Assateague Island

This summer, I headed up the Eastern Shore to visit Assateague Island, home to world-famous wild horses. As a nature photographer, I was excited to see what kind of wildlife that I would photograph. What I did not expect, though, was the sheer number of violent mosquitos on Assateague Island in the summer. Even with my treated clothing from South Africa (which was heavily treated due to the risk of malaria), the mosquitos were so dense that they looked like fur on my clothing.

Despite the itching and the stabbing pain, I managed to get out in the morning for a bit of exploration. I came across a lifer for me - the Cattle Egret. This little fella, with a bit of a demanding personality, makes himself comfortable on the wild horses, forming a symbiotic relationship with them. In exchange for getting to ride and poop on the horses, the Cattle Egret are fed with plenty of flies and bugs.

Chincoteague

Needing a respite from the mosquitos, next I visited the breezy marshes on the outskirts of nearby Chincoteague. I spotted my very first Clapper Rail, a plethora of Great Egret, and a Laughing Gull that made for some excellent portraits.

Boat Tour

Finally, I ended the excursion with a sunset boat tour of the island. We did get to see the ponies, as well, although I wasn’t a huge fan of the photographs. I’ll have to go back!