Some more form our walk (see the post before this one). The Fowler’s toad is dark one.
The last two photos were taken the next day as we left Chincoteague on June 8. The black vultures are eating a terrapin killed by a car. Marc was interviewed by a reporter for WBOC/Fox 21, of Delmarva on June 6. The young lady reporter wanted our opinion about terrapin road kills and what should be done. We said signs are needed, especially during nesting season. It is the female terrapins that are getting killed.
The Chincoteague NWR Marsh Trail is a 0.9 mile loop trail and is a lovely to walk. But watch out for mosquitoes and ticks. The marsh trail is a smaller loop within the larger wildlife loop. It features a short marsh boardwalk and an observation deck.
I heard about a half dozen Northern bobwhites during our stay. Their call sounds like their name (Northern Bobwhite Sounds). This one obliged the group and by coming out onto the path. What a treat!
The Eastern meadowlark was at the limit of the range of my 600 mm lens. I used Topaz Photo AI to rescue the image.
I enjoyed Chincoteague-step-through-time-tours led by Cindy Faith so much I wanted to hear more. So we paid a visit to the Captain Timothy Hill’s House. Cindy is a docent there. We learned how the house was saved and moved. If there is a fire in the wooden chimney, they run out quickly. They pull on ropes attached to the chimney to get it away from the house.
Cindy told us one of the family’s stories. It was about a young girl, around 14 years old, who was much loved by them. The girl’s boyfriend took a job on a ship and sailed away for a while. Then he came back to town. He found out that the young girl was going to a dance with another boy. The jealous ex-boyfriend shot her and her mother. She was up all night attending to her wounded mother. The young girl seemed OK and only had a minor wound. Sometime during the night, the young girl passed away. Later her ex-boyfriend shot himself.
There is a lovely shop called Decoys Decoys Decoys on 4039 Main St., Chincoteague Island, VA 23336. The carvings by hundreds of different artists are exceptionally good. I was tempted to buy one but they are expensive and I have no room in our little apartment. The sales person kindly let me take some pictures.
I imagined the mother black-backed gull saying, “I told you two not to play in the water.” Her behavior suggested she was scolding them. “You come out right now.” The babies are saying, “Awe Mum, do we have to?”
I found it odd seeing one black vulture with the turkey vultures.
The last of 5 posts on the boat trip.
Here is my list of 111 birds seen by me during the entire 9 day trip from 5/31/2025 to 6/8/2025.
