Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road

Author: Mike Dunn

  • Counting Birds

    We can never have enough of nature. ~Henry David Thoreau For me, I suppose that quote could be altered to, I can never have enough of winter wildlife in eastern North Carolina. Okay, not as poetic for sure, but true nonetheless. Why else would I (and 6 other bird nerds and friends) spend all day… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • The Tree Fox

    The Fox of Carolina is gray…When hunted, they make a sorry Chace, because they run up Trees, when pursued. ~John Lawson, 1709 On almost every visit to Mattamuskeet NWR these past few months, I have seen one or more Gray Foxes. I am guessing they had a den somewhere along Wildlife Drive and the adults,… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • December Scenes

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    If we can somehow retain places where we can always sense the mystery of the unknown, our lives will be richer. ~Sigurd F. Olson Wildlife refuges, parks, open spaces – these are the special places I love. And we are lucky here in North Carolina to have an incredible variety of public lands to enjoy.… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Refuge Magic

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    I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to. ~Marjorie Kinnan Rawling For me, that place of enchantment in my home state is Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge…more specifically, the Pungo Unit of that refuge. I had a trip this past week with a couple of friends… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Otter Outing

    It swims and dives with great readiness and with peculiar ease and elegance of movement… Thomas Bell on otters, 1874 I recently spent a couple of days with a great group of guys in my favorite winter haunts – Pocosin Lakes and Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuges. The first day started out beautifully with a rich… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Finch Findings, Part 2

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    Here are the long overdue results of the winter finch quiz from my last post, Finch Findings. On a less pleasing visual note…while photographing the finches last month, I noticed something I see every few years in the House Finches I encounter. One finch landed and looked over his shoulder. After I snapped a quick… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Finch Findings

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    This winter’s theme is a “mixed bag” of finch movements. ~Ron Pittaway, Ontario Field Ornithologists After seeing the first Purple Finches at my feeder a few weeks ago, I started searching online for some information. I ran across one of those interesting combinations of technology and old-fashioned field observations that seems so common in the… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • First Snow

    When I no longer thrill to the first snow of the season, I’ll know I’m growing old. ~Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson I have to admit, that describes me. I love snow and winter – I know, I am outside the norm on this one, but I do. And my first snow of the season happened… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • A Well-named Bird

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    …he wears a coat of the purest, richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and tail; he carries on his back the blue of heaven and the rich brown of the freshly turned earth on his breast… ~Arthur Cleveland Bent, in Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds, 1949. I finally had a chance… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Learning by Experience

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    The feeling of respect for all species will help us recognize the noblest nature in ourselves. ~Thich Nhat Hanh Last Saturday I had the pleasure of sharing two of my favorite places with an enthusiastic group of NC State students in the Leopold Wildlife Club. I was asked if I would accompany them on a… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn