Blog
September is a great month on the birding calendar here. Three migrations are stacked on top of each other at once. Shorebirds are moving through in real numbers now. Raptors funnel down the Delmarva Peninsula and stall out right here rather than cro… Read more
People ask us this at the front desk more than just about anything else. Horses aren't native to North America, so whatever's out on that marsh today arrived somehow in the last four hundred years and then got loose. How they managed it is the part n… Read more
The last week of August is one of the best times to visit Chincoteague Island: peak-summer crowds have thinned, ocean water is at its warmest, the wild ponies are still grazing year-round, and hotel rates drop to some of the lowest rates of the summe… Read more
Everyone who's stayed at the Refuge Inn has heard some version of Donald Leonard's story — the boy who couldn't be found unless you looked for the ponies, the dreamer who built an iconic motel with a little luck and a lot of help from his family and … Read more
August doesn't get the same hype as the big spring and fall pushes, but that works in your favor. The light is gorgeous in the early morning, and the refuge is busy in a different way. The marsh steadily turns into a shorebird buffet as the month pro… Read more
July doesn't get talked about as much as spring or fall, and we think that's unfair. Yes, it's hot, and yes, you'll want bug spray. But this is the month when the whole nesting season pays off—chicks are hatching, fledglings are testing their wings, … Read more
Spring migration is winding down, and nesting season is in full swing. Osprey are feeding young, marsh birds are active throughout the day, and the skies are filled with the sounds of summer. June is a great time to watching birds go about their dail… Read more
Here at the Refuge Inn, one of the most-asked questions at the front desk is "Where should we watch the sunset?" If you’re planning a vacation to Chincoteague Island and searching for the best sunset spots, you’ll quickly discover that our small coas… Read more
.png&w=3840&q=75 "A small bird with a blue head and yellow belly perched on a branch amidst green foliage.")
May is one of the most active months on Chincoteague. You don’t need a big plan to enjoy it. Step outside at the inn, spend some time along the tree line, or head into the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Movement is constant this time of year—… Read more
April birding on Chincoteague is one of the most dynamic times of year, with activity across marsh, pine forest, and shoreline. Our position along the Atlantic Flyway makes the island popular stopover for migrating birds while also hosting those sett… Read more