Category Archives: Out There with the Expert

Interviews and blog posts by expert birders, tour guides and bird centered retailers from throughout North Carolina and the southeastern United States.

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Pileated Woodpeckers at the Pee Dee NWR

While walking along the gravel rd at the Pee Dee NWR I heard a loud drumming sound echoing in the trees overhead. Wanting to see who was making all that noise, I sped up taking care not to make a sound (as best I could lol) as the rocks and leaves crunched underfoot.
Then a familiar call rang out.


A Pileated Woodpecker!
Looking up into the canopy, I finally spotted this handsome young male working his way up the trunk of an oak tree.
He was moving so fast I barely had time to snap off a couple shots before he disappeared into leaves.
Though the encounter was brief, I was glad to catch a good look at him anyway.

Measuring up to 19 inches in length, Pileateds are the largest species of Woodpecker living in North America. These large birds are found all across the eastern United States, western California and in the Pacific Northwest. Their hefty size and loud calls make them a pretty easy bird to ID in the field, even when other species are in the area.


Their diet consists of insects including larvae, beetles, Caterpillar‘s, termites and spiders. That being said, their favorite food is ants and it’s not unusual to see one sitting on an anthill at the base of a tree eagerly gobbling up the six legged delicacies.
Pileated’s are more often seen high up in the trees circling the trunks and limbs in search of a meal.
Using their long bill, Pileated’s will poke and prod under the bark to snap up a tasty insect snack.

Pileated Woodpeckers are a year round resident of North Carolina. As with most of our other Woodpecker species found in the Tarheel state, their best spotted in swampy areas with stands of large dead trees but can also be found in dry, mixed deciduous forests as well.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Out There with the Expert

Common Gallinules in the Carolinas

By: Sally Siko

One of the most unique looking birds we’ve got here in the Carolinas is the Common Gallinule.
I spotted this pair (and an immature one) at the Huntington Beach State Park last weekend.



These sharp looking relieves of the Coot are mostly found in our eastern coastal counties though they do stray further inland from time to time.
Generally, Gallinules are not easily spotted as populations are scarce in certain areas within it’s overall range, yet they may be locally common in others so it sort of depends on where you are in regards to chances of seeing one.



Common Gallinules breed in areas where they have access to small ponds and marshes to hunt for a meal and are easily identified by their charcoal black plumage and by that bright red and-yellow bill, and of course by those huge yellow feet.
Unlike their cousin the Purple Gallinule, Common’s spend a lot of time swimming vs. the Purple’s preference to search for a a meal on foot. This behavior difference is a helpful way to ID them when viewing one from a distance or in poor lighting conditions 🙂

These understated beauties are a year round resident of the Tarheel state but are much easier to find during the spring and summer.
Along with the Huntington Beach State Park in SC, you also have a good chance of finding Common Gallinules at the Lake Mattamuskeet NWR in Swansquarter, NC.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty mirrorless monster of a camera, the @canonusa
#R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Out There with the Expert

White Ibis fight at the Huntington Beach State Park

While birding at the Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet SC on this past weekend, I ended up with a ringside seat to a battle of two American White Ibises
Though it was a remarkable sight, this behavior is not unusual as male American white Ibises are known to be quite aggressive when defending their meals (and personal space!) against intruders.

Both Ibises lunged, stabbed and bit, often holding onto the others head or wings while clawing at each others bodies in a submission hold of avian sorts.
Several times one bird would give up yet the other would pursue it relentlessly, dive bombing and even chasing the weaker opponent on foot.
Eventually they called it a draw and walked away together (lol!) seemingly at peace at least until the next meal was found.

When they’re not fighting, White Ibises are highly sociable birds. They roost, nest and feed together in large flocks throughout the year.
Happily the numbers of American White Ibises residing in the Carolinas have been in the increase which is pretty neat!
They are a year round breeding resident of North Carolina and are most commonly found along our southeastern coastline, especially on our small offshore islands.
Look for them foraging (and yes, even fighting!) for a meal in shallow brackish, salt & freshwater open swamps, marshes and on mudflats during low tide.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty mirrorless miracle, the @canonusa
#R5

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Prothonotary Warbler changes in autumn

Autumn will soon be here.
Signs of change are everywhere if you know where to look. From flocking Canada Geese to molting plumage, birds everywhere are preparing themselves for the migration journey ahead.
Some changes aren’t so obvious, yet if you take the time to look closely you’ll be able to pick up on the seasonal cues even before cold weather arrives.
Case in point, the beak color of a Prothonotary Warbler.

During the spring & summer this warbler has a bright black beak. In autumn and winter it is a tan color.
The change happens quickly too!


I took photo of a Prothonotary with the black bill (featured in the first photo) late last month.


The second photo shows a Prothonotary with the tan beak just last weekend.
Can you see the difference?

But how does a Prothonotary Warblers beak change color?
Their beak is covered in keratin, the same substance from which our hair and fingernails are made from.
Under the beak’s layer of keratin lies a bony structure. While the bone makes up the foundation, it’s covered with a layer of living tissue which, in turn, is coated with a thin layer of see-through keratin. These living cells can change color, and the color shows through the keratin.
Seasonal color changes to the living tissue in their bills occur due to fluctuations in the birds hormone levels and diet throughout the year.

Now that the Prothonotary’s breeding season has ended, their hormones levels have changed again so their beaks have returned to a light tan color.
These beauties will stick around North Carolina until early September before heading south to their wintering grounds in Central America and northern regions of South America.
Enjoy them here in the Tarheel state for a couple weeks because they won’t be back until April.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty @canonusa
#R5 & #5Ds

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak species comparison

One of my favorite places to visit during late summer is the Art Park at the NCMA in Raleigh North Carolina. Along with the wide array of colors in flower fields there are plenty of beautiful birds to be found here too.
Two species which are particularly common in the area are the Indigo Bunting and the Blue Grosbeak.
Even on a cloudy day, these gorgeous azure hued birds are absolutely stunning when viewing them at close range.

With similar colors and habitat preferences, Indigo Buntings & Blue Grosbeaks can be difficult to tell apart.
I’ve often been asked often what ID marks are helpful in differentiating the species so here are a couple of notes which may help you in the field.


-Indigo Bunting-(1st photo)
*Male and female Indigo Buntings lack wingbars. Adult male wings are entirely blue with black points.
*Indigo Buntings have a much smaller, narrower, pointy beak.
*The head of an Indigo Buntings is rounded, smaller and more delicate.


-Blue Grosbeak-(2nd photo)
*Male Blue Grosbeaks have two rusty colored wingbars. While not as pronounced as on the males, the tan-colored females will also show two brownish wingbars.
*Similar to Northern Cardinals, Blue Grosbeaks have a large, heavy triangular shaped bill, the top edge of which nearly forms a straight line into the forehead.
*The head of a Blue Grosbeaks is large and squared off giving them a decidedly block-headed appearance.

Bonus Tip!
Size: The average Blue Grosbeak is nearly twice the weight of an Indigo Bunting.
This is something you’ll notice if you happen to see both species in the same day.
If you’d like to test your ID skills in telling these blue beauties apart, the North Carolina Museum of Art Park is an excellent place to do this!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

American Goldfinches at the NCMA in Raleigh

Got out for a quick trip to the NC Museum of Art this past weekend to check out what birds were flying around the Art Park fields.


Although the flowers seemed to be sparse this year, there were a ton of American Goldfinches feeding on the Zinnias and Sunflowers which added a nice pop of color to start off the morning.
Aren’t they beautiful?



The American Goldfinch is a year round resident of North Carolina although some folks may not recognize them once winter arrives. This is because the Goldfinches will molt out their cheerful yellow feathers and into a toned down olive colored plumage making them almost unrecognizable to the casual observer.



Seasonal appearances aside, Goldfinches are a familiar sight to many here in the Tarheel state as they are a frequent visitor to our feeders.
If you don’t get these guys visiting your backyard often enough, here are a few tips to entice these beauties to stay a bit longer.

*Plant sunflowers, thistle and zinnias in your garden. This natural food source will attract all sorts of other bird species too!

*Fill your feeders with Nyjer & thistle seed which is the Goldfinch’s favorite food.

*Use a mesh tube or soft sock style feeder which allows the finches to cling to the feeder’s side.

*Place a bird bath in your yard so that they’ve got a clean water source from which to drink & bathe.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Out There with the Expert

Red headed Woodpeckers at the Pee Dee NWR

One of the most striking looking birds we’ve got here in North Carolina is the Red headed Woodpecker. They’ve got a bold black and white plumage combination paired with a cherry red head which sets them apart from any other species found in the state.


I happened to catch some good looks at a pair of Red head’s while birding at the Pee Dee NWR last month. It was neat to watch them catching insects in midair then flying back to a hole in a dead tree to feed their young (or possibly to cache their catch).



Red headed Woodpeckers are a year round resident of North Carolina and are found across the state from the mountains to the coast. During the summertime months they’re best spotted in stands of longleaf pines or in open wetland areas containing tall, dead trees. The pond here at the Pee Dee NWR is the perfect habitat to find them.
When winter arrives, the forest dwelling Red- heads move away from the pines and into the marshy/ swamp areas to join the summer families.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

A Common Yellowthroat warbler at Old Bynum Bridge

One of the sweetest little birds we’ve got flying around here in central NC is the Common Yellowthroat. This tiny species of warbler is certainly a cheerful sight whenever I encounter one singing in the field.
I spotted this male last week near the Old Bynum Bridge in Pittsboro while birding with Corie of @lattaridge
He was quite active, flying from branch to bush stopping only for a few seconds at a time to sing a quick tune.



Common Yellowthroats prefer brushy wet habitats located near marshes, ponds and streams. I’ve had the best luck finding them between 2-6ft off of the ground hiding in the undergrowth and hedges along the shoreline.
These spunky birds are one of the most prolific breeding species of warbler in the United States. Their common moniker suits them well as they occur all across the US and up into Canada.



Here in North Carolina, they may be found all year round (although they are more often seen in the summertime) in our coastal eastern counties.
In the Piedmont and mountain regions they are best sighted between March and October.
This means that you still have plenty of time to get outside and enjoy these feathered gems for yourself before the year is done.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Out There with the Expert

Need a long lens or a camera for your birding trip? Rent one today!

Birdwatching NC is proud to announce a partnership with Lensrentals. This allows greater access for bird loving photographers like you to get out there to capture great “close up” images without having to spend a ton of money on the purchase of a long lens or high end camera body.

Renting a camera or lens is easy! Just select the product you’d like to use and Lensrentals will ship the lens or camera right to your front door. Got a last minute trip? Average shipping time is only about 3 days from the time you place your order!

Find your long lens here!

WANNA KEEP THAT GEAR FOREVER?

Another cool thing about Lensrentals is that you can try before you buy! The Lensrentals Keeper Program allows you to purchase your rental if you decide to keep it.

You can rent the lens for a week and if you don’t like it, return it. Or you can buy the lens at an affordable price! Lensrentals will even credit back the fee of your rental towards the price of your equipment when you chose to keep it. This a wonderful resource if your in the market for buying a new lens or camera but aren’t sure which glass or body to choose.

DEAL ALERT 🙂

Birdwatching NC fans get 15% off on all gear rental using the Promo Code BWNC15 at checkout!

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT I RECOMMEND FOR BIRDERS

CANON PRODUCTS SHOWN BELOW BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I USE. NO WORRIES IF YOU SHOOT SOMETHING ELSE, I STILL THINK YOU’RE AWESOME!

SONY, NIKON, PANASONIC, FUJI, OLYMPUS BRANDS AND MORE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE!

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary for Canon
Canon 400mm f/2.8L IS III
Canon 5DS - The still photography camera of choice by your Birdwatching NC Admin Photographer Sally Siko
Canon R5- The go to camera choice for capturing bird videos by Birdwatching NC Admin Photographer Sally Siko

You can also rent a ready to go kit with everything you need for birding!

Canon Wildlife Photography Kit
Nikon Wildlife Kit
Fuji Wildlife Kit
Sony E Mount Wildlife Kit
Sony A Mount Wildlife Kit
Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Out There with the Expert

Red headed Woodpeckers at the Weymouth woods sandhills Preserve

There’s no question that the rockstar bird of the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Preserve is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
Today though, I want to share a few photos of a handsome Red headed Woodpecker that I found while birding there this past week.

With that bold cherry red, ebony and white plumage glittering in the sun, these guys are gorgeous too see up close in person!
I was lucky to spend time photographing a pair of them hunting for a meal in the pines.



Red headed Woodpeckers are a year round resident of North Carolina. They are relatively common in the central part of the state and are best spotted in areas with stands of tall, dead trees or in long leaf pine forests.
I’ve had luck finding them regularly at Lake Betz and along the American Tobacco Trail (New Hope Olive Chapel Rd access) as well as here at the WWSP.

As is the case with other Woodpeckers, Red headed’s are cavity nesters. Using their bills dig out holes in the tree trunks, they’ll make their homes inside dead trees, rotten branches, stumps, in telephone poles, fences, and utility poles between 8 to 80 feet above the ground. They especially prefer habitats with very little ground cover below and even in swamps with groves of dead trees in standing water.

Although they aren’t a frequent backyard visitor, you can entice them to your feeders by offering suet and nuts. They especially adore peanuts and will make several trips from the trees to your feeders throughout the day if you offer up that treat.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds