Ocracoke Storm

Last week Ocracoke had a crazy afternoon storm with clouds producing rain and hail and waterspouts. At the same time there was sun, wind, and wonderful rainbows. It had been a perfectly beautiful sunny day until this very large black cloud moved in. I think it had to do with the warm air from a hurricane that was way out in the Atlantic and a cold front meeting one another over the Island.

You can see the teeny tiny water tower in the background of this photo below this enormous cloud.

The rainbows made by the rain and sun were out for a long time. This one over the ocean.


The gray clouds left just enough room to see the glow from the sun setting over the sound.

Photos by Ocracoke Photo

Ocracoke Weddings

Ocracoke Island is a wonderful place to get married! Beach weddings, sunset weddings, Lighthouse Weddings... Bring your friends and family and have a week long celebration on the Island!

Ocracoke Island... the best place on earth to get married!

Photographs by Ocracoke Photo: www.OcracokePhoto.com

4th of July parade, Ocracoke Island

Here are a few photos from Ocracoke Island's 4th of July parade. This parade is open to anyone who wants to be in it, so if you are on the Island on the 4th next year join us!

Hands across the Sands

A few pictures from the Hands across the Sands event today on Ocracoke Island. To find out more about Hands across the Sands: http://handsacrossthesand.org/

Ocracoke needs to protect it's coastal economy, oceans, marine wildlife, fishing industry, and natural beauty of the beaches that we love.

Perfect and beautiful, The Coquina clam

I find something different every day when I walk the beach in Ocracoke. Earlier this week it was the tiny Coquina clams. There seemed to be so many of them, large colonies or clusters of them. Coquinas look like little gems in assorted sun painted colors; blues, yellows, pinks, orange, purple, white, and some of them striped. Nature makes even the tiniest things perfect and beautiful!

(You can enlarge these photos by clicking on them)

Painting Ocracoke

When I opened my shop, Ocracoke Photo, this morning I found this couple painting pictures of my little building. Sweet! These are their paintings- thanks John and Dodi what a nice surprise!

Paintings by Dodi and John Groesser www.johnanddodigroesser.com

Dolphins!

I have seen so many dolphins over this winter and early spring in Ocracoke. If you go out to the beach you can see them swimming and playing just off shore. These dolphins I photographed on a boat trip out to Portsmouth Island. These dolphins swam right beside our boat! If you'd like to go to Portsmouth Island or on a sightseeing boat tour around Ocracoke Island contact Austin Boat Tours: www.PortsmouthNC.com

A brand new Ocrapony

Ocracoke Island has a new Ocrapony! She was born on Monday morning. Her name is Paloma. She was named by the children at the Ocracoke School. Paloma means "dove" in Spanish. This beautiful little paint colored filly was born to Spirit, one of the Ocracoke heard. We are happy to welcome our new resident to the Ocracoke Pony pens!

The Ocracoke Lighthouse... brighter than ever!

At dusk on the evening of Wednesday, March 3, the Ocracoke Lighthouse beacon will once again be visible from the village of Ocracoke. The lighthouse, originally constructed in 1823, received significant restoration work during the past four months and the light is ready to be turned on once again. The work included repairs to historic metalwork, new glass in the lens room, and lightning protection measures to the structure.

Ocracats at the Post Office

A large population of Ocracats (Ocracoke wild cats) live at the post office. Here they were this morning waiting for someone to come and feed them. One kitty made it especially hard to mail letter!

The sun came out today and it was warm. It's been an unusually cold winter on the Island so the weather felt great. I went out to the beach to look for shells and found some treasures. Top: Whelk center: a scotch bonnet the official shell of North Carolina and bottom: a sand dollar. The best time to go shelling on the beaches in Ocracoke is at low tide when the waves are calm. Today really felt like spring will be here soon! I'm ready for spring and more beautiful days at the beach.

Ocracoke in the snow

Here is what Ocracoke looked like in the snow today. This doesn't happen often and as I write this the sun is out and most of this mornings snow has melted. Enjoy!

This fall and winter the NPS has been making repairs to the Ocracoke lighthouse
The repair work includes Renovation of metal work on the interior and exterior; Correcting the lightning protection and Painting the interior of the lighthouse.