Made another trip out to Bass Lake Park this morning and was delighted to find a family of Chickadees playing in the leaves above my head. This is one of the youngsters who was almost completely tame. He flew right up close to me and didn’t mind one bit having his photo taken 🙂
The Chickadee is a year round resident of North Carolina. They are found throughout the state from the mountains to the coast foraging for meals in the woods and in our own backyards. These energetic little dynamos are fond of seeds and insects alike, and will happy dine on whatever they can find in our feeders. They’ll often travel in mixed flocks of Titmice, Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers and will act like scouts to check out a new feeding area ahead of the rest of the birds. Once they’ve made the decision that the area is clear from predators they’ll call out to the rest of the flock to move in. Tiny but brave!
I really enjoy birding in the wintertime here in central North Carolina. It’s great to get outside and see all of the best birds without the obstruction of leaves getting in the way, lol! One of my favorite spots is Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs.
Recently I made a trip out here to see what birds I could find. The highlight of the morning was definitely a Hermit Thrush!
Hermit Thrush
I had such a nice bird watching experience that I ended up making a video which you can watch below.
Here is a map of Bass Lake Park. I suggest that you stick to the western side of the water to find the best birds.
Come birding with me in 2020! I’ve got some guided tour opportunities coming for Bass Lake Park in the next few months. Check out the link below for dates and trip information.
Check out this beautiful little Ruby-crowned Kinglet that I photographed at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs N.C. a couple of days ago. She was very curious about my presence on the trail and stopped moving just long enough for me to grab a couple of photos while she snacked on some berries.
The tiny sized Ruby-crowned Kinglet is one of the smallest birds in North America. They are filled with energy bouncing from limb to limb like golf balls on a side walk. Always on the move, their quick movements can make it hard to spot their ruby red crowns, which are normally flattened down, but when these birds catch sight of a competitor or predator, up goes their bright red mohawk. Fierce little fighters, Kinglets will defend challengers three times their size, particularly when it comes to retaining a good food source.
Kinglets actually have a good reason to be constantly on the move: they’ve got a hyperactive metabolisms which requires them to eat almost constantly. In fact, if these little birds are deprived of food, they could lose nearly a third of its body weight in just 15 minutes! Eat like a bird, indeed!
A few days ago, while visiting Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs N.C. I found a Red-shouldered Hawk sitting on a low branch right next to the trail. Viewing this beautiful bird from less than 20 feet away, I was surprised to see her up close as she was focused on scanning the area for prey, totally unbothered by my presence. I stood there for about 5 minutes watching before something in the bushes behind her caught her attention and she flew off to investigate. Just awesome!
Here in central North Carolina, Red-shouldered Hawks are often found in deciduous forests, along the tree lines of open fields and near small to medium sized bodies of water( the habitat here at Bass Lake Park is a great example). They prefer to hunt in places where the lower part of the forest canopy is relatively open, which gives a perched hawk an unobstructed view of the ground below. Like the bird featured in this post, Red-shouldered Hawks are commonly seen perching on low level branches, still as a statue watching for movement on the ground. Once prey is targeted, they’ll dive straight down onto it or glide in on an angle from the side. Because these hawks are relatively less agile in the air than other raptors (such as Red Tailed and Sharpies), their diet includes a much smaller percentage of birds. Having extra room to deftly maneuver through the trees while flying is another reason why they prefer to hunt in habitats with un-thicketed forest floors or grasslands.
Recently I had the opportunity to go birding at one of my favorite spots in the Triangle, Bass Lake Park. I love coming here because this location offers the chance to a wide variety of species in a short distance.
What a fun morning! I saw a Bald Eagle, Ruddy Ducks, two American Redstarts, Grebes, and more! I even accidentally photographed a giant snapping turtle too.
THAT IS A HUGE TURTLE IN THE WATER! (or Lochness Monster?!!!)
Here is my eBird trip report…
Bass Lake (Wake Co.), Wake, North Carolina, US Oct 22, 2019 8:10 AM – 9:25 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) 19 species
Mallard 18 Ruddy Duck 5 Pied-billed Grebe 2 I observed 2 Grebes searching for food in the water. Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Bald Eagle 1 I photographed a single Eagle flying over Bass Lake. Belted Kingfisher 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Carolina Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Carolina Wren 2 American Goldfinch 2 Eastern Towhee 1 American Redstart 2 I found two females in a bush near the waters edge. Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 2
Bonus: I decided that this would be the perfect trip to grab some video of my birding adventures for the first time! Going forward, I will be posting more clips so stay tuned!
A few days ago, I spotted this male Common Yellowthroat darting in the brush at Bass Lake Park. He was constantly on the move, never staying on a single twig for more than a second or two.
These lovely little Warblers will be migrating out of North Carolina soon. This is why they are in hardcore feeding mode, ever on the hunt for insects to fuel the journey south ahead.
Their wintering range extends from southern United States to northern South America and all the way into the West Indies. Quite a journey for such a tiny bird! Photo by @sally_siko Canon 5Ds
October means that it’s Northern Parula month at Bass Lake Park Park in Holly Springs, North Carolina! During a recent birding trip, I counted at least 17 adults searching for food in the mid canopy of the trees. What gorgeous little birds!
The Northern Parula is predominantly a bluish-gray
color with a greenish back, bright yellow throat and breast, white
belly, white wingbars, and white crescents above and below the eye.
Adults have a black-and-reddish breast band which is more prominently
displayed by the males.
These pretty Warblers will soon head to southern destinations in Florida and the tropics for the winter. But for now, they can be found foraging in small flocks fattening up for the trip ahead. Love seeing them during autumn migration here in central N.C.!
This birding trip to Bass lake also yielded some other great species too including, Wood Ducks, Osprey and House Finches! I even saw a Bald Eagle which was the first time I’d ever seen one at this park. Here is my list that I submitted to eBird.
1038 Bass Lake Rd, Holly Springs US-NC (35.6393,-78.8041), Wake, North Carolina, US 7:32 AM – 9:07 AM Protocol: Stationary 12 species
Canada Goose 22 Wood Duck 4 Saw four male Wood Ducks fly in and land in the water right in front of me!!! Wooohoo!!! Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 1 This appeared to be a 3-4 year old individual. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Blue Jay 2 Tufted Titmouse 6 Brown-headed Nuthatch 1 Northern Mockingbird 4 House Finch 5 American Goldfinch 2 Northern Parula 17 There are many Northen Parulas here this morning in the bushes and trees along the lake.
Wood DucksBrown-headed NuthatchOspreyJuvenile Bald EagleNorthern ParulaBlue Jay
If you would like to go bird watching at Bass Lake Park, my advice is to arrive early (at 8am when the gates open). The best birding action is found on the western side of the lake from the boast house to the second bridge to the south.
Found a female American Redstart at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs, NC. These beautiful birds spend their breeding season throughout the eastern United States including here in North Carolina. Now that autumn migration has arrived, people all over the east coast will get the chance to see them as the head south to their tropical homes in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. If they don’t normally live in your area, keep an eye out for them from now through the end of October. Photo by @sally_siko Canon 5Ds
This is a female Common Yellowthroat. I spotted her hopping in the brush along the trail on the western side of Bass Lake in Holly Springs, NC. Though she lacks the bandit mask of her mate, she’ll steal your heart! What a little beauty. 🌿 Common Yellowthroats are easy to find during spring, summer & autumn here in North Carolina. Look for them in open areas such as bogs, wetland edges, and brushy fields. This is why Bass Lake Park is a perfect habitat for finding these birds! Their call notes are distinctive. Keep your ears tuned for a husky, low “chuck” coming from the undergrowth. When you hear one, look low in bushes (under 4ft) and low in the trees for a quick, small bird, olive above and yellow below. In addition, Common Yellowthroats are often attracted to the “pishing” sound. These inquisitive birds will often pop into the open to see who’s making the noises. The ones at Bass Lake are particularly friendly so don’t be surprised if you encounter one up close! Photo by @sally_siko Canon 5Ds
Bird watching tours, trips, adventures and birder news in North Carolina and beyond
