Bird Island State Reserve, Sunset Beach NC

[obxguide]

Is anyone familiar with Bird Island State Reserve? Touted as a good spot for reddish egret, black skimmer, Least Tern, Eastern Painted Bunting, Wood Stork, Piping Plover, and Wilson's Plover.

[NCBobD]

Never heard of it but it sure looks interesting.

[obxguide]

I haven't found much info on it, but this page -
http://www.nccoastalreserve.net/About-The-Reserve/Reserve-Sites/Bird-Island/87.aspx - shows where it is,
and this page - http://www.sunsetbeachandbirdislandnc.com/Bird_Island/bird_island.htm - has some photos and info at the bottom claiming what can be found there. I don't care for the idea of walking two miles to get there from Sunset Beach. I may have found a spot to kayak from, but it's a two mile paddle there as well, so no free lunch here.

[artsnimages]

Looks like a really neat place Fred! I really need to get down there sooner or later. I've got a really wide 14 foot Jon boat and a 10 HP engine that would be great for mucking around in that area. I've been wanting to get a mud motor for the real shallow stuff.

Jim

[obxguide]

Like I said, I know only what I've read about the place. Don't know how great a place it really is. But for an iffy exploration, a powered boat sounds like a more practical way to get there than a long paddle in a kayak. Maybe spring nesting time would be good. If you get down this way, I'll do what I can to meet up for sure.

[jentheartist]

Wow - this isn't far from me - I may have to go check it out on the weekend!

Jennifer

[obxguide]

If you get a chance to check it out, please pass on what you find out. It still sounds like an awful long walk with gear down the beach, and walking in sand isn't such a fun thing for that distance. Anything you can share would be great.

[jentheartist]

Will do Fred - trying to decide if I am going to be that energetic this weekend or not - have Bald Head Island on my ticket for Sunday - but this could be a Saturday affair!

Jen

[jckegley]

A few years back you could walk to Bird Island from Sunset Beach. I've done it. You park at the south most end of Sunset and get out of your car and walk south. You do have to wade through a shallow inlet/outlet. Of course the inlet could have changed ... may be deeper or may have disappeared.

There were a lot of signs for "No Nude Sunbathing" up and down the beach area. Apparently some of the locals would go there to get a fuller tan. Those signs may not be there now. It was about 7 years ago when I went there.

[jckegley]

Here's a quick map ...

It is almost exactly 2 miles from the south sunset beach parking lot to the southern most point on bird island. It would be a lovely walk during good weather providing you can still wade the inlet to get there.

2050

[jentheartist]

Cool - I didn't make it this weekend - but I will head over and check it out very soon! Thanks for the tips Joe

[obxguide]

What I read on it several months ago indicate the inlet closed some time back, so you shouldn't have one to wade across, but lugging my stuff two miles in sand isn't my idea of a pleasant stroll. That's more like work ;)