MegaPixel Mike, Berlin, MD (2026)

08/17/2026

It's February 2015 and sometimes it's just nice to look back at some of the original horses I came to know.

We had a really nice snowstorm, and I wanted to ride through Assateague. I got some really nice images that day including this one of 9 month old Susi Sole (far left) beside her half sister, Ms Macky who was 15 months old or so. Beside Ms Macky was their dad, Yankee, and Carol's Girl who was Susi's mom and Ms Macky's grandma. Gokey-Go-Bones, Ms Macky's mom, was nearby in the trees. All of these horses are now gone; Susi was the last one standing, but she was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle a few days ago. She had many more years of life in her as she was only 12.

So, if you follow Assateague Island and it's horses as I suspect you do since you are reading this on my page, you'll know two were actually recently killed in vehicle collisions, including Susi. However, the single roadway through the Island is posted at 25 mph with many drivers greatly exceeding the limit, passing in no passing zones etc especially in the summer season.

With that said, however, horses roam freely and can pop out at any time, any where right in front of you. There's less than a hundred horses on the Island so when one is killed it's a big deal. Let alone two in 13 days. Susi also had a 4 month old foal she left behind.

As you can imagine the recent collisions have caused a whirlwind of social media posts. I haven't said much on any of the posts on these two recent vehicle collisions that killed Susi and, 13 days before, Dune because everything has been said already. Nor will I say anything here in this post. But, what I have learned is whatever anyone says will be counteracted with someone that thinks they know more or better than the next person. It's exhausting. It's ridiculous. People end up arguing with each other instead of concentrating energies on logical solutions. I have to wonder sometimes if the lack of transparency from the NPS is due to the lunacy I have seen over certain situations over the years.

It's a real shame social media has become what it is... It's even a bigger shame that even with social media and all the information out there people continue to drive like they've forgotten any and all of their driving skills when on the Island, or they really have no idea what free roaming horses really means which is even worse. You'd hope one would do some online research before visiting. Again, everyone has to remember horses can run out in front of you and sometimes, well, there's nothing you can do. It could happen to me or anyone visiting next. And it's all the more reason to drive responsibly.

And, just some clarification on jurisdiction and speed cameras as there seems to be a bit of confusion on the matter. The State of Maryland has concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal portion of Assateague. That means, yes, troopers can stop cars anywhere along Bayberry and make arrests. However, MSP does not regularly patrol on Assateague as troopers are stretched thin and have the rest of Worcester County to worry about. So NPS Rangers are primary along Bayberry and the Federal portions of the Island. The NPS are also the only agency able to enforce the Federal CFR Codes. Or, I should say, MSP cannot issue Federal CFR citations/arrests in regards to wildlife and horse violations.

MD DNR/NRP also have a police presence on the Island as they are a full service law enforcement agency and primary for boating, fishing, hunting/firearms and wildlife violations for the State of Maryland. You'll typically see them along the causeway and the state park. State park rangers (tan uniforms) cannot issue citations or make arrests. When the state park rangers are dealing with a situation they can't handle, they'll call MD DNR for assistance as they have full law enforcement authority and capability.

NPS Rangers and MD DNR/NRP are the two primary law enforcement agencies on the Island. MSP would only respond if one of those two agencies would request assistance. Because of the concurrent jurisdiction on the island all agencies can interoperate, but NPS would have to issue citations or make arrests for Federal laws pertaining to the protection of the wildlife and CFR violations. However, I could be mistaken on that part as MD may have adopted the Federal CFR codes for DNR or there may also be a MD statute DNR can cite when it comes to the horses but I am not familiar with the wildlife side of violations. Either way all three agencies, NPS, DNR and MSP, can stop cars, issue traffic citations and make arrests on the Island. I've done it myself as a trooper before I retired this past spring.

There is also a lot of talk about speed cameras, but speed cameras are out. They are governed by MD law and not permitted for use on the Island. They're only permitted for use in work zones, school zones and certain residential districts with speed limits of 35 mph or less. So all the posts about putting speed cameras up on the Island are simply invalid as the rural route on the Island fits into none of those categories. Even if they did go up it's MD law that a 12 mph buffer be required before they trigger. Also, you'll get a ticket in the mail weeks later well after you leave the Island.

I tried to get a speed camera on the Island after Moonshadow was struck and killed, and that's when it was very clearly explained to me by our ASE unit that it wasn't going to happen. Can it be done? Yes, but first you'd either have to get Federal legislation passed for NPS to use them (there are no speed cameras in any national park) and/or get MD to pass legislation to modify the speed camera laws. So, that's that.

All I can say is if Susi knew the stir she has caused she would love it. She always liked to put on a show. She would love every minute of all this chaos. But, I really do hope she's back with her family now, wherever that might be. 👼 🙏

So, please enjoy the image, maybe say something funny or nice you remember about her instead of solutions. I've read enough posts about shutting traffic down, using trams, banning camping, speed bumps, stop signs, some dash thing that goes on your dashboard to control your speed, some tire boot that will only let you go 10 mph, speed cameras, lowering the speed limit etc etc. The NPS will do what they do and my page is in no way affiliated with them. My voice nor the voices here will be heard by them. I don't mean that to be sarcastic in any way... But, there are other pages that are getting information and their voices out to the NPS in "mostly" a good way.

Or, don't say anything at all. I'm not here for likes, clicks or any of that. Just enjoy the image.

Remember rational ideas work better than emotional ideas.

See you next time,
Mike

03/29/2026

Whoa! How did a month go by already? I hope everyone has been great...

During my last post the area here experienced a freezing, heavy snow and it knocked the power out in our area for nearly 36 hours. It's an easy decision after something like that to hire an electrician to put a subpanel in for a generator hook-up. Fortunately we didn't lose much food - the outside was a wonderful fridge and freezer.

We also had a ton of trees down; while we made out okay my neighbor across the street had one come down and hit his house. Fortunately, they were okay.

Since then it has been business as usual, well, except... I retired!! After 29 years and 8 months of being a trooper I finally decided to stop putting it off, and I hung it up. It really has taken a minute to get settled in, but just this week it's starting to feel like the weight and restraints are coming off.

The OSV was closed at the 21.8 for several weeks after the storm, but it has finally reopened. Just in time too because, let's see, what else? Oh yeah, blue-eyed stallion Dewey and one of his mares, Johnny's Star, had a beautiful baby boy... The first foal of 2026. I think folks are thinking he was born about a week before he was first seen on March 15th. Johnny's Star has since wandered off from Dewey, but that's not out of the ordinary. We'll see if she makes her way back to him. The last I saw the two they were about 2 kilometers apart.

But, the foal/colt is beautiful and full of energy. There is no doubt he will be a welcomed addition to watch grow up and mature. But, for now... he is a mama's boy.

See you next time,
MP Mike

02/22/2026

UPDATE: I'll catch up with everyone soon. We had major outages with this storm, and our power was finally restored this morning after being out for 32 hours. I appreciate everyone's comments, and we will respond soon. Stay safe.

I’m not sure about all of you, but I was super excited about the outcome of today’s USA vs Canada hockey game… Especially on the anniversary of 1980’s Miracle on Ice game in Lake Placid. Kudos to Canada, though. Their defense was insane!

Now I’m sitting here watching it rain, then snow, then rain and snow some more. It is supposed to get really bad later here, and I guess tomorrow, too. I wish it would just snow! The intense winds will make it even more unsafe to be on the roads, and as much as I would like to get to Assateague to check things out, I am going to have to play the sit and wait game. I don’t want to go out and add to the complexity of issues road crews and emergency workers will have tomorrow. So, time will tell.

In the meantime, I wanted to share some images of short-eared owls that I compiled over last winter and so far this winter. I always wanted to get out and shoot shorties, but I just never did. Last winter I traveled to different marshy areas around Delmarva and finally found some; It was the first time I attempted to photograph them.

Since then I have really enjoyed watching them. They are really gorgeous creatures and so much fun to shoot. They’re graceful and energetic yet difficult to locate when grounded, usually on tussock sedge mounds in the marsh. Getting nice images is both challenging and fun, a great combination.

Shorties typically arrive around December in our area and hang out until early spring. They are found in marshy areas or similar areas northern harriers can be found in. They are mottled brown with beautiful yellow eyes and roughly a 3 to 4 foot wingspan. They silently and gracefully glide over the marsh hunting small mammals mostly during dusk and dawn, but many times I go out I have found them active by 3 pm.

Many folks head over to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge to see them. Others head to coastal areas along Delaware. It’s hard to tell where you might find them, but when you do you will be entranced with their acrobatics and intense yellow eyes. You can’t help but to watch wanting more.

So, enjoy the images… I had a lot of fun making them! And stay safe if you will be in this storm’s path!!

See you next time,
Mike

01/25/2026

Well, who is ready for this winter weather? I know I sure am, but I was hoping for more snow and not a mix leading to rain soon after waking up.

I keep watching the different weather channels from local to cable, and it seems it all depends on the rain/mix/snow line here. The Weather Channel keeps moving their hourly forecast with one minute the mix starting at 9, then 8, then back to 9, then back to 8 again where it now currently sits. I think the only way we’ll know is when the mix actually starts to happen…

Snow on Assateague is always beautiful. It just adds another element, changing the scenery into a magical winter wonderland. Although it doesn’t happen as much as I’d like it to, it does happen so it’s not necessarily a rare occurrence. Maybe a more of a not-so-often occurrence. That’s why when it does snow I always try to get out there with my camera. Unfortunately with tomorrow’s forecast and the quick changeover to a mix then rain soon after waking up it sounds a bit challenging to get out there, but we’ll see.

So, tonight I just felt like wrapping us all up by sharing some images from our snowstorm last year, January 6th, 2025. Ironically, it was a similar situation with just a bit more snow in the morning before the changeover. It started out just as predicted with heavy snow before a changeover to rain around 10 or 11, and that forecast was dead-on. But, it left me with enough time in the morning to get out and hike a bit looking for the horses. I am not sure if tomorrow’s snow will be as heavy as this storm last January, but we shall see.

Hiking in heavy snow is always beautiful, but even when I was little I loved to be outside in the snow. It’s just so quiet as the snow dampens the sound, especially if the wind isn’t blowing. I always felt refreshed, invigorated and alive. As I get older it's almost like it transforms me into being a kid again.

For this trek I started out and walked maybe a mile or less before I ran into three different bands riding the storm out together; Susi and Billy Bob, Happy and his crew, and Tommy who picked up Giggles and her foal.

But, let me just back up a bit in regards to Giggles. Although the main goal was to get some images of the horses in the snow, what I actually found was a very protective Tommy Thunderbolt Nektosha standing beside Giggles. Giggles had been with Bayberry for quite a long time, and recently Happy had let Bayberry and Giggles interact with his band. It was quite amazing to see two stallions interacting in such a way. But, Bayberry, like any other aging horse on the island, was unable to stop time from ticking and his body was beginning to yield.

Once I found Giggles with Tommy I kind of thought Bayberry either got kicked out by Tommy, or the fabled Bayberry might now be remembered as legendary. If you look at Tommy in these images he is very keen, even in the falling snow, of his surroundings. He’s very alert, ears forward and paying great attention to where I eventually was able to locate Bayberry a couple of weeks after the storm. So, honestly, I don’t know if Bayberry died before the storm or sometime after, but Tommy was very much on guard with Giggles by his side. If Bayberry, however, was still alive at this point, I would surmise it was this storm that did him in. Where I eventually found Bayberry was not really far from where I took these images.

Anyway, I hope everyone stays warm and safe. If it was just snow it would be one thing, but the mix with ice and rain coupled with some wind is something not really much fun.

And, I noticed quite a few comments on the availability of shelter... The scrubs on Assateague are very thick. The horses can get in and under them, and you would be amazed to find the canopies not only prevent precipitation from hitting the ground, but the 'floor' is usually extremely soft grass which I can only imagine is quite warm. The horses are not only amazingly smart creatures, they are also extremely well adapted to Assateague... Remember they have been here since the 17th century. For one instance, they have short, stout legs adapted for walking in thick marsh mud that would wreak havoc on the long legs of domesticated horses. In these images they simply chose to stand out and continue to feed because it wasn't bad enough for them to seek cover. I have a feeling if they had to choose between 100 degrees with biting flies and snow, they would choose snow every time. But, that's just my opinion.

See you next time,
Mike

PS If you're on an iPhone (probably an Android too) and you get this "send me a message" thing everytime you click on a photo, I'm sorry. That's not me, Facebook did something in their latest updates and I don't know how to disable it. It's ridiculous. Don't worry, you aren't really sending me a message as I have messages disabled. If you know any way around this please let me know.

01/06/2026

*Warning - last shot in series may be graphic for some*

The annoying sound of that cell phone alarm… It’s 5 am, way too early, freezing cold and just 5 hours ago I was getting home from a 6 hour drive with my wife from back home in Pennsylvania. What in the F$% # am I thinking?

I'll hit snooze for 9 minutes, just 540 more seconds. Then I’ll get up.

Soon enough I find myself muttering son of a b*%$ #, it’s going off again. Already?

I told myself to get up. You have to get up. It’s like a conversation with my inner being arguing why I really don’t have to. It’s Sunday morning for crying out loud… In January!!

Finally, I got up and dragged myself to the kitchen. I grudgingly opened up the fridge and grabbed my yogurt already mixed with overnight oats and blueberries. I have to add my chocolate whey protein and granola yet.

As my homemade breakfast concoction is sitting on the scale, I turned to get a spoon… That is the moment I decided to bump the yogurt container and knock it upside down all over the kitchen floor. I looked at the splatter with total numbness, shaking my head and repeating why did you even get up.

I grabbed the broom, vacuum and mop to clean it all up… And start all over again.

That is how the morning started!

Unprepared for my next move, I headed to the garage and loaded up my kayak in the back of my truck. It’s 28 degrees, and I said to myself, “Self, what could go wrong paddling across the bay to the northern half of Assateague Island in freezing cold water?”

I got everything loaded up just before 7 and started out for the boat launch as the partly cloudy skies illuminated with a stunning orange and pink brilliance that can only be described as nothing less than spectacular. I really wished I got out about 30 minutes earlier to catch it with my camera.

As I squeezed myself into my kayak I tried to maintain my balance and not fall in the ice cold water. I soon shoved off and thought it really is freezing, but it’s so quiet. And the sky was still glowing with the after effects of the morning sunrise… It was just so pretty.

I paddled across the bay and picked a landing spot over on the northern half of Assateague. It’s quicker than walking although a tad more dangerous this time of year. Fortunately, the paddle over was way less remarkable than making my breakfast.

So, where do I start? It’s 10 kilometers or roughly 6.2 miles from the northern tip of Assateague to the day use lot at the State Park. Somewhere between here and there is Chestnut. He hasn’t been seen since early in the fall, and my friends advised me he was really super thin. They felt he was no longer alive and asked if I could help look for him. That is my mission for the day.

I’m not really sure why I enjoy looking for horses that go down. And let me clarify that, all living creatures die as death is part of living. I don’t enjoy the death any creature goes through. However, I do enjoy searching for those that have fallen… It almost becomes like a mission for me. I think I have searched for roughly 18 horses that have fallen and found 11. Not all have been ‘first’ found by me, some have been found coincidentally by hunters and reported to the NPS. My friends usually find out about it as they are much more connected than I, and then they usually ask for help finding their location. That’s usually how this whole thing works. And, I know it helps many that feel connected to the horse in one way or another once they are located.

I will say that, however, the NPS typically does not announce deaths unless it involves something of high profile like a vehicle strike. But, when I find a horse I do send pictures and coordinates to the NPS. I will ask however, since they don’t announce deaths and locations, please do not ask me where I find where one falls. I only say that because I have found in the almost 15 years that I have had this page that it’s best not to advise of locations not otherwise provided by the NPS.

So, I began my trek, zig-zagging my way across the northern tip of the island slowly working my way south.

As the hours went by, the wind picked up pretty stiffly out of the northwest. Enough that I thought to myself kayaking back might be an issue. I found it freezing on the bayside, and warm on the oceanside. As I crossed the island back and forth, I rotated my hat and gloves on and off each time I crossed - like I was entering different climates on each side of the island.

This brush is so thick. I thought to myself finding him will be like finding a needle in a haystack as he literally could be anywhere. Heck, he might not even be dead but just off on his own.

I kept zig-zagging through open spaces in as much of a pattern as I could. Just before eleven, some 4 hrs after I began my search, I came across the northern band now run by CK (Cookie and Kreme - sorry I can’t call a stallion that, so I refer to him as CK). I counted 10 in all including him, but I no longer know all of their names. I took a few pics but continued on.

About an hour later I came across Freedom, a mare from the northern band that went down, and I was able to find in February of 2024. As I passed by her skeletal remains I made a decision to go no more than one more kilometer. I was tired, my hips and knees were aching. It was getting time to pack things up and head back north.

I figured I would do another zig-zag pattern just a bit quicker and get back to my kayak about an hour before sunset. I was feeling at this point I would definitely need another trip up here to find him. But, as I continued on that little bit more before turning around I saw a lump that didn’t quite fit. I was about 200 feet from it and I knew right away it was Chestnut.

To be quite honest I walked up to him thinking nothing, really. I wasn’t being cold, I mean, he was there, I was tired… We expected him to be down, and he was. This is just life on the island. I documented his final resting place, marked Google Maps for coordinates and messaged a contact at the NPS.

But, as with all the horses I found, I sat down nearby beside him and proceeded to eat my protein bar that I brought along and drank some of my energy drink. I took about 15 minutes thinking of several shots that I took of him, and how he always tried to shy away from images I wanted of him. He never seemed to cooperate with me; I say that with a smile. He really was a gorgeous horse with a stunning two-tone mane. Did you guys know that he was siblings with Bodacious Bob? They both had Bolt and Rosie as their mom and dad. How did Chestnut look so different, I thought?

Anyway, that’s pretty much it. I headed back north along the beach making much better time than having to search on my way back, too. The kayak paddle wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in the wind and before long I was back at my truck and got home, exhausted.

As for me, yeah, I know. It’s been about a year and a half since I last posted. This post is already pretty long so I will fill everyone in as I post. But, I just needed to shut off the noise (social media) a bit. I don’t have time to post daily or even weekly, but I hope to get a post or two or three up a month… We’ll see how it goes.

Until then I hope all of you have been fantastic! And Happy New Year to all of us. I'll catch up with you soon.

See you next time,
Mike

MegaPixel Mike

08/17/2026

03/29/2026

02/22/2026

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