Tag Archives: birding bass lake

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes

Prothonotary Warblers are back at Bass Lake Park

My favorite little yellow guys are back, the Prothonotary Warblers!
I was so happy to show this sweet bird to my guests this past weekend at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs NC.
It was super windy and a bit cold that morning so that’s why this Prothonotary’s feathers are a bit out of sorts. He looked a bit perturbed every time the wind blew as his feathers were ruffled with each gust.



With that bright gold plumage, this species is easily one of the most striking birds you’ll find in the woods.
Prothonotary Warblers are named for the bright yellow robes worn by papal clerks, known as prothonotaries, in the Roman Catholic church.
The males sport bright-yellow heads and breast, greenish-yellow back, and bluish wings. The underside of the tail is mostly white, extending onto the undertail coverts.
When spread, the bluish upperside of their tail feathers shows large white spots.
Females look very similar to the males but are dressed in overall slightly muted green tones showing in their lovely yellow plumage.
Even though this handsome male had a few feathers out of place, I think he still looked amazing!



The Prothonotary Warbler will stick around N.C. from now until August so we’ve got plenty of time left to enjoy them this year.
I’m actually headed back out to Bass Lake Park later today on another birding trip and am hoping to have another crack at photographing this gorgeous feathered gem.
Wish me luck! 🙂

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

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Tree swallows at Bass Lake and Suggs farm in Holly Springs NC

Recently, I took a birding trip to Bass Lake Park to spend time with the Tree Swallows again.


They were busy feeding their little ones and were quite active throughout the morning.
Luckily I was able to snap off a few pics and video of this handsome guy sitting on a fence rail.
He wasn’t alone however, scroll down to see the other bird species who landed right next to this little guy!



A spring and summer resident of North Carolina, Tree Swallows inhabit open fields near bodies of water such as ponds or marshes, where there is a good amount of flying insects to eat. They nest in the holes of dead and live trees, as well as Bluebird boxes, holes in fence posts, and under the eaves of houses and barns.
Their breeding range extends across most of North America, while its winter range stretches from the southern coastlines of the United States into Mexico and Central America.

Come October, Tree Swallows will gather together in huge flocks consisting of thousands of birds to migrate south.
For today though, spring has just begun so we’ve still got plenty of opportunities to enjoy these lovely birds in the months ahead!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes

Eastern Bluebirds at suggs Farm in Holly Springs NC

A sure sign of the changing of the season, the Eastern Bluebirds have begun the hunt for nesting spots here in North Carolina.
If you haven’t put out your Bluebird box yet, now is the time to do so!

The Eastern Bluebird is a familiar sight to many all across the Tarheel state throughout the year. They are just as likely to be found looking for a meal at the woodlands edge, open field’s and pastures as in our own suburban backyards.
I spotted this one perched near its nest box on a fence at Suggs Farm in Holly Springs NC last week. The group and I enjoyed watching him for several minutes as he flew back and forth between the fence line and it’s box.


As tree cavity dwellers, eastern bluebirds will nest high up in old woodpecker holes and in dead trees abutting open meadows, but of course these birds are well adapted to using the nest boxes that we put up every year.
To entice these beauties to make a home in your yard, install a southeast facing box to shield the entrance hole away from the prevailing wind and weather. The nicest boxes are made of cedar or recycled plastic, will have brass hinges, predator guards, and elevated mesh floor to protect the chicks from blowflies.  
It’s best to place the box in an open area five to six feet off the ground.  
If you can, mount the nest box on a pole or 4×4 post with baffles to protect against predators too!

By the way, spring migration is coming!
Wanna join me out there?
Bird loving photographers of all skill levels are invited to take part in all the trips I’ve got scheduled for 2021 in North Carolina.
Make sure you check out my upcoming birding tours list here on the BWNC website and reserve your spot today!


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

A Ruby crowned Kinglet encounter at Bass Lake Park

Now here’s a bird I’m always happy to see with the arrival of cooler weather, a Ruby crowned Kinglet!
These tiny feathered dynamos are a bundle of energy and are usually kind of tough to photograph since they rarely sit still for longer than a second or two.


I spotted this one at Suggs Farm while birding couple of months ago. It was neat to watch her gleaning the undergrowth for a six legged meal. Hovering just about a foot or two off of the ground, she eyed her prey before diving down to catch it.
Check out the last few photos of this post to see her in action!



The Ruby crowned Kinglet has good reason to live a life constantly on the go. Though they require just 10 calories a day to remain healthy, their hyper active metabolic rate burns through those calories at lightning speed forcing these birds to spend all of their waking hours foraging to replace the burned calories. In fact, a Kinglet can lose one-third of its body weight if it doesn’t find something to eat every 20 minutes.
Crazy!

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

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Pine Siskens are here in North Carolina

It seems like Pine Siskins have taken over our bird feeders here in central North Carolina.
I spotted this one at Bass Lake Park last week.
It was interestingly rather tame and allowed me to snap off a couple of pics at close range.



These energetic little finches are an irruptive species, which means that they move in irregular patterns throughout the winter months. Although these small fiches can be found in many parts of the U.S. and Canada in varying numbers throughout the winter, by all accounts they seem to be flocking in unusually huge numbers in the lower 48 this year.
But why?
From what I understand there is a shortage of conifer seeds occurring across Canada’s boreal forest which has caused the birds to migrate south in greater numbers than what’s usually expected.



When they first appeared here in the Tarheel State last month, I had scores of people messaging me on how to attract them to their backyard feeders (unshelled sunflower, Nyjer & Thistle seeds from any Finch blend will do).



Now, my inbox is full of people asking me how to get rid of them since it’s become quite common to have a flock of 50 or more birds at a time going to town on our birdseed (take your feeders down for about 2 weeks and the flock will likely depart in search of an easier meal).

In any event, I for one am glad to see them. It’s been many years since I’ve seen one in my own yard. I’m fascinated by how migrating birds connect us with other countries.
Love them or loathe ‘em, they are an interesting little bird for sure!

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

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Grey cheeked Thrush at Bass lake Park

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Now here’s a bird I was not expecting to find during my visit to Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs NC, a Gray cheeked Thrush!



I was walking along the trail at the southwest corner of the lake when I saw a flash of white with splotchy belly spots flutter in the branches above my head. Quickly I raised my camera to try and grab a photograph of the bird but it had disappeared.
I assumed that this was a Hermit Thrush given the area and time of year but wanted to be sure.
Standing there under the tree I waited for about 10 minutes to see if this bird would reappear.
Patience paid off because all of a sudden, there it was!
Right off the bat, I knew this wasn’t a Hermit Thrush because of it’s uniformly darker color, streaked breast and lack of distinct eye-ring.
Although the photos I ended up with aren’t the greatest, it was exciting for me to see this bird for the first time!


Gray cheeked Thrushes breed in coniferous forest across northeast Siberia, Alaska, northern Canada to north-central Quebec, Labrador, and Newfoundland, all the way south to northern British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.
During the autumn they’ll pass through North Carolina on the way south towards their wintering grounds in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and into northwest Brazil.


These shy birds are one of the least studied among the spotted Thrush species as very little is known about their behavior in their winter range.
Such a shame because this is quite a lovely bird!
Want to see one too?
Look for them in mature hardwood forests near water next year as they pass through the eastern United States from early to mid May along their journey north during the spring migration.

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

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

A white eyed Video Encounter at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs North Carolina

fter a week stuck behind a desk doing some editing work, I finally got a chance to take a quick trip to Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs NC yesterday morning.
Happily, it was worth getting outside because I found a sweet White eyed Vireo searching for insects next to the water.



As seen in the second photo below, White eyed Vireos are voracious eaters of six & eight legged prey.
They’re best found foraging for a meal in areas near water, but especially so in habitats that offer dense brushy stuff and dark thickets.



These energetic little guys spend most of the year here in central North Carolina before heading a little farther south during the coldest months.
Interestingly, this species favors mixed deciduous forest during the summer for breeding but prefers to hang out in coniferous forests and Holly stands during the winter.


Though White eyed Vireos prefers to stick to the shadows, they are quite inquisitive and will definitely come check you out if you pish at them. To find them, listen for their call of “chick-a-buurio-chick” coming from the lower areas of the woods and keep a sharp eye out for their bright eyes reflecting the sunlight through the leaves.

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

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A female Northern Parula warbler encounter at Bass lake Park

Last week, I took a short walk around Bass Lake in Holly Springs. I’ve noticed lately that local parks in the Triangle region are becoming crowded early, often before 9am so arriving early is key if one has birding on their mind.



Luckily, I was rewarded with a great look at a female Northern Parula shortly after my feet hit the trail.
She was quite curious about my presence and actually flew close to me at times as I stood still and watched her preen and forage for insects.

Northern Parulas can be found hunting tent caterpillars, gypsy moth caterpillars, spiders, and other insects in the mid to high canopies of trees. Moving quietly through the leaves, they seem to be a bit more methodical in their foraging habits vs. the hyper ping pong ball behavior of other Warblers.



With their lovely plumage of greys, yellows and blue, the Northern Parula may be hard to see in the brush and leaves, but they are easy to hear. Just listen for a clear “zeeeeeeeeeZip”, with an abrupt end note and look up!
You may be lucky enough to see them as they hang upside down on the leaves above or as they walk up the tree trunks in the never ending search for a six or eight legged meal.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
@canonusa #5ds

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Bass lake Park Winter Birding : American gold finches

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

A few days ago, I took a short trip to Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs N.C.
I was pleased to run across a small flock of American Goldfinches there feeding in the brush along the shoreline.
They are still dressed in their full winter plumage, however you can now see a bit of that familiar yellow peeking through in their feathers.



Thistles are a favorite Goldfinch food source and nesting material, yet Sunflower seeds are another top meal choice too.
You’ve have probably noticed this too if you offer these popular seeds in your feeder.
Aside from our feeder fare, Goldfinches also eat seeds from grasses, weeds, teasel, mullein, and ragweed, along with birch and alder buds, maple sap, and berries.
Often seen hanging upside down while feeding, their uncommon agility allows them to extract seeds from any position. Their short, pointed, bills are well-suited to crack open hulls and other tough packaging.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

Come birding with me! I’ve got a few tours scheduled for Bass Lake Park in 2020. Check out the link below for trip details and available dates.

Birding Tours at Suggs Farm & Bass Lake Park
Field Notes, Out There with the Expert, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Wintertime birding at Bass Lake Park, Holly Springs N.C.

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

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.

https://birdwatchingnc.com/birdwatching-n-c-trips-birding-in-north-carolina/birding-at-bass-lake-park-trip/

Happy Birding!