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

An American Woodcock encounter at Prime Hook NWR

By Sally Siko

While birding at the Prime Hook NWR in Delaware last weekend I spotted this adorable American Woodcock dancing by the side of a quiet country road.
These round little birds are usually pretty flighty so it was super cool to catch a good look at one at close range.
My only regret was not having the wherewithal to take a quick video of him doing his classic bebop sway dance but I was so shocked to see him that all I managed to get were a few photos.
Still it was amazing to take in the details of this bird as he danced in a pool of sunlight in the grass.


The American Woodcocks black and brown striated feathers serve as excellent camouflage and their long, malleable beaks probe the soil for earthworms.
This is where natural selection comes in; because their preferred food lives underground, nature has selected for birds with upward-facing eyes that can scan the air for predatory birds while their bill pokes around for worms just under the earth’s surface.

Despite what their name suggests, American Woodcocks are actually a type of shorebird. Although this species and its closest American relative, (the Wilsons Snipe) are found in forests, it’s cousins are found in brackish marshes near salty waters.
These guys typically spend the day resting in leafy cover of hardwood or mixed forests or taller thickets, especially were somewhat damp. At dusk, the Woodcocks will leave the forest and fly out to nearby plowed fields and other muddy or short-grass habitats, where they feed on earthworms and other invertebrates in wet ground during the night. At dawn birds can be seen flying back from the fields into the forests to hide again.
Aren’t they awesome?!
I love them.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5
Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Blackpoll Warbler sighting at Lake Betz

While birding a few weeks ago at Lake Betz in Morrisville NC, I got a lucky break by spotting this Blackpoll Warbler hiding in the brush next to the swamp.
He’d been sighted in the area earlier by my friend @nilaytphotography (thanks for the heads up!) but I didn’t think I’d have a chance to see this tiny bird given how dense the bushes were.
Normally my view of Blackpolls is looking up at them from far below a tree. In fact, these are my first two photos ever of this species that aren’t butt shots haha!


Blackpoll Warblers take an incredible migratory journeys each spring. They travel from Venezuela in South America all the way up north and as far west as Nome, Alaska to breed.
Happily they do stop in North Carolina for a short while to rest along the way.
Like most Warbler species they are voracious eaters of insects and are often seen gleaning for a six legged meal in the tree tops.
They are best spotted in the mid to upper canopies of hardwoods in open forest habitats and can be found by listening for their high pitched calls in the woods.




If you’ve missed them this spring, you’ll have another opportunity to see Blackpolls again this year from late September through October here in the Tarheel State.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Field Notes

Birding at Bass Lake Park - The Common Yellowthroat

Few species of Warbler are more delightful to encounter on a spring walk than the Common Yellowthroat.
I spotted this one while birding at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs NC.
With those inquisitive dark eyes peering out against a black face mask paired with a cheerful bright yellow plumage, it’s hard not to smile when watching one go about it’s day of hunting for insects in the brush.



As their name implies, Common Yellowthroats are indeed “common”. Not only do they nest in all 100 countries of North Carolina, they actually boast a breeding range that stretches across the entire United States and even over most of Canada! This makes them one of the most abundantly found species of Warbler on the continent.
Quite a feat for such a tiny bird!

One of my favorite characteristics of these beauties is their friendly demeanor. When not actively nesting, they’re quite curious about people and will fly in close to check you out if you try pishing at them. It’s neat to get a close up look at these lovely feathered gems when the opportunity presents itself.
Look for the Common Yellowthroat in open fields and along the shorelines of marshes, ponds and streams hiding out in thickets and dense brush.
Aren’t they sweet?



Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Northern Parulas at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs NC

I had an excellent morning of birding while leading a guided bird watching trip to Bass Lake in Holly Springs NC.
We spotted 39 species of birds including this lovely Northern Parula Warbler as we explored the wooded shoreline of the lake.
It was wonderful to get outside while sharing good memories with people who love this stuff as much as I do!

Of all the birds we found, this male Parula was the most friendly. He was quite amicable to having his picture taken by my guests which was pretty neat!


Arriving in mid April, the Northern Parula is a summertime resident of North Carolina.
They are a fairly common in swamps, near lakes, ponds and other wetland areas but they also may be found in dry deciduous forests as well.
They’ve got a distinctive call which sounds somewhat like a zipper being pulled up lol!
Look for these tiny birds in the mid to upper canopies of the trees and listen for their call of
“Zzzzzeee-up” in the woods to find them.
They’ll stick around the Tarheel State until mid October and are well worth the time to stop and enjoy if you can take the time to get out and see them.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Yellow rumped Warbler-Winter birding Tour at Yates Mill Park

I had a wonderful time yesterday morning leading a birding trip at Yates Mill Park in Raleigh N.C.
We found 30 species of birds including the unexpected sighting of a Northern Harrier. (photos coming soon!)
It was absolutely awesome to connect with my fellow bird lovers who adore these feathered gems as much as I do 🙂



One of the highlights of the day was an encounter with this handsome Yellow-rumped Warbler. He put on quite a show, flying in very close to land on a sapling about 4-5 feet away from our vantage point.


At times he would gulp down a dried berry or two and pick at the leaves for a six legged meal, others he simply sat there in the warm sun calmly watching us.



Yellow-rumped Warblers are one of my favorite wintertime birds. They are curious little creatures who are likely to come say hello to ya if you softly pish at them.



Soon the leaves will have fallen from the trees and the landscape will become a study of varying shades of grey and brown.
This means these little birds will have to blend in perfectly with their habitats so during the cooler months, they’re dressed in “drab” winter plumage of soft greys, charcoal, white and yellow.
Their muted color palette aids in camouflaging the birds from predators in the woods and brush. Nevertheless, if you swipe to the last photo in this post, you’ll see why the nickname of “butter butt” fits them nicely all year round lol!
😉

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

Bird watching Videos, Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Birding the OBX : Video Bird watching adventures

1 Comment

I had an excellent trip this past Thursday & Friday leading a private birding tour in the OBX on Pea Island and Cape Hatteras. With 11 checklists in 2 days, it was an absolute blast getting out to the coast to see some interesting birds!

I’ll be heading back out to Pea Island in November to catch some good views of autumn & winter migrant waterfowl. If you’d like to join me to go see some cool birds like Tundra Swans, Canvasbacks, Snow Geese, Widgeon, Ruddy Ducks and more, check out the “Go Birding with Me” page here on Birdwatching NC and click on the “Birding the OBX” trip for details and tour date.