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Best Life Birding Trips
Birders and bird loving photographers of all skill levels are invited to join me, Sally Siko as we explore the trails, woods, fields and shorelines of United States & beyond in search of interesting birds. I offer guided tours in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey and Maine,
Bay-breasted Warblers in Raleigh NC
Bay-breasted Warblers breed in the boreal forests of Canada and the northern U.S., particularly in areas dominated by spruce and fir trees. During migration, they can be found in a wide range of habitats, including brushy fields and mixed deciduous forests, especially in areas where water is present.
Spending time with Black Skimmers in Cape May NJ
As you can see, the Black Skimmer’s most distinctive feature is its bill, with the lower mandible being longer than the upper. This adaptation allows the bird to “skim” the water’s surface while flying, scooping up small fish and crustaceans.
As it flies just above the water, the black skimmer’s lower mandible drags through the water. When it touches a fish, the bird snaps its bill shut, making it one of the few birds that can hunt by touch.
Catching up with the Yellow Warblers in Cape May NJ
The Yellow Warbler is known for its bright yellow plumage. Males are particularly vibrant, often with reddish streaks on their chest, while females tend to be a bit duller but still a warm yellow color.
Spending time with an eastern Phoebe in Raleigh NC
The Eastern Phoebe’s name comes from its distinctive, raspy “fee-bee” whistle call, which it often repeats throughout the day, especially during breeding season.
Another way to make a ID is to watch their behavior. They’ve got a fluttery, low-to-the-ground flight pattern in which frequently dart out from a perch to catch insects and then return to the same perch or one nearby.
A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher encounter at Lake Lynn in Raleigh NC
Like many Empidonax flycatchers, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers are notoriously hard to observe & ID due to their diminutive size and similarities with other species in their genus.
While the yellow belly is a standout feature, other identifying traits include their relatively large head, short tail, and small bill. The eyering (a pale circle around the eyes) is also a key field mark, though it’s not always as prominent as in some other flycatcher species.
The best advice I can give to differentiate this bird from another flycatcher is to look for that yellow color on its throat.
Pine Warbler fun in central North Carolina
Unlike many warblers that primarily eat insects, Pine Warblers have a more varied diet. In addition to insects, they consume seeds and berries, making them more adaptable during winter months when insects are scarce.
They forage methodically by creeping along tree branches inspiring around tree trunks, much like a woodpecker or nuthatch, picking at bark and leaves to find insects.
A Yellow-billed Cuckoo encounter in Lillington NC
Yellow billed Cuckoos forage mostly in the middle to high upper levels of trees, where they skillfully move through branches to find prey. They’ve got a keen eye for spotting caterpillar nests and are quite adept at shaking branches to dislodge insects which is absolutely fascinating.
While they are best known for their love of caterpillars, Yellow-billed Cuckoos are opportunistic feeders. They also eat other insects like grasshoppers, cicadas, and beetles, as well as small vertebrates, eggs, and fruit when available.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in Fuquay Varina
Male Rose- breasted Grosbeaks sport, a beautiful plumage pattern of black, white and red during the breeding season.
Now that autumn is here, males have molted into a more subdued version of their breeding colors, which makes them resemble females during the non-breeding season. I didn’t realize this was a male Grosbeak until it turned sideways, revealing a pale splash of red color on its chest.
Whats in a name- identifying a Tennesee warbler in Raleigh
Unlike some other warbler species, the Tennessee Warbler is usually silent during migration. This makes it more difficult to detect so we now have rely on sight rather than sound to spot them during this time.
The problem is that these guys can be tricky to ID in the fall when they’re sporting their drab plumage.
They look very similar to the Orange-crowned Warbler and in fact are closely related.
So what to do?
Hooded Warbler encounter in Chapel Hill NC
Male Hooded Warblers are territorial and will sing loudly to defend their space. During breeding season, the male’s song is a loud and clear “ta-wit ta-wit ta-wit tee-yo,” which makes finding them in the woods, a lot easier.