Tag Archives: birding jordan lake park

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes

Yellow-throated Warbler autumn migration at Jordan Lake SRA

Here’s another bird I’ve been seeing in higher numbers this year, the Yellow-throated Warbler.
These little gems seem to pop up everywhere I’ve gone birding in North Carolina since May and I couldn’t be happier about it 🙂


I spotted the bird in the first photo a few days ago at Ebenezer Point in Pittsboro NC and the second bird this past May at Yates Mill Park in Raleigh NC.

Perhaps the reason why “warbler neck” is a thing, Yellow-throated Warblers are best spotted in the mid to high canopy of the trees searching for insects and spiders as they pry into crevices along branches.
Unlike other warblers that move quickly and sporadically while hunting for food, Yellow-throated’s are slower moving and deliberate when hunting as they scour the branches, leaves, and ground for a snack.
This makes them a bit easier to observe and photograph which is always nice lol!

Arriving in late March Yellow-throated Warblers may be found throughout most of the state however they are somewhat more common in our eastern counties.
Look for Yellow-throated’s in varied habitats like dry pine stands and also in the tall trees growing along shorelines of ponds, lakes and streams. They are also fond of swampy areas too which makes for a pretty diverse range of opportunities in which to find them.
Unfortunately they will be leaving NC soon to head south for the winter so try and get out and see them this week or you’ll have to wait until spring to enjoy these delightful little birds again.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my twin mighty megapixel dragons the @canonusa#R5 & the #5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Out There with the Expert

Enjoying the Cape May Warblers at Jordan Lake SRA

It’s not often that I’ll post the same species of bird twice in a week but there were tons of Cape May Warblers putting on a show at Ebenezer Point at Jordan Lake in Pittsboro North Carolina recently.
It was great to see so many of them flitting through the trees, chasing each other while feasting any six or eight legged snack that dared cross their path in the canopy.



These lovely warblers were named for the county of Cape May, NJ where the species was first noted in scientific literature.
Sitting at the southern tip of New Jersey, bordering the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic, Cape May county is the premier destination for migrating birds along the east coast of the US.

Though Cape May Warblers stop in NJ when traveling between their breeding & wintering grounds, they are hardly alone as hundreds of different bird species are found in Cape May county every year during each migration cycles.
It seems like an odd name to give these beauties as it hardly describes any of the species unique characteristics.



Given the Cape May’s preference for nesting & feeding in conifer forests, perhaps a better name might be spruce warbler or maybe even tiger warbler since they sport those bold black stripes on it’s warm yellow breast.
Moniker choice aside, these feathered gems are standout birds in my eyes and I’m always grateful to catch a glimpse of Cape May every autumn.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty mirrorless monster of a camera, the @canonusa
#R5

Field Notes, Instagram Birding, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

An Ovenbird encounter at the Jordan Lake State Park recreation Area

View this post on Instagram

While exploring the woods near the Audubon Observation Deck near Apex, N.C., I heard a familiar melody echoing through the trees. I followed the song to a small clearing and was rewarded with the sight of a beautiful little Ovenbird perched on a low lying branch. This warbler can be found foraging for insects and grubs on the floor of North Carolina’s mature forests–those that are usually dry with deciduous trees, but you can also find them in wet areas or in northern coniferous forests. They prefer to hang out in areas with little or no underbrush making them relatively easy to find in the dark woods. By the way, did you know that the term "oven" bird comes from the shape of their ground nests which look like a little oven? Neat! 🙂 Photo by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc Canon 5Ds . . . . #birdnerd #birdsofinsta #birdsofinstagram #ncwildlife #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #bird #birds #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirdwatching #canon #canon5ds #ncoutdoors #ncnature #canonwildlife #ncwildlifephotographer #northcarolinabirding #birdwatchingnc #northcarolinabirds #audubonsociety #birdoftheday #audubonnc #ovenbird #bestbirds #bestbirdshots #birds #birdwatcher #jordanlakenc

A post shared by Bird Watching N.C. (@birdwatching_nc) on

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

Photographing Bald Eagles at Jordan lake dam

Recently I made a trip to Jordan Lake dam to check out a large flock of migrating Bald Eagles.
When I arrived I observed around 20 birds roosting in the trees overlooking the Haw River.
I found a spot along the river bank to sit so that I could pictures of the birds as they took turns dropping down to the water to catch fish.


The morning light was fierce and the conditions weren’t great for photos since the sunlight was reflecting brightly off of the water.
Still, it was nice to just be out there enjoying the Eagles as they flew overhead.


Then, a juvenile Eagle flew straight towards me and landed on a branch right above my head. At first he didn’t notice my presence. The moment he saw me was amazing, lol!
He turned his head and squinted, screeched and flew off!
Luckily I managed to snap off a few shots of this encounter before he left.
What a cool bird!


During the wintertime, Jordan Lake boasts one of the highest populations of Bald Eagles in the East coast. The resident birds hang out in the other part of the lake as most of the migrants tend to congregate near the dam.
It’s really neat to see so many Eagles in one spot!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

Birdwatching News, Out There with the Expert, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Monitoring Bald eagle Nests at Jordan Lake in 2020

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching N.C.

I’m excited to report that I’ve teamed up with the ARMY Corps of Engineers to help monitor Bald Eagle nests at Jordan Lake for the 2020 season. 🦅
This is a team effort, a joint project between the public & private (volunteer) sector to collect nesting data for breeding Bald Eagles at Jordan Lake.
My duties will include spending at least 4 hours a month watching nests and taking behavioral notes as the birds raise their families.



Due to the efforts made by the ARMY Corps of Engineers along with Eagle lovers like you and me, Jordan Lake now boats the one of the highest populations of nesting Bald Eagles on the east coast.
Every year brings a new generation of these incredible birds into the world (like the two youngsters featured in these photographs) and I couldn’t be happier.
It’s amazing to see how their nesting pair numbers have grown from zero in the 1980’s to now.
Today, nearly every large body of water here in N.C. has at least an Eagle or two living nearby.
I’ve even started seeing them commonly hunting for fish at smaller ponds and lakes like Yates Mill Pond and Bass Lake Park here in the Triangle.
Remarkable!



I’m so excited, can’t wait to get some great photos, learn new things, and contribute to the conservation efforts of protecting these incredible birds.

To learn more , check out the link below. Here you will find information about the programs efforts across the United States.

Bald Eagle Recovery Efforts at Corps of Engineers Projects

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8ce1/deeb280f669251baaa3904f0986d69917276.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0Mk7-TuO6V9verix3nxpIarrvvgcJDwCnmvbaSz8Cd3OgwGqJCA2VeDmI



Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds