. The Observer was alerted of one from the subarctic when Muskie Cates of […]
Spotted on Ocracoke: A Razorbill
Birds of Ocracoke: The Northern Gannet
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Morus bassanus By Peter Vankevich If one were to choose a bird that represents the character of Ocracoke–tough, resilient, thrives […]
Birds of Ocracoke: The Red-breasted Nuthatch, an irruptive little fella
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Sitta canadensis By Peter Vankevich Starting in the early fall and into the early spring, on Ocracoke you may hear […]
Birds of Ocracoke: Indian Runner Ducks (Seriously)
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Text and photos by Peter Vankevich Note: Indian Runner Ducks can occasionally be seen in the village. These are released […]
Birds of Ocracoke: The Bonaparte’s Gull
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Chroicocephalus philadelphia (formerly Larus Philadelphia) By Peter Vankevich This is a small buoyant gull with a striking white wing edge that […]
Birds of Ocracoke: The Snowy Owl
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Text and photos by Peter Vankevich The Snowy Owl is the rarest of birds for Ocracoke. The island was fortunate to […]
Birds of Ocracoke: The Great Black-backed Gull
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here (Larus marinus) Text and photos by Peter Vankevich This species is considered to be the largest gull in the world. […]
Birds of Ocracoke: the Double-crested Cormorant
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Phalacrocorax auritus Text and photos by Peter Vankevich Perhaps the signature seabird of Ocracoke during the fall and winter, these […]
Birds of Ocracoke: the Palm Warbler
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Setophaga palmarum Text and photos by P. Vankevich This is a streaky bird with a light eyeline and a bright […]
Spotted on Ocracoke: the Eastern Phoebe
By Peter Vankevich Sayornis phoebe The Eastern Phoebe is from the large family known as tyrant flycatchers that inhabit North and South America. A rather plain-looking bird, it has a dark bill, olive/gray […]
Birds of Ocracoke: the Merlin
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Merlin (Falco columbarius) By Peter Vankevich A small stocky agile-flying falcon, males can be distinguished by their gray backs, […]
Birds of Ocracoke: the Willet
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Tringa semipalmata Text and photos by Peter Vankevich Willets are the shorebirds one sees along the tide line on the […]
Birds of Ocracoke: the Black Skimmer
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Rynchops niger Text and Photos by Peter Vankevich This spectacular bird is a delight to observe on Ocracoke. It is […]
Birds of Ocracoke: The Ruddy Turnstone
To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here Arenaria interpres Text and Photos by Peter Vankevich A chunky shorebird with short orange legs and dark bill. […]
