Pocosin Lakes Paddling and Bird Watching

Please check this site again closer to the trip dates, since the weather will affect our plans.

Let's go do some dramatic bird watching! Around 100,000 tundra swans and snow geese migrate from as far as Alaska to spend their winters feeding in North Carolina. Although we won't get as close as in this picture, it's still a spectacular sight. If we're lucky we might see some bears too. Kayaks or other boats are not allowed on lakes where the birds are, but we will include paddles in other locations such as the Scuppernong River and possibly Mill Tail Creek at the Alligator River.

This trip is limited to kayakers with experience paddling in winter, who have a dry suit or other appropriate, quick drying gear for cold weather. Water temperatures will be dangerously cold at this time of year.

We will be making our own hotel arrangements in the area. Many will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Plymouth or Airbnb options in Belhaven.

Here's the main website for the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, and the Pungo Lake Unit where we will be doing most of the birdwatching. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pocosin-lakes
Lake Mattamuskeet is another option, with a greater variety but smaller number of birds.

Please be sure to download offline maps of the area onto your phone, because cell reception is spotty.

On Friday, December 13 the plan is for late afternoon/sunset birdwatching at Pungo Lake, around 3:00-5:00. Meet here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5DkA5eGt1nK6F5Tu7
You can also search for "Pocosin Wildlife Refuge" or "Pungo Unit of the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge" to find where Pat's Road meets Refuge Road at route 45. There is a Pocosin Lakes sign on the corner.

On Saturday, December 14 we'll get out at daybreak to go birdwatching at Pungo Lake in the morning, then launch (around 10:30?) from Spruill Bridge on the Scuppernong River to paddle in the late morning/afternoon. https://maps.app.goo.gl/CHbX2yu53hweBExP9
321 Spruill Bridge Rd, Creswell NC 27928

We'll do more bird watching around sunset on Saturday at Mattamuskeet Wildlife Refuge, starting at the observation platform along the causeway that crosses the lake, and then heading along Mattamuskeet Road toward the old pump station/lodge, and exploring along Wildlife Road.

On Sunday, December 15 we could go back to see the birds, or those interested could do a hike at Phelps Lake (Google location: Pettigrew State Park Campground). Somerset Place (historic plantation, 9-5, closed Sundays and Mondays) is also right there and interesting to see even if closed for guided tours. Or some might want to stop by the visitor center for the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Columbia and take a shorter stroll on their boardwalk. Or Plymouth has a Civil War museum called "Port o' Plymouth Museum" with a fully operational replica of the ironclad USS Albemarle (slightly reduced in scale) in the water there. Lots of options before heading home.

Some folks may be heading toward the coast on Sunday right after bird watching, to check out the Alligator River Paddle Trail on Mill Tail Creek (Buffalo City access), but it's unclear whether the area might have been damaged by the big storms in the past year. Another option is Pea Island Wildlife Refuge for bird watching along their walking trail, or paddling on the sound nearby, using the launch just south of the wildlife refuge. This extended trip option would involve an overnight near Jockey's Ridge.