Category Archives: Instagram Birding

Bird watching in North Carolina with tips and ID information delivered by the Birdwatching NC Instagram feed.

Instagram Birding, Out There with the Expert

A Ruby throated Hummingbird encouter at Yates Mill park

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Behold the roundness of this Ruby throated Hummingbird in all it’s floofed out glory lol! I photographed this little one while birding along the Creekside Trail at Yates Mill Park last week. This tiny unit sped back and forth between feeding in the patch of blooming Jewelweed below and it’s perch in the Maple tree. Watching it preen on it’s perch, it appears that it was happy and well fed. What Ruby throated Hummingbirds lack in size, they make up for with in large appetite. Their diet is mostly liquid nectar with a high sugar content —and these birds get plenty of exercise with all that zipping around just to get from sip to sip. The hummingbird’s need for lots of calories is due to its high heart rate and small body size in relation to the high level of foraging activity needed to fuel that metabolic fire. Astoundingly, these tiny dynamos need to consume between 3.14 and 7.6 calories a day. That may not seem like much, but if we humans had the metabolism rate of a hummingbird, we’d would have to consume approximately 155,000 calories in a single day just to keep from wasting away. Pretty amazing huh? Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa #5Ds

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TBW a Tufted Titmouse encounter at Jordan Lake

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Is there anything cuter then a young Tufted Titmouse? Nope, lol! Here’s some of my favorite shots from a family of Tufted Titmice that I found earlier this year at the Jordan Lake SRA in New Hill, N.C. They are known to nest in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties with a breeding season that runs March through May. Tufted Titmice prefer to build their nests inside old Woodpecker holes bored into tree trunks. Lining their nest with grass, feathers and other soft materials, they provide a safe and warm home for their nestlings, hidden away inside the tree. The young are able to take their first jumps into the air after just 16 days and will begin the breeding cycle within their first year. These cheerful birds spend the entire year here in NC and may be found in abundance throughout the eastern United States from southern Maine all the way down to Florida. They are closely related to Chickadees and often travel with them foraging for a meal in mixed flocks. Keep an eye out for them in your own neighborhood as they are a familiar sight at most backyard feeders here in the Tarheel State 🙂 Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa #5Ds

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Spending time with American Goldfinches at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh

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Is there any more cheerful sight on a late summer morning then an American Goldfinch snacking on flower seeds? I captured a few portraits of these little ones at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t believe my luck in getting these pretty images. Did you know that this gorgeous bird is known to be the only member of the finch family that sheds off all its feathers twice in a single year? You can distinguish the male American Goldfinch from the female because he is the one having the canary yellow plumage and jet black cap. (Pics 1,2,&3) The female is olive yellow on her neck and breast during summer. (Pics 4&5) Both the male and female Goldfinches change to an almost identical color pattern after a complete molting during the fall. Interestingly, one of the males I found here was missing his distinctive black cap. Where the black is supposed to be, it’s that yellow color that’s covering the rest of his body. (Pic 6) The odds are that this because he’s a juvenile in molt, however his overall bright yellow color leads me to think that there is some sort of other thing going on here with his unusual plumage pattern. There are several different forms of plumage abnormality centred on altered amounts of pigment. These include the following… Leucism and albinism -where there is loss of the pigment melanin. Melanism -which the amount and/or distribution of dark-colored melanin pigment is often elevated. Erythrism -where a chestnut-red pigment replaces certain other pigments. Flavism -where there is an excess of yellow pigment. Perhaps this male is affected by a touch of flavism given the bright yellow feathers on his crown have replaced the black plumage typically observed with this species. Tbh though, I’m not sure. What do you think about his missing black cap? Please share your thoughts on this bird below 🙂 Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa #5Ds

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Bird watching Videos, Instagram Birding

Birding at the NCMA

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Last week I explored the North Carolina Museum of Art (Art Park) in Raleigh, N.C. to see what kinds of birds could found there. From Indigo Buntings, Goldfinches and Orchard Orioles to Red tailed Hawks and Nuthatches, I was in heaven. With the sunflowers blooming in the back field of the Art Park, this was the place to be to catch some beautiful photos and nice clear sightings of all sorts of different species of feathered gems. Photos & video by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the magnificent full frame DSLR beast, the @canonusa #5Ds . . . . #birdnerd #birdsofinsta #birdsofinstagram #ncwildlife #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #bird #birds #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirdwatching #canonwildlife #northcarolinabirding #birdwatchingnc #northcarolinabirds #audubonsociety #birdoftheday #audubonnc #bestbirds #birders #birdwatchers #lovesbirdsluvsbirds #luvbirdslovebirds #indigobunting #goldfinch #birdingvideo #birdersofyoutube

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Bird watching Videos, Field Notes, Instagram Birding

Backyard Birding highlights from Fuquay Varina

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Decided to take a backyard bird break while working from home yesterday in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina. Here’s a quick highlight video of all the species I saw, including a visit from a surprise Louisiana Waterthrush! Photos & video by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the magnificent full frame DSLR beast, the @canon #5Ds . . . . #birdnerd #birdsofinsta #birdsofinstagram #ncwildlife #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #bird #birds #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirdwatching #canonwildlife #northcarolinabirding #birdwatchingnc #northcarolinabirds #audubonsociety #birdoftheday #audubonnc #bestbirds #birders #birdwatchers #lovesbirdsluvsbirds #luvbirdslovebirds #backyardbirds #backyardbird #bestbirds

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An Ovenbird at Harris Lake Park & recommendations for Instagram

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Had a nice quick walk around Harris Lake Park in New Hill N.C.and found an Ovenbird at the edge of a small field near the lake. Normally these little guys are found in deep, dimly lit woods so capturing a good photograph of one in good light is a win! Ovenbirds are named for the dome shaped nests that they build on the forest floor. They’re are a common sight (or at least more commonly heard lol!) in forests mixed with mature Pine and Oak trees. Harris Lake Park and Jordan Lake SRA are great spots to find them in the Triangle. They spend the months of April-October here in central N.C. so there is plenty of time for you to go see them too! By the way, I want to take the time to thank each and everyone of my followers for their kind words and support. You guys are the reason why I get out there everyday in search of new story moments and observations from the avian world. If you’d like a few recommendations of other fantastic wildlife & birding accounts to enjoy here on Insta, check out the list below! Some of these folks are good friends, others are those whom I look up to. Each are talented photographers or are working hard to share new insights and information in the world of wildlife photography and conservation. Cameras in hand, these are the people and organizations that inspire me to make the best use of the time I’ve got left on this rock. Give them a follow! You’ll be glad you did 🙂 -Sally @gregpiperarts @alaskaphototravel @talktotheplume @28204dan @ncbirdnerd @bdriscoll200 @eddesbigyear @jeffgresko @venturesbirding @planet_chad_photography @deborahroyphotography @ncwildlife @friendsofmcneilriver @wildsidetours @tealbirding @kolanderphotos @ncbirdingtrail @wakeaudubon @ncaudubon @intheloopguideservice @birdingwithmatt @mother_earth_images @christian_miller_photo @mtamemory @2x25mpg @robertmullenphotography Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa #5Ds

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Summer Tanagers at Harris Lake Park, New Hill North Carolina

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Took a quick birding trip this morning to Harris Lake Park in New Hill, N.C. Thankfully it wasn’t as hot today as it’s been lately, plus it was cloudy outside which was a nice change! One of the prettiest birds I found was this male Summer Tanager hanging out in the Maple trees near the parking lot. I watched him for a few minutes as he made his way through the leaves hunting insects. Did you know that Summer Tanagers eat bees and wasps? They also consume of lots of other insects too such as cicadas, mealworms, katydids and grasshoppers throughout the spring and summer. However, during the mid-late summer months, they will try to build up their fat content in preparation for their autumn migration ahead. This means that fifty percent or more of its diet consists of fruits and berries during this time of the year. If you would like to attract Summer Tanagers to your backyard, the best way to do that is to provide them with the fruits and berries they relish. They are also quite fond of grape and raspberry jelly! In addition, here are some of the plants that provide fruits and berries relished by Summer Tanagers as they prepare to embark on their long flight to Central and South America in October: blueberry, blackberry, grape, hawthorn, flowering dogwood, rough-leaf dogwood, pokeberry, and black gum. While it might be too late to add these plants to your garden this summer, now is the time to plan ahead for next year. The birds will thank you for it! Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa #5Ds

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: The ping pong ball bird of Holly Springs

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On a recent trip to Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs, N.C., I found a tiny Blue-grey Gnatcatcher hopping in the branches of the brush along the path. He moved quickly, stopping every few moments to inspect the area for prey. Best described as a hyperactive ping pong ball, this photo was one of a few seconds where this little bird sat still. On an never ending search for spiders and insects, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers can be found foraging in wooded areas across their breeding territory’s in the eastern U.S. Most of their nesting locations are found near water sources like streams, rivers, lakes like this one here in Holly Springs. The nest of a Blue-grey Gnatcatcher is commonly built 2-25 feet above the ground in a tree. Their cup-shaped nests are built by both adults out of lichen, spider webs, and plant materials. Females lay between 4-5 eggs which both adults will take turns incubating for around 13 days. Both parents will care for the nestlings and the young ones will fledge 10-12 days after they hatch. Swipe on to the next few photos to see a fluffy little fledgling Gnatcatcher! Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa #5Ds

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Fledglings at Bass lake Park in Holly Springs N.C.

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While birding at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs N.C. recently, I spotted a couple adorable fledglings in the brush next to the water. The first is a young White-eyed Vireo (along with it’s parent) and the second is a sweet little Prothonotary Warbler with its parent nearby. I took these photos using my zoom lens at full 600 mm as not to disturb the little ones or their parents. It’s very important to respect the space of these birds at this crucial time as they are still learning how to assess predator behavior and understanding what dangers people may or may not pose to them. Plus, you definitely don’t want to stress out the parents as this may interfere with the feeding behavior of caring for their young. During this time of year, sightings of young birds are common and when folks find them on the ground they tend to get worried. The best thing to do if you find a fledgling is to leave it alone. While you may not see it’s parent in the area, chances are it’s nearby or at least on the way back to care for its young. In the unlikely scenario where the little bird is visibly injured then it may be a good idea to contact your local wildlife rehabilitator who specializes in caring for birds. A simple Google search of the wildlife rehabilitators in your city and state is a good place to start. Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the @canonusa #5ds

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