Bird watching trips in Maine

Photographing the Atlantic Puffin in Maine

By Sally Siko

As the island came into view over the hazy ocean horizon, my heart thumped with the anticipation of seeing hundreds of seabirds gathered in one place.
The chilly wind was whipping around at a brisk pace and it was difficult to contain my excitement as I nervously checked (and double-triple checked) my camera settings to ensure I’d be able to photograph the birds from whatever distance the boat would provide once we stopped offshore.



F 10 for distance, a shutter speed of 1250 to freeze the action and ISO set to 500 to make sure the photos would be bright enough to catch the details no matter how far away the birds might be.
The last thing I wanted was to get caught up in the moment and miss shots of potential lifers due to incorrect settings so I set my camera exposure and practiced photos of distant gulls wheeling overhead.
If nothing else this “practice time” would calm my nerves and keep me occupied until we reached Petit Manan.
Finally after what felt like forever lol, the boat slowed and we arrived to the island.



The boat shut its engine off a couple hundred feet from shore. Scanning the water with my lens, I searched for my quarry the Atlantic Puffin. Then all of a sudden there they were!
Woohooo!!!
I must have taken several hundred photos of these guys as they bobbed on the water, disappearing and reappearing again with the rolling swells.
We could even see the artificial nesting burrows where nesting Puffins were hidden at the top of the rocks.
Mike and I scrambled from bow to stern as the boat floated in a circle every so often to give on lookers on both sides, a turn to view the birds sitting on the rocks and floating in the water.


It was just awesome to actually watch Puffins in the wild, hunting for food and squabbling over a catch!
I can’t wait to return to Maine next summer to lead more tours, there’s so much to see up here. It’s incredibly rewarding to share moments like this with my guests.
😉

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Bird watching trips in Maine

A Wood Thrush encounter in Ellsworth Maine

By Sally SIko

Moss covered and slightly muddy ground muting my footsteps, I dodged dry twigs and ducked under branches following a Wood thrush’s song right up to the edge of a small clearing.
The bird paused for a moment.
Silence.
I froze.
One beat and the Thrush resumed its tune.
So close I could almost hear it breathe between notes.
Then… there he was, a handsome male Wood Thrush just a couple of feet away, singing his heart out.
Not but a few seconds later, a second Wood Thrush answered his song, repeating the tune from somewhere about a couple dozen yards further in the woods.



Lifting my camera, slowly, slowly I raised it to take a shot.
It was indeed dark in these woods, so dim that I could barely pick out the bird in my eyepiece.
The best I could do was look for that black and white speckled belly in order to gauge where my focus square should be.
A few snaps later I had my photos and the Thrush disappeared deeper into the brush to find the other male.
Success!

Wood Thrushes prefer to hang out deciduous and mixed forests, most often woodlands like this containing dark, dense understories. They are typically found here in Trenton Maine and throughout the eastern United States during the breeding season and migrate to Central America for the winter. They usually migrate at night and can cover significant distances in a single flight.



Known primarily for their aforementioned musical talents, the Wood Thrush can sing two notes simultaneously, thanks to its unique syrinx (voice box). This ability gives its song that harmonic, magical flute-like quality.
The males become quite aggressive during the breeding season and will aggressively defend their nesting areas from other males.
As seen in these photos, they’ll use their song to establish and maintain territories, warding off rivals and other curious feathered passersby’s alike.
What a beauty!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Bird watching trips in Maine

A summertime American Redstart encounter in Maine

By Sally Siko

Here’s a bird I was happy to finally get a proper close up photo of, the American Redstart.
Although I’ve seen tons of these birds over the years, it wasn’t until my trip to Acadia Gardens on Mt.Desert in Maine, that I finally had an opportunity to spend some time with one from just a couple of feet away.
Usually Redstarts tend hunt for food high up in the tree canopy so to actually see one down low was a real treat.



As seen in this series of photos, the males are striking with black feathers and bright orange patches on their wings, tail, and sides. Females and young males are olive-gray with yellow patches instead of orange.
Going into late summer some American Redstarts will undergo a molt migration, where they’ll move to a different location to molt their feathers before continuing to their wintering grounds.
For now though it’s really cool to see these guys decked out in the splendor of their breeding plumage 🙂

American Redstarts are known for their active and acrobatic foraging style, they’ll often flick their wings and tail to flush out insects, which they catch in mid-air, snapping up a snack on the wing.
Their speediness can make them a difficult bird to photograph at times due to their diminutive size and habit of zipping back-and-forth behind leaves.



These guys breed primarily in eastern and central North America. This includes areas from southern Canada (Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec) down through the eastern United States (from Minnesota and Maine to Missouri and northern Georgia).
Smaller populations of Redstarts also breed in parts of the Pacific Northwest and the southwestern United States.

During migration, American Redstarts can be seen across a broad swath of North America, as they move between their breeding and wintering grounds.
These handsome birds will hang out down east until the first week of September before heading down to the Caribbean, Central America and South America for the winter.
I’m looking forward to seeing these handsome birds again in October when they pass through North Carolina.
Aren’t they lovely?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Bird watching trips in Maine

Hanging out with Razorbills off of the coast of Maine

By Sally Siko

Back in North Carolina after spending some time birding in Maine.
It was an awesome trip!
I ended up logging six life birds plus spotted some familiar feathered friends too along the way.
One such species I was pleased to see again was the Razorbill.
He came in hot, flying fast right alongside my position on a boat which was anchored off of the island of Petit Manan in the Atlantic Ocean.
Although I do see them frequently offshore during the wintertime along the coast of North Carolina, I’ve never had an opportunity to photograph one so close.



As you can see in these photos, Razorbills are sleek looking seabirds. They have black upperparts, including their heads and backs, and white underparts which gives them a slightly penguin like appearance when viewing from a distance. Their thick bill is well-adapted for catching, gripping and manipulating their slippery underwater prey.
These guys often forage in flocks, which can help them locate and capture prey more efficiently. Their synchronized diving behavior can create a cooperative hunting strategy, maximizing their success.
While Razorbills primarily dine on small fish, their diet can vary depending on the availability of prey. During times of scarcity, they can switch to eating more crustaceans and other invertebrates.
Sporting that hefty bill, they can crunch through crabs another hard shelled creatures with ease.



These handsome birds spend the winter months well offshore, mainly from Grand Banks of Newfoundland down to southern New England, in small numbers south to Virginia and as aforementioned, right here in North Carolina. Occasionally Razorbills can be spotted as far south as the coast of northern Florida too!
This is because their wintertime distribution varies depending on the food supply and ocean weather patterns so the birds go where the food is.
In fact, European populations of Razorbills may winter even farther south, reaching all the way down the coast of northwest Africa which is just astounding considering their proclivity towards cold-water habitats.
Just amazing IMO.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Eastern Towhees in the Sandhills of Nc

By Sally Siko

To avoid today’s expected traffic onslaught for the US Open golf tournament, I left about an hour early this morning to lead a birding tour in the Sandhills.
Surprisingly I had no issues with traffic so I’m sitting here at the birding spot waiting for my guests to arrive.
It’s a quiet morning with only the cheerful calls of an Eastern Towhee calling nearby to break the solitude.
Not a bad way to start the day!



These birds are a common sight in many parts of eastern North America and are often heard before they are seen due to their distinctive song of “drink-your-tea!” and that sharp “chewink” call.
As you can see by these photos which I took in my backyard earlier this week, male Towhees are striking with their black upperparts, white bellies, and rufous sides. Females are just as lovely but sport brown upperparts instead of black.


Now that the breeding season is underway, the males have become very territorial and will sing from prominent perches to establish and defend their turf.
Their nests are often well-hidden in dense brush or among fallen leaves, providing camouflage from predators. Nests are typically constructed with grass, leaves, and bark, lined with finer, soft materials like hair and feathers.
Both parents will be involved in feeding the chicks, though the female does most of the incubation. After hatching, the chicks will fledge the nest in about 9-12 days but remain under parental care for several more weeks.
Soon the next generation of Eastern Towhees will be seen skulking through the brush in search of a snack 🙂

The Eastern Towhee is a year round resident of NC and may be found throughout all 100 counties from the higher elevations of the mountains in the west to the scrub oak forests in the coastal regions.
Look for them in overgrown fields, tangled thickets, dense areas in the woods, under the shade of residential shrubbery, along forest edges and in other fairly brushy places.
Aren’t the beautiful?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Backyard Birding

Great crested Flycatchers in Fuquay Varina NC

By Sally Siko

Each spring I look forward to seeing the Great crested Flycatchers return to NC.
Happily I encountered a small group of them this morning while birding in Fuquay Varina. One even swooped in and waved hello lol!
These beautiful birds have a loud, wheezy “reep” or “wheep” call which makes them easier to identify by ear if you’re unable to actually see it hiding in the trees.
In addition like Mockingbirds, Vireos and Jays, the Great crested Flycatcher occasionally mimics the calls of other bird species too, adding complexity to their constant vocalizations.
Usually these guys tend to hunt for insects in the upper canopies of the trees so it was really cool to catch a good look at nearly eye level.



Now that the breeding season is underway, romance is in the air (literally lol) for the Flycatchers. During courtship, males perform a distinctive flight display, fluttering their wings and showing off their bright yellow belly to attract females.
Once the pair bond has been established, they’ll begin the search for a nest site.
Although they prefer natural tree cavities, Great Crested Flycatchers will also use artificial nest boxes, making them a popular species for backyard birders. They’ll line the cavity with grass, feathers and soft leaves to keep the chicks comfy and may even incorporate shedded snake skins into their nests, in an effort to possibly deter predators.
Both parents are involved in raising their young, sharing responsibilities like feeding and protecting the chicks.
It won’t be long until we’ve got a whole new generation of Great crested Flycatchers zooming around.
The lifespan of these beautiful feathered gems can be quite long for a small bird, with some individuals living up to 14 years in the wild.
Pretty cool huh?



They are best found in open woodlands, along the tree line of forest edges, and flying around through orchards in agricultural areas.
As spring and summertime residents of all 100 counties in North Carolina, they’ll stick around through mid September so keep an eye out for them as you travel through the state.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Cliff Swallow nest site in Lillington NC

By Sally Siko

While kayaking down the Cape Fear River near Lillington NC, I spotted a colony of Cliff Swallows nesting under the NC27/ Rt 421 bridge which spans the river.
I didn’t have my long lens aboard so I made a mental note to return to the bridge to see if I could get some photos of the swallows with my Canon.
So this morning I made my way back down to the river to try my luck.
Thankfully the flock was still there so I had plenty of opportunities to get a closer look.
What a delightful experience it was to photograph these graceful birds as they fed their chicks!



These guys are highly social, often nesting in large colonies that can consist of hundreds to thousands of birds.
As you can see in my photos, Cliff Swallows build intricate, gourd-shaped nests out of mud. They’ll collect small pellets of mud and then use their saliva to cement them together.
Both parents share the responsibility of incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks. After about two weeks, the chicks fledge but will continue to be fed by their parents for a short period before becoming independent.
While traditionally nesting on cliffs, they have adapted well to human-made structures, often building their nests on buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure.
Interestingly Cliffs Swallows do not require a horizontal surface to build their nest. Although they typically build their structures into a nook or crevice, they can even attach their nest by plastering the mud onto a vertical pillar.
This adaptability has allowed them to thrive in various environments in areas where other species might struggle to raise their families.



These beautiful birds are found throughout NC during the summer but aren’t particularly common. Instead large numbers of Cliff Swallows tend to stick close by their nesting spots under bridges along the various large rivers within the state.
They’ll stick around the Tarheel state through early September so you’ve still got plenty of time to find one for yourself before they depart for the wintering grounds in Argentina and Brazil.
Aren’t they beautiful?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Blue Grosbeaks in central NC

By Sally Siko

Here’s a bird I’ve been waiting all spring to photograph, the Blue Grosbeak.
I’d already seen several this year, but hadn’t had an opportunity to capture a nice photo of one of these beautiful feathered gems.
Luckily I spotted a pair of Blue Grosbeaks earlier this week while birding at Suggs Farm in Holly Springs NC. These two were most cooperative as they went about their business of hunting for insects in a couple low saplings at close range.
Aren’t they lovely?



As you can see in this series of photos, male Blue Grosbeaks are a vivid deep blue with chestnut wing bars, while females are mostly a golden brown with subtle blue tinges.
Like their close relative the Northern Cardinal, they have a strong, conical shaped beak which is perfectly adapted for cracking seeds. During the breeding season, they consume more insects, such as grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles, providing essential protein for their chicks.
Outside the breeding season, seeds from grasses and other plants become a significant part of their diet. They are also fond of snacking on fruits and grains when insects are scarce.


During the spring and summer months, these guys are best spotted in open areas alongside woodland edges, riparian areas, and in brushy fields with dense clumps of vegetation for nesting.
The Grosbeaks can be found throughout all 100 counties of NC from now through the second week of October, so you still have got plenty of time to find one before the year is through.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Brown Pelicans at Carolina Beach SP

By Sally SIko

Although I see hundreds of these guys every year, I’ll always stop to admire the Brown Pelicans whenever I encounter them while birding along the coast.
Soaring above the water like B-12 planes, they are quite entertaining to watch hunting at close range.
Weighing in at 11lbs, you’d think they’d be a bit awkward in flight yet, despite their large size, Brown Pelicans are graceful in the air, using updrafts created by waves to glide with minimal effort over long distances.



As you can see in this series of photos that I captured at Carolina Beach earlier this week, Brown Pelicans are known for their dramatic plunge-diving technique. They’ll spot fish from the air, dive like a dart to the water from heights of up to 60 feet, and scoop up their prey in their large bill pouch.
That large throat pouch can hold up to three gallons of water and fish! After capturing a fish, they’ll drain the water out before swallowing their meal.
Often they’ll repeat this cycle of gliding, swooping and diving for hours until all the fish have gone, filling their belly’s until they can’t fit another fin down their gullet.



Brown Pelicans were once endangered due to pesticide pollution, particularly DDT, which thinned their eggshells. Following the ban on DDT in the 1970s, their population has rebounded significantly.
Today, these birds can live for up to 30 years in the wild, with an average lifespan spanning around 15-25 years which is pretty cool!
They are generally spring and summertime residents of North Carolina who migrate south once the Atlantic ocean turns cold in the winter.
That being said, a few individuals do remain in the state during the cooler months as long as they’re able to find fish in shallower waters off our coast.
Look for these epic birds from now through late October hunting over the ocean and in other saltwater habitats.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Summertime Tree Swallows in central NC

By Sally Siko

One of the most beautiful birds we’ve got flying around North Carolina is the Tree Swallow.
They’ve got striking iridescent blue-green feathers on their upper parts, which shimmer and sparkle in the sunlight. This makes them quite eye-catching during the breeding season, truly an irresistible quarry to photograph when the light is right.
I spotted this family of swallows yesterday while birding at Suggs Farm in Holly Springs and (of course) was using my 600mm lens to capture these photos so that I was able to stay far away from the birds as not to disturb their feeding activities.
Even at a distance, it was so cool to watch the parents fly in with a mouthful of insects to feed their hungry chick.



Tree Swallows are highly adept fliers, capable of acrobatic maneuvers. They catch insects in flight, often performing swift and complex aerial displays mid air in pursuit of their prey.
While they are primarily insectivorous, Tree Swallows can also consume berries and other small fruits, especially when insects are scarce during late winter and early spring.
During the breeding season, pairs of Tree Swallows will commonly use natural tree cavities or artificial nest boxes to raise their chicks. Their adaptability to human-made structures has helped them thrive in various environments which is why they are commonly spotted in agricultural areas and occasionally in suburban neighborhoods where Bluebird houses are present.


Outside of the breeding season, Tree Swallows are highly social and often form large flocks. During migration and winter, these flocks can number in the thousands as they move east and south to escape the cold.
These lovely little birds may be found throughout the state of NC from now through early October. Though many will migrate further south for the winter, quite a few end up spending the coldest months in the OBX.
This means you’ve got plenty of time to get out there and enjoy them too before the year is over.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds