Photo Gallery of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
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"Solitude in the presence of natural beauty and grandeur is the cradle of thought and aspirations which are not only good for the individual, but which society could ill do without." ~ John S. Mill
Facts About Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Prime Hook National Wildlife refuge was established in 1963 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act for use as a sanctuary for migratory birds. The refuge is in Milton, Delaware on the western shore of the Delaware Bay and is recognized as one of finest wetland habitat areas along the Atlantic Coast. It consists of 10,000 acres featuring freshwater and salt marshes, woodlands, grasslands, scrub-brush habitats, ponds, bottom-land forested areas, and a 7 mile long creek. Approximately 296 species of birds, 37 different mammals and 38 species of reptiles seek refuge within the wildlife's boundaries including some species which are endangered such as the Delmarva fox squirrel, nesting bald eagles and migrating peregrine falcons. Many species of birds pass through the area every fall and spring.
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is not only an oasis for wildlife but also for people who can get out and enjoy the natural beauty of this area.
The refuge is open to the public for wildlife-oriented recreation. Facilities include walking trails, a canoe trail, a bird blind and other wildlife observation areas, and a visitors center.
The photos in this hub were all taken by Gail Sobotkin during late November, 2011.
Overturned Platform in Wetlands
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Wetlands
The views around the wetlands are stunningly beautiful and change momentarily depending upon whether the sun is shining, the sky is dotted with white fluffy clouds or more ominous dark clouds are rolling in. On this late fall afternoon I experienced all three scenarios which made for some dramatically different photos. The wetland area was extremely peaceful and soothing as the only people there at the time of my visit were my husband and myself.
More Views of the Wetlands at Prime Hook
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The Delaware Bay
The walk onto the Delaware Bay was breathtaking as thousands of waterfowl were spread out along the shoreline and on the bay. Now the near total silence that we'd experienced by the wetlands was a cacophony of squawking waterfowl and rhythmically lapping waves. It is an absolutely thrilling sound and view.
"Everything that ever walked or crawled the face of the earth, swum the depths of the ocean or soared through the skies left its imprint here." ~ Robert M. Fresco
Photos of The Delaware Bay Area of Prime Hook
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"All things are artificial, for nature is the art of God." ~ Thomas Browne
"Natural Sea Art"
Natural Sea Art
One of the best things about walking along the Delaware Bay is the driftwood, seaweed balls, seashells, fish egg casings, horseshoe crab shells, soft shell crabs and other natural items that wash up onshore and form what I like to refer to as "natural sea art". I simply photograph it as I find it. Hope you enjoy looking at this "natural sea art" as much as I enjoyed photographing it.
Photos of "Natural Sea Art"
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You Tube Video Series of Prime Hook
For those of you who would like to learn more about Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and experience some more views of this beautiful area I am including a four part video series. Each video is only a few minutes long and is an enjoyable way of expanding your knowledge about wildlife and the importance of preserving refuges such as this one.
Map of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Link
- Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is located in Milton, Delaware and is part of the Northeast Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Birdwatching Hot Spots on the Maryland Delaware Eastern Shore: A Hub by Dolores Monet
- Bird Watching Hot Spots on the Maryland, Delaware Eastern Shore
Birdwatching on Maryland and Delaware's Eastern Shore is great any time of year, but best from fall till spring. Seasoned bird watchers and new birders alike flock to several spots on the Eastern Shore to check out migratory songbirds, waterfowl, and
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Welcome Dr. Bill, it's so great "seeing" you here! Thanks for being the first one to give me feedback. Am thrilled that you enjoyed the pictures and videos. I always need to spend time in nature but during the holiday season I appreciate the tranquility and balance that being in a place like the refuge brings me. It's an amazing stress buster!
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with your family.
Sending Hub Hugs Your Way,
Gail
These pictures are breathtaking. I love how you've shown that just with a change of the sky, the area can look dramatically different. Thanks for sharing your exploration.
Hi Cardelean,
Thanks so much for the feedback. Had to go with the pallete that nature created- those clouds took me totally off-guard because it was so gloriously sunny when we arrived and a short time later most of the sky was dark gray and black with just a few patches of white and sun. I realized it could end up being a good thing as it did create dramatic changes so I kept shooting away and was pleased by the final results. The temperature remained a comfortable 60 degrees and it didn't rain so it was more comfortable and pleasant than some of the photos imply.
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge looks like an absolutely beautiful place! I LOVE your photos of things you found on the beach. It makes me want to take a walk on the beach right now! I found it interesting that the over wash from the hurricane some years ago actually helped rejuvenate the salt marshes. With all the development along the Atlantic coast, the loss of habitat is a serious issue for birds and wildlife. Thanks for a beautiful and interesting hub!
Hi Stephanie,
I was glad that 4 of your hubs showed up in the "related hub" panel!
Thanks so much for your feedback and support which is greatly appreciated. There was actually a lot of controversy over whether it would rejuvenate but it appears to be doing so. The refuge was initially created with fresh water ponds and marshes which helps different kinds of birds so there is still some controversy and I believe a lawsuit going on. Still, it's a great place for many species and certainly for humans!
I am always intrigued by the different shapes, textures and assortments of items that clump together and get thrown around the beach so it was fun looking for ones to photograph yesterday.
HappyBoomerNurse, you truly are an artist with your camera. The framing, lighting, vision is just always perfect. Your Hubs are informative, a pleasure to read and a joy to view.
Aw Hyphenbird, your comment has totally warmed my heart as well as made me blush. I've always been the one in my family who had no artistic talent - sis and mom were gifted but I couldn't even draw stick figures that looked decent! To think that I am becoming a bit of an artist through the use of my camera brings me such joy!
Thanks so much for your kind feedback and I'm so glad you enjoyed the hub and photos.
Hi Gail,
Coastal birds and wildlife need both salt marshes and fresh water areas. Fresh water ponds on Pea Island on the Outer Banks were destroyed when the ocean breached into the ponds during Hurricane Irene. It's so sad to see this resting and feeding spot for migrating birds become unavailable during the fall migration season. The National Wildlife refuges have a difficult job trying to maintain the different habitats against the forces of nature as well as humans!
Your Hub on the Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge is an important reminder of why we need to support wildlife refuges and conservation areas. Besides that -- the hub is just too beautiful to miss!
I, too, was pleased that some of my hubs focusing on birds and seashores show up in the related hubs! We do have many similar interests! :)
Hi Gail thank you so much again for sharing this beautiful hub with us.
I have to vote up up and away and here's to so many more to share on here.
Take care,
Eddy.
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for adding such a knowledgeable comment to my hub. It definitely is an ongoing struggle to protect these sanctuaries. Yeah, we have alot of similar interests and it's always a pleasure reading and learning from your hubs.
Hi Eddy,
So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for taking time to leave a lovely comment. I so enjoy sharing hubs with you and will be over to read more of yours later on.
We have marshlands in our area near the Gulf Coast also. They are very important for the preservation of certain species. Your photos are beautiful...absolutely beautiful! Enjoyed seeing the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge through your camera lens and descriptions. Thanks! Up, beautiful and useful votes.
What a beautiful place. Great Hub!
Hi Peggy,
So glad you enjoyed the hub and photos. I think we're blessed that there are places like this in many different states.
I appreciate your feedback and ongoing support and thank you for the vote up.
Hi Will,
Yes, it's beauty is awesome. So glad you enjoyed the hub and appreciate your ongoing support.
Gail, this is what I call a paradise. The photo's are stunning. Voted up with the wish Prime Hook was my home.
Hi Martie,
So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the kind words and vote up. Your support is greatly appreciated.
A wonderful hub....beautiful photos...thank you I really enjoyed this hub.
Welcome One2get2no,
Thank you for taking time to leave such a lovely comment. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Again - only wish I was there~ Lovely shots of another beautiful place.
You take such lovely photos, it's always a pleasure to visit your hubs!
Hi Audrey,
So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for leaving a comment.
We both share a great love of nature.
Thanks Red Elf I feel the same way about visiting your hubs. Congratulations on winning the Hub Patron of the Arts for your "A Poem in Four Seasons."
What stunning photos! I want to visit. I’m not sure the Delaware area is going to cope with all the extra visitors it’s about to get after all these glorious photo hubs you’ve done. The colours are just gorgeous, and the contrast of land and sky or sea in the photos are perfect
Beautiful, beautiful hub.
Welcome Ashok Niroula,
Am glad you enjoyed it and thank you for taking time to leave a comment.
Hi Melovy,
Ah..your comment has put a wide smile on my face! It's been such a pleasure to be able to share the beautiful area that I live in on Hub Pages. Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment and for your ongoing support.
Happyboomernurse, I very much enjoyed this wonderful hub and photos! What a neat area. Your photos are beautiful, and the area looks stunning. I love how the sky looks, I wonder what time of the day you took these, as its so pretty there. I hope to visit that area one day, I have never been to that part of the country. Thank you so much for sharing. I think my favorites were the birds in the water and the natural sea art. Loved that!
I think this hub had the worth to be the hub of day. Your photo collection was rich and great. Personally I like photography, if you have read through my profile, you may know. I am just impressed reading this hub. Thanks.
Charming photos of Prime Hook Gail. What a treasure and a pleasure to find out about. Liked your "Natural Sea Art" too!
Hi Oceansnsunsets,
Thanks for leaving such specific feedback. Am so glad you enjoyed it. I took the photos from around 2:00 to 3:30 and the sun was playing hide and go seek popping in and out between dark clouds.
Hi Alastar,
So glad you loved the photos. I had fun taking the "Natural Sea Art" shots and it was a wonderful walk on the beach.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Welcome Breathing,
Thanks so much for the kind words which are very much appreciated! Yes, I did read through your profile today before reading your lovely and interesting education through travel hub today. Will be back to read more.
Your photos are beautiful... They remind me of watercolors.. and I love the sandpipers
Hi Starstream,
Thanks for your kind words. So glad you enjoyed the photos. I appreciate you taking time to leave specific feedback.
once again, beautiful pictures.
Hi PDXKaraokeGuy,
So glad you enjoyed the pictures. I had fun taking them.
HBN,
You are SO good at these hubs with "tours" ~ beautiful photos and commentary. You are truly marketing your wonderful state. Maybe you could get paid for all your efforts? I think you should. I would have never thought of vacationing in Delaware, yet, since I have met you, I think about it often.
Sharyn
Hi Sharyn,
It is such a thrill to know that I have inspired you to visit my wonderful state. Delaware is small but has many treasures especially in its beaches and preservation of its history. It is a great pleasure to share my state through photos and hubs and I thank you for your wonderful feedback and encouragement.
Sending Hub Hugs,
Gail
Hi, Gail - thanks for the link. our pictures are awesome and I love the big sky. I love wetlands, and long stretches of big water. There is a kind of peace there like nowhere else and your photographs really underscore the vast beauty of the place!
Hi Dolores,
I thought our two hubs worked really well together so I wanted to give readers the opportunity to enhance their experience by going to see yours. Even though it was already showing on the side panel, I thought they might miss the link.
I totally agree about the peace and beauty of the area. Truly awesome and soul nurturing.
Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment. Your feedback and support is greatly appreciated.
And so they do. A link to this hub does not appear on mine (maybe it's too new) so I added one. Merry Christmas!
Hi Dolores,
Thanks for the Christmas gift- I'm honored that you added a link to this hub from yours.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too.
Hi Gail, I'm finally getting back to reading older hubs I missed when school and the holidays got really crazy.
As usual, your photos are wonderful! As Cara noted, the changing sky adds to them. Voted up, awesome and beautiful.
Hi Danette,
I've been way off in my reading also as I've had company or been traveling and visiting with relatives and friends. Hope to read some of your hubs soon.
Thanks so much for the lovely comments on all of the hubs you read last night. They're greatly appreciated as is your ongoing support and feedback.
Hi Gail,
I came back for another look at all of your fabulous photos of the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and your beach art. I can just imagine how being there in person must feel. Enjoyed this just as much as I did the first time. Great hub!
Thanks Peggy. I was just enjoying a cybertrip to your lovely Discovery Green Park in Houston and the Art Car Museum.
Nature I?????S? just breathe-taking ???nd awesome. ??? ve just done A???? tasking yet beautiful work. Great pictures too
Hi Ubanichijioke,
So glad that you enjoyed the hub and photos.
The Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is the kind of place that feeds the soul because of its quiet, natural beauty.
Thanks so much for your kind comment.
Hub Hugs,
Gail
Dr Bill Tollefson Level 3 Commenter 5 months ago
I really enjoyed this HUB article. All the pictures and videos were excellent. You gave a great experience to me about a place I have never been, thank you. Awesome and a vote up.