As you venture along the pathways between the impoundments, the sentinel geese who see you first thrust their heads into the air and honk at a low pitch. See how this compares to movements of swans marked in North Carolina in 2001 and 2002. The most famous of the lake’s birds — the tundra swans — sweep in blizzard-like from November through March. Lake Mattamuskeet: Stumbled upon this scenic area.. - See 28 traveler reviews, 67 candid photos, and great deals for North Carolina, at TripAdvisor. Click on the links below to view migration maps for each of the swans below. A visit to the Mattamuskeet NWR headquarters is the best place to start, where the staff maintains a current sightings list and you can find an indispensable map of the refuge. Observe the Abundant Local Wildlife. 3 Fantastic Things to Do in Lake Mattamuskeet. WHAT'S ALL THE CONCERN ABOUT THE AQUATIC GRASSES IN LAKE MATTAMUSKEET? Lake Mattamuskeet: A great nature stop - See 29 traveller reviews, 67 candid photos, and great deals for North Carolina, at Tripadvisor. Lake Mattamuskeet's Watershed Restoration Plan. Tens of thousands of swans, their plumage white and their beaks black, fly in from the Arctic to spend their winters at Mattamuskeet. visited lake mattamuskeet for the first time this july and was impressed, gorgeous lake with a lot of nature around. When you first visit Mattamuskeet, you’ll want to take a leisurely jaunt around the lake to get your bearings. Lake Mattamuskeet: The "lodge" is a must see...and the water tower makes great photos - See 29 traveler reviews, 67 candid photos, and great deals for North Carolina, at Tripadvisor. Mattamuskeet is named for a local tribe of Alqonquain Indians, allies of the Tuscarora who waged a war against local colonists from 1711 to 1714. An annual celebration of the winter migration of the Alaska Tundra Swans to Lake Mattamuskeet on Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, NC. The highlight of the refuge is Lake Mattamuskeet, the largest natural lake in North Carolina at more than 40,000 acres. An annual celebration of the winter migration of the Alaska Tundra Swans to Lake Mattamuskeet on Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, NC. We found the biggest concentration of birds at Pugo Lake, and Pea Island this year, and this was where we spent most of our time. Whether it is a pelagic trip out to experience seabirds or to view waterfowl and waterbirds during the colder months, there is much to see. Swan Days is an annual event celebrating the return of the tundra swan to the refuge. Lake Mattamuskeet is well known for their plentiful opportunities for fishing! When you talk to the locals and the long-time visitors to Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, you will hear stories about how the lake was teeming with thick beds of aquatic grasses, clear water, abundance of game fish, blue crabs, and the spectacular arrival of hundreds of thousands of wintering, migratory … Osprey, eagles, bear, musk rats, a lot of... You really need to see the lake to appreciate how big it is. You will easily find a lot of waterfowl at Mattamuskeet, but to find the geese and swans in truly large numbers, your best bet is to add nearby Lake Pungo to your itinerary. The draft plan is complete and was open for review and comment until November 2, 2018. I do wildlife photography and was able to get a lot of great pictures around the area. More information on the watershed restoration planning process can be found here. 3. Note: This phase of the Atlantic Flyway Tundra Swan Research is now complete, therefore there will be no future updates to the swan migration maps. On a wintry morning, slowly ambling among the oval pools can be downright magical.