Tag Archives: Birding Fuquay Varina

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Attracting Red-eyed Vireo’s to your yard

Early last week I headed out to the Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Park in Fuquay-Varina N.C. to see what birds I could find.
Happily I was able to spot a few Red-eyed Vireos in the forest at the edge of an open field. I’ve been trying to get a good clear photo of one all year but since they usually hang out in the heavily shaded mid to upper canopy of the trees, that has been difficult.

These sweet little birds actually hang out in my own back yard but are somewhat shy when it comes to having their photos taken.
If you’d like to attract Red-eyed Vireos to your own yard here are some ideas that may help…

50% of the Red-eyed Vireo’s summer diet is composed of caterpillars. They will also eat a variety other insects too, so fostering an insect friendly environment is key to attracting it. Caterpillar friendly trees like Oak, Beech and Maple are Red-eyed Vireo favorites. In addition to insects, the Red-eyed Vireo will eat small berries – especially towards fall migration – so planting and maintaining berry producing shrubs shown in the list below is a good idea.

* American Elderberry
* Arrowwood
* Northern Bayberry
* Red Mulberry
* Sassafras
* Serviceberry
* Spicebush
* Sumac
* Wild Cherry

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

Field Notes, Instagram Birding

Big flock of common Grackles in Fuquay Varina, N.C.

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

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Sound on 🙂 A ton of migrating Common Grackles here in Fuquay Varina NC this morning! Took this clip a moment ago. Common Grackles migrate from the far-northern U.S., Canada, and the Great Plains to winter in the central and southern U.S. including right here in N.C. Always a cool sight to hear & see so many in one large flock! Video by @sally_siko of @birdwatchingnc on an iPhone . . . . #birdnerd #birdsofinsta #birdsofinstagram #ncwildlife #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #bird #birds #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirdwatching #shotoniphone #ncoutdoors #ncnature #canonwildlife #ncwildlifephotographer #northcarolinabirding #birdwatchingnc #northcarolinabirds #audubonsociety #birdoftheday #naturesbestphotomagazine #earthfocus #commongrackle #grackles #autumnmigration #autumnmigration2019

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Field Notes

Mockingbird songs in Fuquay Varina, N.C.

Found a sassy Mockingbird singing it’s heart out in a parking lot in Fuquay Varina N.C. while I stopped to get gas on my way out to birding at another location. He was so loud, lol!



A common sight here in central North Carolina, suburbia often provides suitable habitat for Mockingbirds: dense shrubbery, open spaces, scattered trees and plenty of berry bushes.
Well known for their boisterous singing, Mockingbirds learn their songs from other birds, animals, and even machines around them.
They sing their playlists round and round, a wheel of chirps, chortles, squawks and trills that dominate the local soundwaves. With age and experience, they keep learning new songs.
Males, the louder and more relentless singers, may learn up to 200 songs in their lives. Their musical variety, then, can attract long-term mates who know that they have been around and have the stuff to survive.

Photo by @sally_siko
Canon 5Ds

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

Pine Warbler in Fuquay- Varina, N.C.

Spotted this Pine Warbler recently in Fuquay-Varina, N.C. He was one of several that were in a mixed flock consisting of Magnolia & Pine Warblers feeding on insects in the oak tree.


These small yellowish birds seem to be everywhere these days here in central North Carolina. With the cooler weather upon us, they are out in force, searching for the last batch of insects to fill up on.
🍁


Pine Warblers are an all year round resident in the Tarheel State. This insectivorous species also happen to be the only wood-warbler known to regularly consume seeds (often pine seeds or seeds at bird feeders) due to seasonal physiological changes in their digestive systems to allow for digestion of seeds.
🍁


Hey, if you want to see warblers in the Triangle, check out the Caroll Howard Johnson Environmental Park in Fuquay-Varina, N.C.
Photo by @sally_siko
Canon 5Ds

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

Bird photography challenges in the fall

Autumn brings its own unique challenges to photographing birds.
It goes something like this….
There’s a bird.
No it’s a leaf.
There’s a bird.
No it’s a leaf.
There’s a bird.
No it’s a leaf.
There’s a leaf..
Lowers camera.
Looks up.
Ah dang it, that was a bird!

Lol! In fact, it’s quite windy and grey outside today in central N.C. Despite this, there’s a lot of bird activity going on in my own backyard.


I spotted this Eastern Phoebe in one of the oak trees next to the house this morning. The wind was blowing so hard that this little one seemed to have trouble staying on that twig.


A year round resident of most of North Carolina, Eastern Phoebes spend their winters from Virginia down to Mexico. Insects make up the majority of summer diet however, small fruits and berries are eaten often during the cooler months. This ability to change their food preferences is an important adaptation for survival when insects are scarce in their northern winter ranges.
Photo by @sally_siko
Canon 5Ds

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

A white breasted Nuthatch at the Caroll Howard johnson Environmental Park in Fuquay Varina, N.C.

If you’ve ever seen a small grey and white bird creeping down the side of a tree headfirst in search of food, you’ve probably spotted a white-breasted Nuthatch.
I photographed this one sneaking down a tree trunk at the Caroll Johnson Environmental Park in Fuquay Varina.
These little birds are quite common here in central North Carolina.
They are frequently spotted in both the backyards and backwoods of deciduous forests.
True to its name the white-breasted Nuthatch gathers nuts and seeds. Jamming their finds into tree bark, a nuthatch can then leverage its long bill to break or “hatch” the food open.
Photo by @sally_siko .

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A Great-Crested FlyCatcher in Fuquay Varina, Nc

An Oak huge tree died suddenly in my yard here in Fuquay-Varina N.C. a couple weeks ago.
Since then, there’s been a huge increase of birds fluttering in its boughs searching for bugs.
From Woodpeckers to Wrens, Gnatcatchers and Nuthatches, it’s been interesting to observe a variety of species moving in and out of the tree.

Today brought a family of Great Crested Flycatchers like this one which I photographed as he “posed” for a quick shot in the morning sun.

Photo by @sally_siko / @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5DS

Instagram Birding

a carolina wren at the carroll howard johnson enviromental park in fuquay varina, n.c.

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Went on a walk through Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Park yesterday morning in Fuquay-Varina N.C. and found a noisy Carolina Wren along the path. I’ve never seen one with the black and white feathers displayed on their rump before. Quite striking! A little bird with a big personality, Carolina Wrens are one of the loudest birds you’ll encounter in this state. They are very common and will build their nests in just about anything ranging from garden planters, car radiators and old shoes. Photo by @sally_siko . . . #birdnerd #birdsofinsta #birdsofinstagram #ncwildlife #birding #birdwatching #Birdbehavior #bird #birds #carrollhowardjohnsonenvironmentalpark #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirdwatching #canon #canon5ds #carolinawren #birdsofeasternunitedstates #eastcoastbirds #eastcoastbirding #hiking #nchiking #ncoutdoors #ncnature #silvercordeventphotography #silvercordphotodaily #fuquayvarina #ncwildlifephotographer #naturelovers #birdwatchingnc #northcarolinabirds

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Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Birding at Carroll Howard Johnson environmental park – Fuquay Varina NC

Today I went birding at the Carroll Howard Johnson environmental park in Fuquay Varina. This local patch has been reaching hot spot birding status lately so I thought I’d make the trip to check it out for myself.

I arrived at about 7:15 am and set out on the trail. My goal was to reach the open field in the middle of the park. Upon reaching the clearing, I was greeted by the sounds of birds singing and the fluttering of wings. The first bird I observed was a cheerful Carolina Wren preening himself on a branch. After watching him for a few minutes, I headed down the trail into the woods. Here I found an Oven-bird and a black-and-white Warbler.

Continuing on the path I also found a summer Tanager sneaking through the leaves of the canopy above. What a handsome bird! I was pleased to also catch a glimpse of his mate too.

Once the fog lifted and the sun came out, the heat became a little bit too much so, I decided to head back up to the parking lot. As I was leaving, I caught a glimpse of a eastern-wood- Peewee high up in a tree overlooking the field.

Driving home, I decided that that would not be my last trip to this interesting little park. Going forward, I plan to post more pictures from future trips so stay tuned for more!