The most famous inhabitants of the Coastal Bays Watershed are the wild horses of Assateague Island.  The novel Misty of Chincoteague comes alive here everyday.  Though the exact cause of their coming to the islands are apocryphal and shr
A Mid-Atlantic sunrise post storm.  The Coastal Bays Watershed features the most diverse area within the state of Maryland for both wildlife and habitat.  Bays, wetlands, and forests make up this incredible location.
While the horses appear to have a tame demeanor this is far from the truth.  These are wild animals.  Unfortunately visitors to the area are bitten and kicked every year after venturing too close.  The horses have also learned how to
Common during the fall and winter months, Common Loons can be found within each of the Coastal Bays.  They may also be found surfing among the waves along the Atlantic Shoreline, like this one.  The winter plumage is not of the s
The horses have adapted to life on the barrier island.  Because they feed on the salt marsh cordgrass, the salt leads to the appearance of a bloated belly.  They have also taken on a smaller appearance unlike the wild horses of the America
Sinepuxent Bay- one of 6 Bays in the Coastal Bays Watershed, is also the healthiest.  It contains the best water quality and more sea-grass than the other Bays.  Of concern, however, is the decline in sea-grass seen since 2005
Seals are more likely to be seen here in the winter months, with Harbor and Grey Seals making up the majority of sightings.  Less commonly seen are visitors from the arctic such as the Ringed Seal and, as in this image, the Harp Seal. 
The tidal marshes in the Coastal Bays actually differ from their counterparts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  The wetlands in the Coastal Bays formed as a result of sediment accretion as it grew above sea level.  The Chesapeake Bay tidal
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Assateague Island is a barrier island whose existence has always been a subject of change.  Its form has changed due to the movement of sand on the land facing side of the island.  At one time it was even connected to Fenwick Isl
A Whitetail Deer saturated in morning mist on Assateague Island.
The maritime forests of the barrier island are mostly lobolly pine with scrub pine and greenbrier mixed underneath.  You can also find sassafras, oak, and sweetgum. The central forests of the Coastal Bays are more protected from the salt-laden
While not the first time Snowy Owls have been documented on Assateague Island, never have so many been seen as in the irruption of 2013-2014.  The plethora of owls that used the Coastal Bays Watershed as their wintering grounds allowed scientis
The horse is not the only exotic mammal on the island.  The Sika Deer, a species of Elk from East Asia, was released in this area in 1916.  They are not an invasive species because they do not compete with native wildlife for food and habi
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A Merlin with prey.  Assateague Island and the surrounding Coastal Bays are an important nesting and resting area for over 320 species of birds. 
Wading birds, such as this Great Egret and Tricolored Heron, can be found fairly regularly on the Coastal Bays depending on the season.  Only in Florida have I encountered more species of these beautiful birds in one location.
A Sika Stag chases off a smaller competitor during their annual rut.  Like the Elk of Pennsylvania and the American West, the Stags emit a haunting bugle during this annual ritual.   
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