An Autumn Day on the Outer Banks

By Kip Tabb

Royal Tern, Kitty Hawk Beach.

Well, fall is finally here. It seems as though the Outer Banks fought for summer as long as it possibly could, but one too many north winds and one too many low pressure systems and Autumn has arrived.

But it was an absolutely beautiful day today. I don’t think the temperature every got out of the 50s, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the winds were truly gentle.

Flyfishing in Kitty Hawk Bay.

This was a day to get out and enjoy the beauty of the Outer Banks. I took a walk this morning and reminded myself how much I love this place I in which I live.

I walked along Moor Shore Drive in Kitty Hawk and watched someone fly fishing 150 yards off shore. I hiked over to the ocean and felt renewed–almost reborn.

The seagulls were out in force–maybe not an army, but certainly a brigade of them, lining the beach as far as the eye could see. And there in the midst of all that dull grey and off white was this bird with a startling orange beak and a black crown. If my research is right, it was a Royal Tern.

Not much wind or waves today, but there were a couple of fishermen trying their luck in the surf, and the beachcombers and lovers were out in force strolling along the sand.

We haven’t said much about it, but Wings Over Water has been going on all week. An amazing celebration of heritage, the environment and art, it’s held every year about this time and the schedule is filled with everything from bird carving, to wildlife photography, to a kayak trip to Portsmouth Island south of Ocracoke.

Another reminder of how remarkable the Outer Banks truly are.