Tag Archives: birding tour nj

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

Warbler Spring migration bird watching trips in North Carolina, South Carolina and New Jersey

By Sally Siko

The grass is greening up and the flowers are starting to bloom. Spring is on the way and with it, new species of warblers will soon be arriving in the eastern United States.
Soon the woods and fields will be filled with chirps, buzzes, trills and tweets as the birds sing in search of a mate and to establish nesting territories.

Warbler vocalizations fall into two categories – songs and calls. In general, we define bird song as a structured, usually complex vocalization serving either or both of two purposes – to defend territories and to attract mates.
Most of the songs are sung by the males, though females do also sing territorially or for pair bonding, especially in the tropics.
Generally their calls are usually shorter and structurally simpler, serving a wider range of functions, including courtship, signaling alarm, or communicating a change in location.



Interestingly, almost no songbirds know their songs by instinct. Rather, most need to learn to sing.
Warblers begin learning songs as nestlings by hearing the songs of adults nearby. In this way, song traditions (known to biologists as “memes”) are passed down in songbird neighborhoods from year to year.
In fact many warbler species have area-specific dialects.
Makes me wonder if our warblers have a southern accent lol!



I can’t wait for spring migration to kick off! It’s so much fun to lead my birding tours, showing off these beautiful feathered gems to my guests.
I’ve got 80 new tour dates available for booking in the Carolina’s as well as in eastern New Jersey and coastal Maine.
If you’d like to join me to go birding this spring, check out the calendar shown below for location and date information.


Feel free to send me an email if ya have any questions about upcoming trips too!
Happy birding-
Sally

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Birdwatching News

Spring bird watching tours in North Carolina

By Sally Siko

The first signs of spring are showing up here in NC. The grass is turning greener, the days are trending warmer and the daffodils will soon be in bloom.
This means that migration is right around the corner and with that, tons of new birds flying in to spend a few weeks or months on the Atlantic coast.



I want to see ALL the birds and can’t wait to share these birding experiences with my guests which is why I’m excited to offer a greatly expanded bird tour schedule in 2024.
80+ dates are now open for you to book a birding trip with me this year in North Carolina, South Carolina, Maine and New Jersey from now through late summer.



For details please check out the link below and if ya have any questions feel free to send me an email anytime!

Go Birding With Me: Best Life Birding Trips, Guided Group Birding Tours & Bird Photography Workshops


Happy birding,
Sally

Birdwatching News, Field Notes

How to Use the eBird App- a Tutorial

By Sally Siko

Introduction:

eBird is a popular citizen science project developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It allows birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to record their bird sightings, contribute to scientific research, and explore birding hotspots worldwide. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the eBird app to make the most of your birdwatching experience:

Step 1: Download and Install the eBird App

– Visit the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices).

– Search for “eBird” and download the app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

– Install the app on your device.

Step 2: Create an Account

– Open the eBird app on your device.

– Tap on “Sign Up” or “Create Account” to register for a new account.

– Follow the on-screen prompts to enter your email address, create a password, and provide some basic information about yourself.

– Once you’ve completed the registration process, log in to your newly created eBird account.

Step 3: Explore Birding Hotspots

– Upon logging in, click on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen to bring up a map displaying birding hotspots in your area.

– Use the search bar to find specific locations or browse through the map to discover nearby birding sites.

– Tap on a hotspot to view more information, including recent sightings, species lists, and comments from other birders.

Step 4: Report Your Bird Sightings

– To report a bird sighting, tap on the “Submit” button located at the bottom of the screen.

– Select the date and location of your birding outing using the calendar and map interface.

– Enter the species you observed by typing the name or using the app’s built-in bird identification tool.

– Indicate the number of individuals observed and any additional comments or observations.

– Rare & previously unreported birds (indicated by red dot shown next to the bird’s name) will require checklist comments with species observations. Use descriptions like plumage color, behavior, size and song type.

– Review your checklist and tap “Submit” to upload your sighting to eBird’s database.

Step 5: Explore Your Personal Data

– Navigate to the “My eBird” section of the app to access your personal birding data.

– View your lifetime, year, month, or day lists to track your birding progress over time.

– Explore your personal statistics, including the number of species observed and your birding activity by location.

Step 6: Contribute to Science

– By reporting your bird sightings to eBird, you’re contributing valuable data to scientific research and conservation efforts.

– Your observations help researchers better understand bird populations, distributions, and migration patterns.

– Participate in eBird challenges and special projects to further contribute to ornithological science.

Step 7: Customize Your Settings

– Click on the three little dots in the bottom righthand corner of the screen to explore the app’s settings to customize your eBird experience.

– Adjust notification preferences, download regional species packs, map layers, and display options to suit your preferences.

– Keep the app updated to access the latest features and improvements.

Conclusion:

The eBird app is a powerful tool for birdwatchers of all skill levels, providing a platform to record, share, and explore bird sightings around the world. By following this tutorial, you can make the most of your birding adventures and contribute to the global community of citizen scientists working to conserve avian biodiversity. 

Happy birding!

Birdwatching News, Gifts for Birders and Bird watchers

Original painted North Carolina bird art by Best Life Birding guide Sally Siko is now availible

To purchase prints of my artwork check this link to visit my online gallery https://SallySiko.zenfolio.com/bestlifebirdingartbysallysiko

Birding trips at Cape May New Jersey, Birding Trips in New Jersey

A Savannah Sparrow encounter at Barnegat Lighthouse SP in eastern NJ

By Sally SIko

While birding up at Barnegat lighthouse State Park in Eastern New Jersey. I spotted this sweet little Savannah Sparrow pecking on the jetty rocks.
Another birder (a local gentleman named Larry) was watching the bird as well and mentioned that this was likely an Ipswich sparrow. He explained to me that the Ipswich sparrow was a sub species of the Savannah, and was only found along the north Atlantic coast during the winter.


I was intrigued immediately, and upon further research learned that there are actually 28 distinct different subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow!
Each subspecies varies a bit in bill size and degrees of darker/ lighter coloration but all share a general overall look with brown striping on their breasts.
The thing to look for is that distinctive yellowish spot on the lore in front of and on top of their eye.
The first 3 photos in this post show the Ipswich subspecies that I found in New Jersey, the second two photos below show a Savannah sparrow that I photographed in Raleigh a couple of weeks ago.


As you can see, they look similar, but the Ipswich variety appears a bit lighter overall in color than the one I photographed in North Carolina.
This encounter was a happy reminder that there is always something new to learn about the birds we see everyday.
That’s a darn good reason to keep at this IMO 😉



Like many sparrow species, Savannahs are voracious insect eaters and prefer to forage in habitats of open short grass fields containing piles of scrubby brush.
As seen here, they also inhabit beaches, tidal salt marshes, ponds and estuaries during the winter where the likely-hood of finding a six or eight legged snack near the water is greatly increased.
Look for them this winter in central and eastern regions of the mid Atlantic and New England from now through May and again in June-August in the mountains of western part of the Carolinas.

By the way, I’ve added more than 80 new birding tour dates to my Best Life Birding trip schedule.
Check out the calendar below and book your next birding adventure with me today!



Photos by Sally Siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding trips at Cape May New Jersey, Birding Trips in New Jersey

Photographing the Atlantic Brant in New Jersey

By Sally Siko

The Atlantic Brant is a species I’ve been trying to photograph up close for years but with no luck.
Happily I finally had an opportunity to spend time with a flock of them this past January while birding at Barnegat Lighthouse SP in eastern NJ.
Now I know that to some folks out there, these guys are no big deal.
Indeed they are a common sight in the northeast but since I live down in NC, seeing a Brant is pretty special.



I had an absolute blast trying to photograph these guys as they picked at the stuff clinging to the pile of rocks which made up the jetty.
It wasn’t easy though.
The goose’s black heads & necks disappeared against the dark backdrop of the black rocks behind them.
Finding some sort of middle ground with the exposure was key.
In the end, it is what it is photo wise but gosh I’m stoked to add the Brant to my 2024 list!

The Brant’s feed almost exclusively on eelgrass but (as shown in this series of photos) they’ll also dine some aquatic invertebrates, seaweed and sea lettuce. When foraging in agricultural areas they’ll eat grass and winter-sown cereals when available.
Spending a great deal of their time at sea or in coastal areas means that finding freshwater to drink couple pose a problem. Happily these geese have evolved with special glands which remove salt, allowing them to drink ocean water when freshwater is scarce.
That’s pretty cool huh?



Breeding in the Arctic regions of northern Canada, no other goose nests as far north as the Brant. And oh my goodness do they ever fly far south too!
Families of Brant’s which nest in the western arctic, will migrate as far south, as California, while eastern breeders will migrate into New England, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and occasionally (in much smaller numbers) all the way down into North Carolina.
They’ll stick around the coast of New Jersey until mid to late May so you’ve still got plenty of time to go see them before the year is through.

By the way, I’ll be hosting more birding tours in eastern NJ this year so check the calendar below for trip dates and booking info.


Photo by Sally Siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding trips at Cape May New Jersey, Birding Trips in New Jersey

Spending time with a Red-throated Loon in eastern NJ

By Sally Siko

Although I love living in North Carolina and appreciate the wide diversity of birds found in the Tarheel state, I’ve got a lot of appreciation for the beauty of the north Atlantic region and all the wildlife found up there too.
One such bird I was pleased to encounter while exploring the beaches coastal New Jersey is the Red-throated Loon.
I spotted this handsome fella while birding at Barnegat Lighthouse SP.
I’d been photographing a small flock of Harlequin Ducks on the rock jetty when this little guy popped up from the waves just a few meters away.
Unlike most of my loon encounters where I’m stuck playing hide and seek with the bird as they tend to duck below the water as soon as I lay glass on ‘em, this bird actually stayed on the surface bobbing up and down looking as content as could be.
That allowed me plenty of time to snap off a few photos of the bird before it finally decided to resume hunting again.
So cool!



The smallest of the loons, Red-throated’s undergo a drastic changing of color throughout the year.
During the summer, their heads and necks are grey with a large deep red patch on their throat.
When winter arrives the Red-throated Loon’s head will turn white and the red patch disappears for the season.
This is the plumage pattern which I’m most familiar with since I’ve only encountered the species in December and January.

Red-throated Loons breed in Alaska and throughout Northern Canada when they can be spotted nesting on freshwater lakes, ponds, and bogs.
With autumns arrival the loons head south to spend the cooler months swimming on the ocean along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States.
Relying on their keen vision when hunting prey, they require clear waters when diving in order to spot their favorite food of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. They are strong swimmers and are known to dive to depths approaching 200ft!
Something worth noting if you’re waiting on one to resurface to take a shot, you might be there for a while lol!

By the way, I’ve added more than 80 new birding tour dates to my Best Life Birding trip schedule.
Check out the calendar below and book your next birding adventure with me today!



Photos by Sally Siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding trips at Cape May New Jersey, Birding Trips in New Jersey

Harlequin Ducks in Eastern NJ

By Sally Siko

Impeccably dressed in a dapper plumage of steel gray, rust, white and black few species of duck match the rizz of the Harlequin Drake.
While I’d seen this bird before, I’d never had the opportunity to photograph a male in breeding plumage until yesterday.



I spotted these feathered gems while walking on the jetty at Barnegat Light SP on Long Beach Island in eastern NJ.
Just getting in a position to photograph this bird required a bit of patience in negotiating the slippery rock jetty.
Each step must be taken with care, particularly while shouldering a camera.
The going was slow, with each measured step it was increasingly difficult to rein in my excitement.
Especially once I saw this small flock of Harlequins up ahead sitting on the rocks ahead, perfectly framed in that good-good light.
I was so worried that the ducks would fly off on my approach but as it turned out, they really didn’t care once I crouched down low to capture these pics.
Freak’n awesome!



A familiar species to many living in northeastern coastal areas of the western hemisphere, Harlequin Ducks spread the winter months primarily along the coast of Atlantic Canada and New England.
Representing a point of their most southernmost winter range, BLSP is one of the best places on the east coast to find these beauties.

Each October, the Harlequins arrive to the park spend the cooler months hunting for food alongside the jetty.
And what a great place to find a snack!
These guys are voracious eaters of Snails, periwinkles, small clams, limpets, chitons, blue mussels, hermit crabs and amphipods, all of which are available to find as the ducks prod and peck within the cracks of the jetty rocks.
They will stick around through mid-March before they head north for their breeding grounds in Greenland and Canada.
This means you’ve still got a short of time to see one before the winter ends.
By the way, I’m going to lead a trip at nearby Cape May NJ later this year. Check the calendar below
for booking details!



Photo by Sally Siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips in New Jersey

A Red-flanked Bluetail in eastern NJ

By Sally SIko

Birding trips at Cape May New Jersey, Birding Trips in New Jersey

Long-tailed Ducks at Barnegat Light State Park New Jersey

By Sally Siko

Nice to add this Long-tailed Duck to my 2024 list. I spotted these beauties while birding in eastern NJ earlier this week.
I’d been trying to get a nice close up look at one for years but hadn’t had much luck until this gorgeous pair floated right up to me while standing on the rock jetty at Barnegat Light SP.
I was able to spend several minutes enjoying the Long-tail’s as they paddled in close to the rocks, bobbing and diving into the waves.



These guys are voracious eaters of mussels, clams, periwinkles, crustaceans and small fish which they glean from the bottom of the water (kinda like the way warblers use sunlight to spot insects in trees).
Unlike most diving ducks which propel themselves exclusively with their large, webbed feet, the Long-tailed uses its wings in a penguin like fashion. This adaptation allows them to move faster and deeper underwater than other ducks. In fact they have been documented diving well past 200 feet when searching for food!


Breeding near ponds and wetlands in the Queen Elizabeth Islands in far northern Canada as well as in northern Greenland, they leave the tundra lands sometime in October to arrive in NJ in early December. Occasionally a few Long-tails show up as far south as North Carolina where they are sometimes spotted in the basin pond at Ft.Fisher or bobbing in the waves of the Atlantic ocean along the Outer Banks.
They’ll stick around until late February so you still got plenty of time to find one before the year is through.
Aren’t they gorgeous?!

By the way, I’ve added more than 80 new birding tour dates to my Best Life Birding trip schedule.
Check out the calendar below and book your next birding adventure with me today!



Photo by Sally Siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5