Bird watching tours, trips, adventures and birder news in North Carolina and beyond
Cape May warblers breed in the boreal forests of Canada and the northern U.S. and winter in the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. This long-distance migrant travels thousands of miles each year, passing through North Carolina each spring and fall. Although a handful are probably working their way down the Appalachian Mountains, usually we don’t see them in the central part of the state until early-mid October.
The Black-and-white Warbler is the only member of its genus, Mniotilta
which means “moss-plucking,” a reference to its habit of probing bark and moss for insects.
Their strong, slightly curved claws allow them to grip bark effectively, enabling them to climb both upward and downward along tree trunks, a behavior that mimics Nuthatches and Woodpeckers which sets them apart from most other warblers.
Year round residents of the coastal Carolinas, Seaside Sparrows have developed several remarkable adaptations that allow them to thrive in the challenging environment of our salt marshes.
Their grayish-brown, streaked plumage closely resembles the colors of marsh grasses and mud, providing excellent camouflage. This helps them avoid detection by predators as they move through the dense vegetation in search of a meal.
Notable for their overall “cute” appearance, these guys are easily recognized by their single black breast band, white underparts, and a brown back. Their orange legs and short, orange bill with a black tip are also distinguishing features.
The name “semipalmated” refers to the partial webbing between their toes, which helps them navigate muddy or sandy shores. This trait is less pronounced than in fully webbed birds but is distinctive among plovers.
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,
By sally Siko Delighted to see that the Eastern Kingbirds have returned to NC for the summer. I spotted this lovely feathered gem while birding at Lake Lynn in Raleigh last week.Watching it flit from limb to branch while it searched for a snack was quite entertaining. Every now and again the Kingbird would fly…
By Sally Siko A little while back, the shutter button on my Canon 5Ds camera stopped working.I ended up putting the 5Ds away for a season and switched to using my Canon R5 as my primary body.While I absolutely adore the R5 and its astonishing auto focusing abilities I realized that I truly missed shooting…
By Sally Siko Just wrapped up a busy week of 7 birding tours in 7 days!It was so much fun to get out there with my guests to show them all the great birds we’ve got flying around in the Carolinas. With several trips coming up again soon, I’ve got no plans for slowing down…
By Sally Siko Here’s a few of the beautiful birds that I’m looking forward to seeing this year in Cape May New Jersey. With its sandy beaches, marine forests and wetlands, Cape May is one of the best places to go birding during migration on the eastern seaboard.It’s going to so much fun to get…
By Sally Siko Happy to spend time with this cute little Swamp Sparrow earlier this month while birding at Cape Fear Shiners Park in Lillington, NC.I’d located him in a scrubby area near one of the ponds by listening to his calls emanating from the brush.That’s not surprising given that these little puffballs are known…