Tag Archives: best life birding nc

Field Notes

The Tundra Swans have returned to the OBX in eastern North Carolina

By Sally Siko

One of the things I look forward to the most year after year is the return of the large flocks of Tundra Swans in eastern NC.
Thousands of these majestic white birds are flying in to spend the winter months in the fields, lakes and impoundments of our coastal counties.



It’s quite a sight to stand on the shoreline of a lake and see so many of them all in one place. Yes they are indeed beautiful but gosh they are a noisy and rambunctious bunch lol!
Large groups of Tundra Swans may be best defined as thinly controlled chaos so it’s not uncommon to see scuffles like the one pictured here break out within the flock.
I photographed these two pairs brawling this past weekend and boy it was as entertaining to watch as any prize fight haha 🙂



When they’re not fighting each other, Tundra Swans nest in northern Alaska and in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northeastern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and northwestern Quebec.
Interestingly, these guys 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 northern Alaska winter on the Atlantic coast, while birds breeding from Point Hope south & west winter along the Pacific.
It seems odd to me for the birds in the Coleville River region of Alaska to make such a long trip east which spans across the entire United States when a straight shot flight south to California is quite a bit closer.
Whatever the reason, I’m glad they are here!

You can find these beauties in southeastern North Carolina from November through early March in with peak numbers occurring in January.
Look for them in open marshes, lakes, shallow ponds and estuaries in fresh and brackish waters. They are also easily spotted feeding in grain fields in our agricultural areas too.
So cool!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Wood Duck breeding season in North Carolina

By Sally Siko

As is the case with this pair of Wood Ducks, there’s a lot of action going on in the Carolinas.
Although many Wood Ducks have already hatched one clutch this spring, soon they’ll be raising a second as the year continues.
In fact, they are the only species of duck in North America to lay eggs twice in a breeding season.



Wood Ducks are cavity nesters often using the empty holes chipped away by woodpeckers in dead trees and in nest boxes placed near bodies of water.
After lining the cavity with soft grass and feathers, the hen will lay a clutch of 10-15 eggs. Brooding time averages about 30 days.
As seen in the last few photos in this post, the ducklings will leave the safety of their nest soon after hatching.
It’s a remarkable thing to watch these tiny ducks take that first giant leap down into the watery world below!
The young ducks will then spend a few months with their mother learning how to feed themselves.



Though the species occurs throughout the entire year here in NC, they are more numerously found during the spring and summer months.
Look for these gorgeous birds in wooded or semi-wooded fresh water ponds, lakes, and larger streams.
Their wintering habitat is similar: wooded or semi-wooded ponds, impoundments, swamps, and larger streams.
Aren’t they lovely?



Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds