Been getting some interesting visitors to my hummingbird feeder here in North Carolina lately. Did you know that birds visit hummingbird feeders for more reasons than an interest in nectar as a food source?
A nectar feeder will catch the attention of other birds, and they may perch on the feeder or investigate feeding ports out of curiosity. Insects that sip on the nectar may also attract insectivorous birds that pluck morsels off the feeder, even though the birds aren’t directly interested in the nectar.
Scroll down through the next two photos to see the other unexpected birds to show up at my sugar water buffet 😉
Here is a link to a Live View Map for migrating birds in the United States from the bright minds at Cornell University Lab of Ornithology.
Click on the image below to view the migration of birds in real time at the Cornell website. This is a great resource for planning your bird watching trip!
Had a nice trip to the Martha’s Chapel area of Jordan Lake this morning. One of the highlights of the day was this encounter with a Great Egret who was fishing along the shoreline. They are one of the largest of the wading birds found here in North Carolina. Sometimes miss identified with Great White Heron, the comparatively thinner orange bill and dark legs of the Great Egret are useful distinguishing characteristics. Photo by @sally_siko .
While hiking at Harris Lake Park on Friday morning, I spied a female Northern Parula Warbler holding a fat green caterpillar in her beak. This species is the smallest of eastern wood-warblers. They have a habit of foraging high in tree canopy which therefore makes it a difficult bird to observe from the ground. I photographed this little beauty as she was gathering food to feed her nearby fledgling. The Northern Parula arrives in N.C. early in April. They depart at the end of September. Their breeding range extends across the eastern half of the U.S. In the winter, the Northern Parula can be found from southern Mexico to as far north as the southern tip of Florida. What a cool little bird to find in the Triangle 🙂 Photo by @sally_siko
I just wanted to say welcome to everyone who’s joined me here on Birdwatching N.C. this week. Thanks for being a part of this little (but growing) flock. It’s been really cool to connect with like minded people. By this I mean of course, to meet folks who know what the term “mid to high-canopy dweller” means, lol! I love the fact that there are those out there who can explain the difference between a Cooper’s hawk and a red-shouldered Hawk based on the shape of the spotted feathers on the breast.
Better still, I’ve got a ton of respect those of you who
are brave enough to ask me for help when you’re stumped with an ID and
am thankful to each and every one of my fellow bird-nerds for their
insights when I’ve asked for assistance myself.
You all are amazing 😉
Bird watching tours, trips, adventures and birder news in North Carolina and beyond
