One of the things I love about this little bird is that they look very much like they belong to the Thrush family. Yet, Pipits are actually related to Wagtails and in fact do wag / bob their tails while foraging.
This behavior characteristic makes them easier to ID from a distance, something that’s super helpful since their brown & buff plumage provides the perfect camouflage in the grass.

American Pipits are one of a handful of species of North American songbirds which nest in the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains, the Arctic tundra and the alpine meadows of Alaska and Canada.
When autumn arrives, huge flocks of Pipits fly south to spend the winter in the southern United States from California to Maryland as well as into Mexico.

Here in NC you can find them most easily in the central and eastern parts of our state from mid October through early April.
Look for them hunting for a meal in plowed farm fields and and large areas of short grass lawns.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa#5D

The post Spending time with American Pipits on Ocracoke Island NC appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

One-if you’re going to stakeout a bird you’ll need to bring a few things to make the time sitting in one spot bearable.
*a friend
*drinks
*a comfy place to sit
*snacks
*a masseuse (sore back & legs from sitting)
*a good sense of humor & optimism
*the ability to let time go and stick around 30 mins later after you’ve said you’d give up in 5
*the grace to take the L and move on lol

Two-if your target bird is on private property make an effort to thank the owner for their hospitality if they’ve made the rare bird sighting public.
I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to connect with other bird lovers who are generous enough to open up their yards to birders so that we can enjoy their feathered treasure.
In this case we got to meet Ricky & Ann.
They were so nice!!!
Apparently they’ve been feeding the birds in their yard for 30 years & it showed!
We saw over two dozen different species (including these gorgeous Orioles!) while we sat watching for that Tanager.
I was impressed with the couple’s warmth and enthusiasm for birds, their support of their fellow birders efforts in seeing the rarity that had showed up in their yard.
After 2 mins of chatting with them it was like meeting long lost family.
That to me is better than anything, a rarity in my book

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa#5Ds

WANT TO ATTRACT BALTIMORE ORIOLES TO YOUR YARD TOO? CHECK OUT THESE FEEDERS FROM TRACTOR SUPPLY!

The post The thrill of victory, the agony of Western Tanager – feeder stakeout in North Carolina appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

Now, technically I’m using the term incorrectly as I’ve seen hundreds of Kingfishers over the years. Rather, I think of these sneaky creatures as my photo nemesis because every time I spot one they take off flying in a hurry in the opposite direction leaving me with zero opportunities to get a clean photograph.
It’s super frustrating and I swear they laugh at me with that familiar rattling call as they zip away lol!

Luckily I caught a break and finally captured a few portraits of this handsome male last month while birding at the Alligator River NWR in eastern NC. @isaacmcshanephoto and I just happened to be driving slowly on Sawyer Lake Rd watching for ducks on the impoundment fields when we spotted this Kingfisher perched on a sapling right next to the gravel road.
Apparently the Kingfishers at ARNWR are used to cars driving by at close range so this guy stayed put on his branch allowing us to pull up right across from him.
No, it’s not the most interesting bird encounter I’ve ever had but gosh I was pleased to finally get a frame filling shot or two of this species.

From the lower elevations of mountains in the west to our far eastern counties, Belted Kingfishers are a familiar sight across the entire state of NC.
They are easily found in areas where fresh or brackish water are present such as along streams, ponds, lakes, swamps, rivers and marshes.
If you’re lucky you may be able to see one at a close range while they’re hunting for fish. Don’t count on it though lol

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa#5Ds

The post The Belted Kingfisher- bird photography nemesis appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

Have you ever wondered why these birds are so richly hued?
The Cardinal’s signature crimson red colored feathers are a product of the birds diet of plants, fruits and seeds rich in carotenoids.
Although there are plenty of options for them to snack on in the wild, you can grow plants right in your own backyard to help your local Cardinals keep their bright color.

These guys love fruit like raspberries, blackberries and strawberries as these fruits are packed with the carotenoids the birds need. That being said, if you really want to impress your flock of backyard Cardinals, plant a a Dogwood as those red berries produced by this flowering tree are by far and away their favorite backyard treat.


Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa #5Ds

The post Northern Cardinal Appreciation appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

I spotted quite a few Tundra Swans last week in eastern NC. While many of them appear to have left the Pea Island NWR, there were still thousands to be found in the fields of the Pocosin Lakes NWR.
It was really neat to see such a huge flock together all in one place.

Tundra Swans nest in northern Alaska and in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northeastern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and northwestern Quebec.
Interestingly, Tundra Swans break off into 2 distinct groups of eastern and western migrating populations when traveling between breeding and wintering grounds.

Swans that nest east of Point Hope in the Coleville River region northern Alaska winter on the Atlantic coast (including these beauties shown here), while birds breeding from Point Hope south & west winter along the Pacific.
It seems odd for the birds in the Coleville River region of AK make such a long trip east which spans the entire United States when a flight due south/west to California is quite a bit closer.
Whatever the reason, I’m glad they make the trip south to visit us!
Though I’m sad to see them go I’ll be eagerly waiting for their return later this year.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa #5Ds

The post Tundra Swans will soon be leaving North Carolina for their breeding grounds appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

These sweet little birds were once a common sight in the southeastern regions of the United States. Due to loss of habitat, today they are considered an endangered species.
The reason why is because Red-cockaded Woodpeckers require a narrow scope of forest conditions to breed. They prefer to nest in mature stands of long leaf pine trees with little or no understory. Unfortunately these old growth forests have faced rapid decline which in turn has led to the decline of this species as well.

Luckily, the Sandhills region of North Carolina is a special place where several stands of old pine trees are preserved and maintained lending to provide the perfect conditions for the Red-cockaded to nest. Here you can see them raising their families every spring and throughout the summer months. It’s truly a special place to enjoy these wonderful birds.

Would you like to see these beauties too?
I’ve still got a few spots open for guests to join me this May on my birding photography tours in the Sandhills. If you’d like to come along, check the link below and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about signing up!

FIND THE RED COCKADED WOODPECKER TOUR- BIRDING AT THE WEYMOUTH WOODS PRESERVE

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa #5Ds

The post Early spring encounter with Red cockaded woodpeckers in NC appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

With those bold stripes on their heads, White crowned Sparrows are unmistakable to ID in the field as their aptly named moniker suggests.
Measuring over 6in in length, they are larger than other sparrow species too!

You’re most likely to find them hopping across the ground and through low foliage in brushy habitats. You may see them “double-scratching,” a move they share with towhees involving a quick hop backwards to turn over leaves followed by a forward hop and pounce which is IMO adorable lol!
As was the case with the White crowned pictured here, they are also fond of hunting for a meal in dense hedges popping out of the foliage for a second or two to scope out it’s surroundings.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa#5Ds

The post White-crowned Sparrows are moving through North Carolina appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

As seen in the 2nd photo in this post they are masters of camouflage with brown striped and buffed plumage well suited for a life spent hunting for a meal in the tall grass along a ponds edge.
Can you see it?
*Check out the below to see the cropped version of the 2nd pic for a closer look!

I was lucky enough to see two Bitterns while birding with friends a couple of weeks ago in eastern NC. One of which was stalking prey in the water which offered me the rare opportunity to photograph it out in the open.
The Bittern moved slowly, each foot deftly placed carefully into the water barely making a ripple in the surface.
After a few minutes he struck his bill into the water grabbing some sort of unseen snack which it quickly gulped down in an instant.
It was an amazing experience to be able to share this bird with a group of photographers who’d never seen one before!

American Bitterns are known to breed in small numbers throughout coastal areas of North Carolina but are more commonly found from September through early May, particularly during migrational periods.
They are primarily found in our freshwater marshes and wet fields containing cattail reeds and tall sedge grasses.
Though they are indeed difficult to see when hiding in the tall grass, the good thing is that individual birds tend to return to the exact same spots of shoreline year after year.
So, if you happen to locate one but it’s hiding in dense cover, it’s quite possible to come back the next day or even the next year to have another try at seeing the Bittern out in the open.


Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the the (alive and still kicking!) @canonusa #5Dmkii

The post An American Bittern encounter at Pea Island appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

Due to the distance limitations of the 200mm, I had to crop the photos but could only do so much.
Yet, it surprising how well my aged gear holds up against my contemporary equipment in regards to image quality.
Goes to show ya that the best camera for the job is the one you’re carrying at the time.
On this day, it is the capturing of the memory which counts most and I could not be happier with the results

Mountain Bluebirds are typically found in the Rocky Mountains and in other areas of the western United States and Canada.
That’s why I was so excited to have an opportunity to photograph this one close to home in Wrightsville Beach North Carolina!
What this little blue feathered gem was doing all the way out here is anyones best guess.
Happily though, this Mountain Bluebird displays similar behavior to our friendly native Eastern species so it was quite amicable to having its photo taken at a relatively close range.

Special thanks to @wrightsvillesup for their hospitality in allowing me to photograph this bird on their property

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the the (alive and still kicking!) @canonusa #5Dmkii

The post North Carolina Rare Bird Alert: A mountain Bluebird at Wrightsville Beach, NC appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..

These lovely birds are not native to NC.
Back in the 1970’s the species escaped from an aviary in the Bahamas and then spread into Florida. From there the doves continued to move north into Georgia and South Carolina.
Finally in 1994, the first recorded sighting of a Collared Dove in North Carolina occurred in the Outer Banks at Salvo.
By the early 2000’s, a few breeding populations were established in our southeastern coastal towns.
Today, though there are a few reports of Collared Doves appearing inland, their steady march north appears to be halted for the time being as they appear to only occur along our south barrier islands.

Though there aren’t many of these beauties here in NC, they are relatively easy to find through the year in the southern OBX. They are best spotted in suburban areas in the same types of areas where rock doves and Mourning doves occur such as in parks, on sidewalks and back yard lawns.
They’re also commonly seen up high, perching on power lines and on the tops of limbs in dead trees.
Even if you can’t see them just listen for their calls of kuk-kooooo-kuk which is pretty loud and distinct from the familiar cooing of other dove species.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa #5Ds

The post Spending time with a Eurasian collared Dove in the OBX appeared first on Bird Watching N.C..