Tag Archives: best life birding tours nc

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Eastern Wild Turkeys in the mountains of NC

I was pleased to spend some time this past weekend with a small flock of Eastern Wild Turkeys at the Cataloochee Elk Viewing Area of the Great Smokey Mountains NP in western NC.
It was so cool to watch this large Tom fan out his feathers and put on a display to impress a nearby hen or to try and intimidate his wing man away from said-hen lol!
A year round resident, the Eastern wild Turkey is found in nearly every county here in North Carolina. As a flock, they’re skittish birds which in my experience, are best photographed from belly down in the grass perspective as not to spook them off.
These large birds are constantly on the move, always on the lookout for a new snack (nuts, seeds, grains, insects and small fruits) to gobble down 😉They’re most frequently observed foraging in the early morning hours around sunrise, and will also feed actively in the evening before darkness sets in.



Turkeys are interesting birds.
Did you know that Wild Turkeys are ground nesters and will lay around a dozen eggs per clutch?
That’s a lot of eggs and the hen doesn’t lay them all at once. Instead she’ll lay one egg per day but will not begin incubating them all until the last egg is laid.
Although the first laid eggs will get cold (exposed to the elements) during the first few weeks, the fascinating thing is that the embryos in the eggs will not start to develop until the hen starts warming her clutch by sitting on the nest after all the eggs have been laid.
This ensures that even though there was a two week difference between the first egg & last egg being laid, the entire clutch will hatch at the same time!



The Eastern Wild Turkey is a year round resident of North Carolina. They are found in all 100 of our counties and unlike other species of birds, thanks to conservation efforts (and the decline of large predators) their population is actually on the increase!
Look for them in open, tree lined fields in the morning and evenings throughout the Tarheel state.

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Ovenbirds are here in North Carolina

When the springtime heat rolls in, it’s nice to get out of the sunny fields and into the woods to cool off.We aren’t the only ones who appreciate the cool shade that the trees provide, Ovenbirds are masters of the shadows and remain active throughout the day even during the hottest hours.
I spotted this beauty yesterday while birding in the woods of Pittsboro NC.



Ovenbirds favor mixed deciduous and coniferous forest areas which are semi open under the canopy yet still contain scrubby thickets and moderate brush.Though they look like Thrushes, they’re actually a species of warbler and like others in that family they are voracious eaters of insects.However like Thrushes, (and unlike most other warblers) Ovenbirds are usually spotted hunting for a meal on the ground scratching up under the leaf litter in search of beetles, worms and grubs.
In fact they even nest on the ground (usually at the base of trees) building old world pizza oven shaped tunnel nests for which they derive their names.



These lovely birds are a spring and summertime resident of North Carolina and are found across the state from the mountains to the coast from April to October. That being said, a few Ovenbirds have been found to spend the winter in Buxton Woods on Cape Hatteras Island in recent years. This is an interesting trend to watch as more people get out to go bird watching during the winter in the OBX.Pretty cool, huh?

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Green Herons on Sunset Beach NC

When birding near shallow bodies of water in the eastern Carolina’s it’s hard not to stumble on a Green Heron or two hanging out on the shore.
I spotted these beauties earlier this week while birding along the Carl Bazemore Bird Walk in Sunset Beach NC.



It was a lot of fun to watch them squabble for the premium perches in the scrubby brush which lined the shore. There were several of them nesting in the cattails near the observation deck too.
It takes a few minutes to spot them nestled in the reeds so patience is required lol. My best advice is to look for the reflection of sunlight glinting off of their eyes among the shadows.
Since they are so common they’re often overlooked but if the light hits them just right, these little birds are absolutely beautiful!



So it goes with others in the heron family, Green Herons can be found walking in shallow waters stalking fish, insects and small crustaceans.When their prey is spotted, they’ll freeze and then strike like a dart into the water piercing the prey with their bill.Interestingly, Green Herons also employ another tactic to catch a meal as they’re the only species of heron known to “bait” their prey.These clever birds will use twigs, feathers, or insects to lure a fish within reach. When the fish comes in closer to investigate the object, the bird will strike.
Truly a smart and fascinating creature IMO!

The Green Heron is found throughout the Carolinas from March to October so you’ve still got plenty of time to go see them this year.That being said, quite a few of them have been reported to spend the wintertime in our southeastern coastal counties which is pretty neat!



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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Common Terns on Wrightsville Beach NC

Tensions are running high at the Common Tern nesting grounds on Wrightsville Beach NC. With breeding season well underway, competition for mates and nest sites is causing tempers to flare within the colony resulting in yelling (screeching lol!) matches between former friends.
It was very entertaining to sit on the beach and watch these otherwise elegant birds scuffle for dominance.
They swooped and screamed from above at the terns below who vigorously defended their chosen spit of sand.
Those who weren’t involved with nesting site disputes spent their time catching small fish and bringing food back to shore to feed their mates who were waiting patiently for a meal.



Though their name would imply otherwise, unfortunately nesting populations of Common Terns are in decline here in NC. This is likely due to a loss of suitable nesting habitats due to storms and development of the barrier islands where they prefer to raise their chicks.
Luckily this species breeds in both Eurasia and in North America (even inland!) so for now they aren’t considered threatened on a level to trigger a Federal level endangerment status.
Still, this is a species to keep an eye on as they are considered endangered on the State level of concern.



Common Terns are a spring & summertime resident of North Carolina and can be found along our coastline between April and September.
They are mainly spotted hunting for a meal over the Atlantic Ocean and over our saltwater inlets. As you probably have guessed, their main diet consists of fish however they’ll also eat crustaceans and insects.
From the looks of it, they’re are prolific hunters and they seemed to have access to a good supply of fish here at Wrightsville Beach.
This means good times may be ahead for the next generation of Common Terns which should arrive next month.

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

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Brown headed Nuthatches in the Sandhills of North Carolina

By Sally Siko

Have you ever heard the sound of what seems to be a squeaky toy emanating from the treetops here in North Carolina? You may have just had an encounter with a brown-headed Nuthatch.
I spotted this little one while birding this past weekend at the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Preserve.
This bird’s diminutive size and active lifestyle make it tough to spot, but once you know what to look and listen for, you’ll realize it is a common year-round resident throughout our state’s pine woods.
By virtue of their strong, sharp claws, brown-headed Nuthatches are capable of crawling head-first down the trunk of trees as easily as going up. Their coloration creates perfect camouflage against the tree trunks that the birds can be found foraging on, in search of seeds and insects.



Though the Brown headed Nuthatch is found throughout the entire state of N.C. though they’re most commonly seen in the piedmont and coastal plain regions. Their preference of habitats include mature and open longleaf pine stands found in the dry Sandhills areas, however, they also can be spotted in open areas of loblolly and shortleaf pine stands found near ponds and lakes.



As you might expect given the Brown headed Nuthatches proclivity to foraging pine forests, they eat their fare share of pine seeds. Being omnivores, they also consume a large number of insects, larvae and spiders too.In fact these clever creatures are one of a few species of birds in the world to use tools to access the insects hidden beneath the bark of trees.Using a short (but strong) stick, they’ll pry away the bark from the trunk to find a six or eight legged meal hiding inside.Pretty neat huh?

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Birdwatching News

NC Rare Bird Alert: An Iceland Gull on Pea Island

By Sally Siko

Last month I tried to find an Iceland Gull which had been been reported on Pea Island in the OBX of NC.
Unfortunately I never found the bird which didn’t come as much of a surprise since the Iceland had been spotted hanging out with a large flock of other gulls at Oregon Inlet.
Given that the flocks tend to move around quite a bit throughout any given day, my odds of success in finding the Iceland that morning were slim at best.


Redemption was found last weekend though while on another birding trip to the OBX.
While walking on the Salt Flats Wildlife Trail along the North Pond, the Iceland Gull that I’d searched for weeks ago flew directly in front of me, wheeling and banking in the air just a few feet above the ground and water!
I couldn’t believe that the bird was right there, no effort required other than walking a few feet in the rain down a weedy sand path.
How cool was that?!
Though part of me always seems to crave more of a challenge when it comes to finding rare birds, I’ll take a win whenever I can get it.


Though the far southern range of the Iceland Gull extends off the coast of North Carolina during the winter months, they are an uncommon bird to find here in the Tarheel state.
These lovely birds are a medium-size gull, whose smaller size helps to differentiate themselves from the look-alike Herring Gulls they like to hang out with.
Iceland’s have very pale plumage and white wing tips and, like the glaucous gull, it is been given the nickname of ‘white-winged’ gull. They’ve also got a rounded head and smallish beak, giving them a sweet, almost dove-like expression.
Just gorgeous and well worth getting out into the rain to see on a windy January day!

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Yellow- bellied Sapsuckers at Brumley Nature Preserve in Chapel Hill, NC

By Sally Siko

Like many of you out there in the eastern US this week, I’ve been stuck inside over the past few days due to rain and then extra chilly weather.
It’s been driving me nuts to stay cooped up indoors for so long!
Finally, I had an opportunity to get outside today to go birding with a guest at the Brumley Nature Preserve.



It was a balmy 21 degrees *lol!* when we got started but despite the cold we did manage to find and photograph several interesting species of birds including this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
I really enjoyed getting this series of shots as that bright winter blue sky contrasted perfectly with the black, white, yellow and red plumage of this beautiful little woodpecker.



Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are found in varying numbers from our mountains to the coast throughout the year.
While this bird was busy gorging himself on wild persimmon fruit (check out his messy bill lol) usually they are spotted (errr heard) pecking loudly on the trunks of trees.
But why are they constantly hammering their beaks into the tree trunks?
The clue is actually wrapped up in their name. It’s all about that sweet, sweet sap flow!
These little guys will move up hastily up and down trees to drill a series of wells in the trunks to drink the sap that oozes forth. Often returning to the same tree on a regular basis, the Yellow -bellied Sapsucker’s elaborate systems of sap wells are maintained daily to ensure sap production.
Boasting a legit honey-badger-don’t-care attitude, these feisty woodpeckers will defend their wells from all kinds of sap-stealing animals and birds, including other sapsuckers. They also may be found happily raiding both hummingbird and suet feeders alike in our own backyards with the same energy.
Isn’t he marvelous?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50MP monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Spending time with a Common Goldeneye in NC

By Sally Siko

A somewhat uncommon sight in NC, I was pleasantly surprised to spot this Common Goldeneye paddling around in the North Pond while on a recent birding trip to Pea Island.


She was super entertaining to watch as she harassed the Buffleheads and Tundra Swans feeding nearby. At one point she got super low in the water and stretched out like a cat waiting to pounce and then started going after a Tundra Swans feet lol!
Such a feisty duck, brave to bully a Swan much larger than she.



Common Goldeneyes are beautiful!
Though the drakes sport emerald green heads, even the hens (like this one) dressed in chocolate and steel gray plumage are just lovely.
I wish that the sun had come out more when I took this series of photos as I only managed to grab one shot with good color of the hen while she preened.
Still it was exciting to see her!



A winter visitor to North Carolina, Goldeneyes nest in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.
During breeding season they can be found on northern lakes and rivers surrounded by mature trees where nest cavities may be found.
When autumn arrives, they migrate to coastal marine and estuarine habitats and large, interior lakes and rivers throughout most of the United States.
Oddly enough though, they are not found in great numbers from the Carolinas down to Florida.

Your best bet in spotting one of these beauties in NC is to check out the lower Cape Fear River and Roanoke Sound areas along the east side of Roanoke Island.
There are small numbers to be found in fresh water habitat such as Lake Mattamuskeet and Pea Island too so it’s worth keeping an eye out for them from now through late February.

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Photographing Buffleheads in eastern NC

By Sally Siko

Here’s a duck which I’ve yet to get a good clean photograph of, the Bufflehead.
While I see tons of them every winter, I just can’t seem to get close enough to one to grab a great shot.
It’s so frustrating because these are beautiful ducks, especially when they’re swimming on the blue water under bright skies. The sun just lights up the iridescence on the males head which reflects a dazzling array of color.
So beautiful!


I took this series of (zoomed in on a 600mm lens & cropped 80%!)shots this past weekend while birding in the OBX and while they are pretty good, I still want better lol!
Happily I’ll be back in eastern NC next week to lead another tour so maybe I’ll get another chance at getting the perfect photo then.
We will see….



A wintertime resident of North Carolina, Buffleheads are best spotted swimming on our coastal lakes, ponds, estuaries, and impoundments. You can even see them swimming in the ocean just offshore on calm days.
The males are easy to ID with that striking combination of black and white body plumage paired with a black (but multi colored iridescent) face and white patch of feathers which extends from his eyes to the back of his head.
The hens (the ones shown in the series of in-flight photos) are quite lovely too with their soft grey and black plumage with white spots on their cheeks.

One of our smallest species of diving ducks, Buffleheads will hunt for a meal in both fresh and salt bodies of water.
In freshwater habitats, they eat primarily insects, and in saltwater, they feed predominantly on crustaceans and mollusks. Aquatic plants and fish eggs can often become locally important food items, as well when available.
They are strong swimmers and able to stay under water for more than a minute, then often popping up a long way from where they disappeared.
This makes them a little more challenging to photograph but it’s still fun to try haha 😉
The Buffleheads will remain in NC until early March so you’ve still got plenty of time to enjoy them this season.
Wooohoo!

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

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