Rank : 9.0 (average on 1 votes)Coordinates : 37.908920, -75.356733 (
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Subjects : Birds: Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Tri-colored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Glossy Ibis, Clapper Rail, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Boat-tailed Grackle, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Snow Geese, Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher, Brown Pelican, Osprey, Western Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Black Scoter, American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Mallard, Canada Geese, Double-crested Cormorant, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Forester's Tern, Common Tern, Great Black-backed Gull, Laughing Gull, Fox Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Prarie Warbler, Yellow-rumped WarblerMammals: River Otter, Delmarva Fox Squirrel, Raccoon, Chincoteague Pony (wild), Eastern Cottontail RabbitReptiles: Black Rat Snake, Common Snapping TurtleMany other species of wildlife can be seen here. These are just some of the ones I have regularly seen over the years.
Recommended equipment : Some species - herons, egrets, yellow-rumped warblers, various shorebirds and gulls - can be approached and photographed at fairly close range (minimum 200mm lens). Other more skittish species such as glossy ibis will require a longer lens (400mm or more). For landscapes, a wide angle zoom is recommended (I use the Canon 10-22mm). Sunsets are amazing and worth photographing. A 100mm or 180mm macro lens is also recommended for insect and reptile photo opportunities. Pregnant female snapping turtles are occasionally seen crossing roads in the refuge during the spring (May) and can photographed with a long macro lens.
Best months : Wildlife is present all year. The species present depend upon the season. Winter (November thru March) is great for wintering waterfowl such as Snow Geese, American wigeon, Black Ducks, Gadwalls, Buffleheads, etc. During some winters, snowy owls can also be seen. Spring, summer, and fall months are a good time to see the various heron, egret, warbler, and shorebirds species. Photographic opportunites are available all year.
How to get there : From Baltimore, MD, take I-97 to Route 301, following signs to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, to Route 50. Take Route 50 to Route 13 South (in Salisbury, MD). From Route 13 South take Route 175 (about 5 miles past Pocomoke City, MD). Travel east on 175 to Chincoteague Island, go straight at the light at the foot of the drawbridge onto Maddox Blvd.and follow the signs to Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The Address is:Chincoteague National Wildlife RefugePO Box 62 (Mailing)8231 Beach Road (FEDEX or UPS)Chincoteague, VA 23336
Visits : http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Chincoteague/visit/fees.html
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