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Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Alligator river NWR & Pea Island NWR North Carolina Birding Trip report- November 28th,2021

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

Tundra Swans at the Pea Island NWR

Back home after my trip to the Alligator River NWR & the OBX this past weekend and thinking about the importance of pre-bird tour groundwork.
Because nature is somewhat unpredictable, I’ve found it useful over the years to do a little location scouting a day or two before my tour dates.
This time allows me to check the conditions of the trails and routes plus be able to confirm that all of the seasonal bird species are where I’d expect them to be.
Most of the time it’s all good but in this case, yikes!
Thank goodness I headed out to the Alligator River NWR earlier in the week before my guests where scheduled to arrive because apparently the impoundment areas were bone dry.

Dry as a bone at the Alligator River NWR

Normally the fields are flooded in October to provide safe haven for migrating waterfowl over the winter but due to dry conditions, a shortage of workers, and a beaver dam stopping up the pumps, they were unable to start the pumps to flood the fields this year.
Thus, aside from a small flock of Tundra Swans, a half dozen Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles, there were hardly any birds to be found along the first stop of my tour.
Not exactly the best conditions to start off a birding trip…

Red-tailed Hawk at Alligator River NWR

So, I contacted my guests before the tour day and explained the situation on the ground.
My new plan was to spend less time at the Alligator River NWR and add an extra stop at the end of our tour on to find a rare species of bird (a Snow Bunting) on Pea Island.
I don’t like to have to change things last minute but I always want to make sure that my guests are getting in the most birds (and the most fun!) out of the time we spend together so this felt like the right move.

Black Bear at the Alligator River NWR

As it turned out, Alligator River NWR was still worth the short visit as there were plenty of opportunities for my guests to spend time photographing the resident Black Bears which was pretty cool!


It was such a joy to see so many happy bird loving photographers getting their first ever shots of a bear.
Plus, I got to show the group a family of Bald Eagles hunting Swans in the fields.


All in all, not a bad way to start the day 🙂

Thankfully our next stop on Pea Island came through with thousands of ducks and swans to see swimming on the ponds in the refuge.

American Wigeon at Pea Island NWR


There were Redheads, American Wigeons, Ringnecks, Scaups, Pintails, Gadwalls, Black Ducks, Mergansers, Buffleheads and more including American Avocets, Clapper Rails, Godwits, warblers and sparrows!
Plus uncountable numbers of Tundra Swans, geese and American Coots to round out the day’s list which you can see in the photos below.

  • Lesser black backed Gull
  • Common Merganser
  • Savannah Sparrow
  • Hooded Merganser & Bufflehead
  • Clapper Rail
  • Black Duck
  • Red winged Blackbird
  • White Ibis
  • Redhead Ducks
  • White Pelicans
  • Pintails, Redheads & Gadwall
  • American Avocets & Godwits
  • Tundra Swans
  • American Coots
  • Pintail Duck
  • American wigeon
  • Assorted Waterfowl
  • Yellow- rumped Warbler
  • Ruddy Turnstone
  • Black bellied Plover

Oh and yes, I was able to deliver that Snow Bunting too (a new lifer-bird for every guest!) which was a total cherry on top.

Snow Bunting at Oregon Inlet

All in all and despite an unexpected start, a wonderful day 🙂 I can’t wait to get back out there for the next tour later this month!

All smiles on the OBX!

If you’d like to join me this winter on a birding trip, click on the dates shown in green on the calendar below for tour availability, locations and booking info.

PS. Shout out to my friend John Carter who completed his goal to go birding in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties!

He say’s that he is now officially retiring from birding (to focus on his Raleigh – Durham Real estate career) and that his last bird of the year was the Snow Bunting we found on this trip 🙂

CONGRATULATIONS JOHN! Hope you come out of bird retirement again someday. Never say never my friend 😉

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Birdwatching News

Rare Bird Alert North Carolina- Snow Bunting at Oregon Inlet OBX

This past weekend, I led a birding trip to the OBX and was pleased to show my guests a rare wintertime visitor to NC, the Snow Bunting!
It was such a joy to see how happy this bird made the people on the tour, so many big smiles, what a great way to cap off the day.

Snow Bunting at Oregon Inlet on Pea Island in the OBX, North Carolina



Dedicated cold weather birds, Snow Buntings breed in the high Arctic. They nest in the crevices and deep cracks of rocks which provide protection from the Arctic winds.
Though their nests are thickly lined with grass, feathers and tufts of fur, due to the extreme cold temperatures the female is unable to leave the nest so her mate is wholly responsible for feeding her while she is incubating the eggs.



Often seen with flocks of Longspurs and sparrows, Snow Buntings feed on the ground, foraging for a variety of seeds and buds as well as insects and other small invertebrates, including small marine crustaceans when spending time in coastal areas.
This particular bird spent most of its time either on the rocks overlooking the water or on the ground eating grass seed under the bridge along Oregon Inlet.



The Snow Buntings normal wintertime range extends from southern Canada down to Pennsylvania on the east coast, across the upper Midwest over to western Oregon.
They are also an infrequent visitor to the coastal areas of Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.
Look for them hiding on the low dunes, short grass/ sand flats, and on rock jetty’s in the OBX from November through February.

@sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my mighty 50 megapixel monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Black Skimmer nesting site on Wrightsville Beach N.C.

Check out this set of photos from the nesting colony of Black Skimmers on Wrightsville Beach!


I captured these moments last month just after sunrise before the beach got crowded.
There were several pairs of Skimmers there taking care of their chicks and plenty of space to observe these beauties from a respectful distance.
With all the challenges faced by nesting seabirds, it’s such a joy to see new life thriving on the coast of North Carolina.

Black Skimmers typically nest as a large colony on the sand flats in between the dunes on our barrier islands.
One to five eggs are laid into a depression in the sand and are incubated by both parents for around 23 days.
The chicks break out of their eggs already covered in downy feathers and can even run around within a few hours of hatching.



During the first few days, one parent will stay with the chick but shortly thereafter the little one will be left alone on the beach while both parents go off to catch its next meal.
Despite their mobility, the little ones rely solely on their parents for food and usually scurry off to hide under some beach grass to await their parents return.
Aren’t they sweet?
🙂

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, Instagram Birding

An Eastern Wild Turkey encounter at the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary in Asheville N.C.

Birdwatching News, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Best Life Birding Sally Siko on the Papa Bear Hikes Podcast

By: Sally Siko – Admin Birdwatching NC / Best Life Birding

Obligatory blog-post-selfie of your Best Life Birding admin. Hi ya!

Check out the July 2nd episode of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcast @papabearhikes01 where Martin and I discuss ways to enjoy the outdoors from a photographer / birders perspective.
Find the episode on

iTunes

Spotify

Amazon Music

or wherever you get your podcasts or click on the link below to listen.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1467697/8798980

In the meantime I want to take this time to share the accounts of some of my favorite folks on Instagram.
Some of them are birders, others are wildlife photographers, tour guides, friends and outdoor enthusiasts, all are good people who love getting out there to capture incredible moments in the outdoors to share with you.

@nilaytphotography
@ncbirdnerd
@wildandexposd_podcast
@deborahroyphotography
@joesubolefsky
@eddeburgessphotography
@gregpiperarts
@srboga
@apexbirdlover
@planet_chad_photography
@28204dan
@2x25mpg
@christian_miller_photo
@biggdread
@mpkopack
@i_guess_i_like_birds_now
@debeluv1960
@talktotheplume
@jeffgresko
@alaskaphotoadventures
@ronhayes_wwi
@rubenbirder
@siberianart
@goodrum.photography
@jhorvathphoto
@birdiepalooza
@ncbirdwatch
@nc_wildlyfe
@kolanderphotos
@thewitt68
@kb_biscuitphoto
@divasecunda

Give them a follow.
You’ll be glad you did 🙂

Happy birding!
Sally Siko
😎

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

Papa Bear Hikes July 2nd, 2021 interview with Sally Siko of Birdwatching NC
Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Birdwatching News

Rare Bird Alert North Carolina: Roseate Spoonbills spotted in Raleigh at Lake Lynn

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

Yesterday I received a rare bird notification from @eBird that a pair of Roseate Spoonbills had been spotted at Lake Lynn in Raleigh NC so I decided to go see if I could get a look at them with my friend Corie @calatta
We met up an hour later in the southern parking lot and walked to the north end of the lake where we were happy to find these beautiful birds hunting for a snack in the shallows with a Little Blue Heron
Nice to get a win so easily!


Roseate Spoonbills are normally found in southern Florida and along the coast of Texas during the summer which is why it was so unusual to find these two at Lake Lynn.
That being said, sightings of Spoonbills here in North Carolina have been on the increase in recent years though most of those have occurred in our southern coastal regions.



These lovely birds are best spotted in marshy areas foraging for a meal in the water or mudflats.
Sweeping their namesake spoon-shaped bill side to side in the shallow water, the Spoonbills mouth is partially open as their bill probes into the mud. When they stir up a fish or invertebrate, they’ll clamp that bill shut to capture their prey.
Their diet mainly consists of minnows, but they’ll also eat shrimp, crayfish, crabs, aquatic insects, mollusks, and slugs. Spoonbills will also snack on plants including the roots and stems of sedges.

I have no idea how long these two will stick around the Triangle for so if you can get out within the next day or two you might be able to find them as well.
For reference, I’ve included a Google Map pin drop showing the exact location of these birds at the north end of Lake Lynn (as of yesterday & today) to the end of this post.
Hope you are able to see them too!
Happy birding!
-Sally

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

By the way, check out the video of the Roseate Spoonbills in the Instagram version of this post below!

Bird watching trips in Maine, Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Birding trips at Cape May New Jersey, Birding Trips in New Jersey, Birdwatching News, Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

80 New Bird Watching Trips / Group Birding Tours in North Carolina, South Carolina, Maine and New Jersey have been added for 2024

By: Sally Siko -Admin Best Life Birding

Pack your bags, let’s go birding!!!!

Birders and bird loving photographers of all skill levels are invited to join me, Sally Siko as we explore the trails, woods, fields and shorelines of the United States in search of interesting birds. From North Carolina and beyond, there are plenty of great species to get out and enjoy throughout the year.

Private birding tours in North & South Carolina are also available for reservation to best suit your needs and schedule!

For more information please contact sallysiko@birdwatchingnc.com or call/text (919) 449-7331 to book a private trip.

In addition to local trips here in the Triangle, 80+ new birding tour dates and locations in eastern North Carolina and South Carolina have been added to my 2024 calendar. Click on the dates marked in green in the box below for more information.

Book today as space is limited on these small group tours, Gift Cards are on sale too 🙂

BIRDING TOURS CAPE MAY, NJ

BIRDING TOURS IN MAINE

BIRDING TOURS AT PINCKNEY ISLAND, SC

BIRDING TOURS AT CAPE FEAR SHINERS PARK, NC

BIRDING TOURS AT HUNTINGTON BEACH STATE PARK, SC

BIRDING TOURS THE OBX NORTH CAROLINA

BIRDING TOURS AT THE PEE DEE NWR, NC

BIRDING TOURS AT OLD BYNUM BRIDGE, NC

PAINTED BUNTING BIRDING TOURS AT FT.FISHER, NC

BIRDING TOURS AT WEYMOUTH WOODS, NC


Shown below is the Best Life Birding Instagram feed featuring of some of the species I’ve found for my guests here in the United States.

The year isn’t over yet though. I can’t wait to help you add more birds to your list too!

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Eastern Phoebe’s in North Carolina

While birding at Yates Mill Park in Raleigh this past weekend, I was delighted to see this sweet little Eastern Phoebe looking for a meal over the pond.
There were actually several of them flying around and I was able to catch one perching for a portrait as he rested between flights.



Though they are understated in appearance, Eastern Phoebes are easily ID’d by their behavior of pumping their tails up and down while at rest. They’ve also got a unique call which sounds like their calling out their name, “feeeee-bee” so their relatively easy to find by sound too.

Eastern Phoebes are a year round resident of North Carolina. During the breeding season, their best found in wooded areas near ponds, streams and lakes where they nest under bridges or beneath the eves of barns and other man-made structures which provide horizontal surfaces for them to nest on.

Although they’re not the showiest of birds out there, they are definitely one of the cutest and entertaining to watch hunt so it’s well worth taking the time to enjoy them if you can 🙂

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, Birdwatching News

New Weekend bird watching tour dates are now available in North Carolina for 2021

Come birding with me!
I’ve just updated the tour page on the website to include a bunch of new dates and birding locations here in North Carolina for 2021.

These trips are are geared towards birders and bird loving photographers of all skill levels and are usually a lot of fun.
Real time species ID is provided in the field with a trip goal of getting out there to see more birds in less time.
An eBird summery documenting all that we find along the way will be sent to you immediately following the tour so that you can add new birds to your own life list at your leisure too!

Check out the tour links below for more information on upcoming trips and I hope you enjoy the photos of some of my favorite birds from 2020.

Happy birding my friends and cheers to the new year ahead 🙂

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc

Bird watching tours in North Carolina
Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

A Fox Sparrow at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation

I stopped by the Prairie Ridge Ecostation in Raleigh N.C. earlier this week in preparation for a trip I’ve got scheduled here for the end of the month. I hadn’t visited here in a few weeks and wanted to see what kinds of birds were in the area now that winter has arrived in earnest.

Happily there were lots of colorful feathered gems flying around from Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Brown headed Nuthatches and Starlings, to Cardinals, Kinglets and Blue Jays. One of my favorites though were the Fox Sparrows.

The Fox Sparrow is a small bird that I don’t see very often during the winter which is a shame because they’re quite pretty!
With 18 different subspecies of Fox Sparrow, as a group their plumage varies widely in the Western Hemisphere.
Some are grayish brown in color, others are reddish toned while the remaining are a mix of the two hues with varying degrees of color intensity.
Here in North Carolina, the subspecies we encounter during the wintertime is the Red variety. They are aptly named with a broad rust red or dark brown streaking on their back and underparts, a bright russet reddish rump and tail, reddish brown wings and grey tones on the sides of their neck, which contrast nicely with their rusty brown ear coverts.
This warm reddish brown plumage suits their needs well as remain pretty well camouflaged in the leaves and brush when foraging for a meal.

With the first photograph in this post, I just got lucky as this bird was actually perched in a tree nearby offering me a clear view.
The second photograph shown below is more typical of how I usually find these little ones, hiding behind a tangle of grass and briers.

Look for them in wide open deep grass fields feeding on the ground. It can be tough to find them since they tend to be a bit shy so try pishing to draw them out of the thick stuff for a moment or two to get a proper look.
They will stick around N.C. until late March or early April so there is still plenty of time for you to see one in the coming months 🙂

By the way, I’ve got a trip scheduled to the Prairie Ridge Ecostation at the end of January. If you’d like to join me you may do so by clicking on the trip detail page listed in the tour links below.

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