Sunrise on the Assateague ChannelSunrise at the Assateague Channel between Chincoteague Island and Assateague Island in Virginia.

In October, I visited the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia. It's a marvelous place, with beautiful forests and fantastic wildlife. Summer is peak season for tourism on the island, but I find that in the summertime, the mosquitos can be quite troublesome. Fortunately, one can avoid the mosquitos by visiting off-season in October.

I took the above and below photos in the Assateague Channel, which is the small area between Assateague Island (where the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is located) and Chincoteague Island (where the city of Chincoteague is located). Early in the morning, it's especially beautiful and tranquil.

Dawn on the Assateague ChannelDawn at the Assateague Channel between Chincoteague Island and Assateague Island in Virginia.

The claim to fame for the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is the presence of feral ponies. Popular legend has it that the feral ponies descended from survivors of wrecked Spanish galleons off the Virginia coast. They are magnificent to behold in their natural habitat, but they can be elusive. Fortunately, I was able to get some nice photos of them the last time that I visited. I hope you like them. I was particularly excited to get photos of the foals.

Wild Mare and Her Foal 1Wild ponies in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia. Featuring a mare and her foal. Wild Ponies FeedingWild ponies in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia. Featuring a mare and her foal. Wild Trotting FoalA wild pony (a foal) trots along some water in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia. Wild Mare and Her Foal 2Wild ponies in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia. Featuring a mare and her foal. Wild White FoalA wild pony (a foal) trots along in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia.