Tag Archives: birding tour South Carolina

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 and Birdwatching Tours in SC, Birding Trips in SC, Birdwatching News, Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

Birding tours in South Carolina

By Sally Siko

Really looking forward to leading more birding trips in South Carolina this year!
I love seeing the huge variety of long legged, pointed (and spoon) billed, fish slayers (both feathered and otherwise lol!) that are found along the coast.
The cool thing about spending time Herons, Spoonbills, Woodstorks, Gallinules and Egrets is that generally, these are active birds which makes them entertaining to watch.
I love trying to freeze the quick action sequences as the birds squabble for a catch.


Though it can be challenging to capture the action, photographing wading birds is an opportunity to learn something new about capturing good images.
Between adjusting ISO numbers for the light, tweaking shutter speed for action and figuring out aperture values, there’s a lot to think about before I’ve even pressed the shutter.


Luckily the birds, gators and minks tend to stick around for a long while which means there’s plenty of time to really dial in those settings.
When the day is done, I always leave SC feeling like a stronger photographer than when I arrived.
Plus I’ll have a memory card filled with beautiful birds and great memories too.
That’s the kind of experience I enjoy sharing with my guests on every trip!

Check out the links below to book your bird watching tour in South Carolina today!

Birding Tours at Huntington Beach State Park
Birding Tours at Pinckney Island NWR



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

Birding Trips in SC, Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

A Roseate Spoonbill encounter at Huntington Beach SP

By Sally Siko

One of the most unique looking birds we’ve got flying around the Carolinas is the Roseate Spoonbill.
 With that long flat bill it’s easy to see how these beauties earned their name.
I spotted this one last weekend while birding at the Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC.



Having a “built-in” spoon on its beak can be a big help at mealtime. Spoonbills take advantage of this adaptation with a special feeding style known as “head-swinging.”
 They’ll plunge their bill nearly vertically under water and swing it side to side in wide arcs. In this way, they snag a host of small animals from the lake bottom.
 Their diet is made up of small fish, crustaceans (especially shrimp and crayfish), insects, molluscs (such as slugs and snails), and other small aquatic animals.


Roseate Spoonbills are an occasional, transient visitor to North Carolina during the late summer along our southeastern coast. If you’d like to have an opportunity to see them sooner rather than later, your best bet is to take a short trip down to coastal South Carolina where they are found throughout the year.

By the way, I’ve added 80 new birding tour dates to my 2024 trip schedule so if you’d like to join me out there in South Carolina to see these beautiful birds for yourself, check the link below for details & booking info!


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

Birding Trips in SC, Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

Hooded Mergansers in SC

By Sally Siko

Of of the most striking looking ducks we’ve got swimming around the Carolinas is the Hooded Merganser. With that huge crown of feathers at the top of their heads, these handsome birds are truly kings of the water.
I spotted this small flock yesterday while birding at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC.
My guests and I were able to get relatively close to these guys from our vantage point next to the marsh which allowed some excellent photo opportunities.
The drakes were putting on a territorial display, cruising through the water upright with chests puffed out and bills pointed up to the sky in an effort to prove who’s the biggest badass in the marsh.
You can even hear them making their weird honking grunt-quacking noises while they were trying to impress the hens!



Hooded Mergansers are a species of diving duck with a somewhat unusual diet in that they do not eat much plant material. Instead they prefer to snack on small fish, crawfish, and aquatic insects.In addition, they’ve got long serrated beaks which aid in the capture and consumption of their underwater prey.
The tidal marsh habitat where I photographed these birds serve as the perfect hunting grounds for the Mergansers.


Though many of us associate Mergansers as being a wintertime visitor to the Carolinas, they are known to breed in our eastern counties making them a year round resident of the Carolina’s.
Like Wood Ducks, they are cavity-nesters but unlike Wood Ducks, Mergansers often lay their eggs in other females’ nests. This is behavior is similar to the practice of Brown-headed Cowbirds, except that the ducks only lay eggs in nests of their own species.
Pretty neat, huh?

By the way, I’ve added 80 new birding tour dates to my schedule so if you’d like to join me out there in SC to see these beautiful ducks for yourself check the calendar below for details & booking info!

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

Birding Trips in SC, Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

Saltmarsh Sparrows in SC

By Sally Siko

Here is a bird I was excited to find last year while birding Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina, a Saltmarsh Sparrow.
I’d never seen one before so it was awesome to finally see and photograph these cute little bird up close while sitting on the jetty.



One of the more interesting things I’ve learned about Saltmarsh Sparrows regards their unusual breeding system. Unlike most songbirds, the males do not defend territories, rather they move around large areas of a marsh, singing to attract females. Both sexes are promiscuous, and no pairs are formed; males take no part in caring for the eggs or young.

The range of a Saltmarsh Sparrow extends from Maine down to Florida on the east coast of the United States.
Here in the Carolinas they are best found in our coastal areas during the winter months.
They can be tough to spot though since they tend to hide in the tallest grass. That being said, they do respond well to pishing techniques and will occasionally pop out of the grass to offer a quick look before diving back down into the grass.
The best time to try and find one of these little feathered gems is during periods of high tide, when they are forced off of the mud flats to perch on the grass itself.



Generally I’m pleased with these first sighting photos but I’m eager to return to Huntington Beach State Park to lead my next tour tomorrow.
Lol I guess I’m never satisfied so I’d like another crack at getting some better shots.

By the way, I’ve added 80 new tour dates to my 2024 birding trip schedule including locations right here in South Carolina.
Check the calendar to view all of my trips!



Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

Wintertime Woodstorks in South Carolina

By Sally Siko

Arriving at dawn to my birding tour spot in SC last week, I was excited to see that a flock of Woodstorks had flown in and landed right next to the path which lines the pond at HBSP.
As the sun rose, it illuminated these impressive birds like a spotlight which led to some dramatic photo opportunities.
My client hadn’t arrived yet so I texted him to let him know that I was already there and to hurry along (if possible) to best take advantage of the close up view and incredible lighting conditions.



Happily my client showed up just in time! In the end, we were both able to grab some cool photos of the Woodstorks fighting over fish under a dazzling array of light bouncing off of the water.
It was exciting to share this special bird moment with my guest!
In addition to showing him a new Life bird, I know he captured some incredible shots as well which is the best thing ever IMO.
Mornings like this are why I love being a birding tour photography guide so much.



As our largest species of wader found in the Carolinas, flocks of Wood Storks can be spotted hunting for a meal in swamps, freshwater marshes and in shallow ponds.
They feed on a variety of prey items including fish, frogs, crayfish, large insects, and occasionally even small alligators and mice.
Weirdly enough though, these birds are very particular about the depth of water that they’ll hunt for a meal in.
Preferring no more than a foot of water to rise up their legs, most Wood Storks will wait until low tide before finally coming down from out of the trees in the morning to hunt in the rapidly draining marsh below.

Wood Storks are best found in the eastern counties of the Carolinas from June through September, however a few of them are known to spend the winter here as well.
This means that you’ve plenty of time to see one for yourself before the year is through.
By the way, I’ve got several birding photography tours available for booking here in South Carolina this winter.
If you’d like to join me out there than check the calendar below for my schedule and tour details 🙂

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

Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

Enjoying Gadwall Ducks in Huntington Beach SC

By Sally Siko

Last week I led a birding tour in south eastern SC and was stoked to show my client this flock of Gadwall ducks.
Normally this species tend to spook easily whenever human are around so it was great to get such a nice close up look at them as they paddled on the water.
Even in mixed flock situations, male Gadwalls are relatively easy to ID thanks to that black feathery butt lol!


When viewing the drakes at a distance one might describe them as dull but taking a closer look, you’ll notice that they are actually quite intricately adorned with an intricate black lacing pattern on their feathers paired with a pleasing pallet of warm colors over-washing it’s gray and brown plumage.
The hens are equally as lovely dressed in a plumage softly toned in shades of warm buff brown.


Though most breed in the north central and western part of the United States, Gadwalls are also a year round resident of the coastal counties of the Carolina’s and are known to nest on Bodie Island and Pea Island during the summer.
In addition, every autumn thousands of Gadwalls arrive from all over the country to spend the cooler months here in the mid Atlantic region. Due to the influx of migrants in the eastern counties, they are much easier to find during the wintertime than any other time of year.
This is why you’re most likely to spot them in here in South Carolina paddling around in wide open fresh and brackish marshes, ponds and lakes from now through early April.
You’ve got plenty of time to see a Gadwall over the next few months so get out there and enjoy them this winter!


By the way, I’ve added a ton of new South Carolina birding tour dates to my schedule.
If you’d like to go bird watching with me this winter to see (and photograph!) Gadwalls and other incredible birds, check calendar for trip info.

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