Being a bird loving photographer has is its perks… On Friday morning I had an engagement session scheduled at the Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Park. As is my habit, I arrived about 30 minutes before my shoot started so that I could scope out the lighting conditions before my clients arrived. Of course, I did a little birding too because if there’s ever an opportunity to combine bird watching with my photography job, I’m going to take it lol!
I was stoked to find a Broad-winged Hawk in the woods as I made my way down the path. He was calling out to an unseen partner and eventually settled down to preen quietly on his branch. Walking as silently as I possible, I crept down a small ravine to take a few photos in the shadowed wood. Happily he did not mind my presence and remained in a relaxed state as he peered down at me from above.
The Broad-winged Hawk is a medium-sized raptor found mainly in central and western NC. If you see a hawk with two white bands and two black bands on its broad tail, it’s probably one of these handsome birds. They will stick around the Tarheel State until September before they depart on their southward journey to their wintering grounds in Central America and central South America. There is still time to see them around here for a few more months so get out there and enjoy these gorgeous birds while you can 🙂
Early last week I headed out to the Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Park in Fuquay-Varina N.C. to see what birds I could find. Happily I was able to spot a few Red-eyed Vireos in the forest at the edge of an open field. I’ve been trying to get a good clear photo of one all year but since they usually hang out in the heavily shaded mid to upper canopy of the trees, that has been difficult.
These sweet little birds actually hang out in my own back yard but are somewhat shy when it comes to having their photos taken. If you’d like to attract Red-eyed Vireos to your own yard here are some ideas that may help…
50% of the Red-eyed Vireo’s summer diet is composed of caterpillars. They will also eat a variety other insects too, so fostering an insect friendly environment is key to attracting it. Caterpillar friendly trees like Oak, Beech and Maple are Red-eyed Vireo favorites. In addition to insects, the Red-eyed Vireo will eat small berries – especially towards fall migration – so planting and maintaining berry producing shrubs shown in the list below is a good idea.
A few days ago, I headed out to go bird watching at a park in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina which does not have a gate restricting trail access. I like the fact that it’s possible to get out here early before a few of the joggers and dog walkers arrive which would give me the best opportunity to see the birds.
Here is a video below of my highlight birds which included my first sighting of 2020 of Barred Owls!
Here is my eBird list which included 11 species 🙂
One of the things I liked about this park is that there are two distinct habitats for birders to explore. Deep woods and a narrow open field with a small creek winding through it all. In the late spring and summer months it’s a haven for breeding songbirds and a real gem of a birding spot when other parks get busy (or get shut down).
Below is are a few of my favorite photos from the trip which are featured in the video above. Although I did not net a whole lot of different species, I had a great time just being outdoors in the woods. I’m really looking forward to returning here in a couple of weeks to see what is flying around once spring migration gets underway.
Barred OwlYellow-rumped WarblerAnother Barred Owl just because they are awesome 🙂Black and white Warbler
If you’d like to visit the Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park for yourself, here is a map of the location below…
Be on the lookout for videos and photos from my next trip back to this nice little birding spot next month. Hopefully I’ll have a longer species list to share with you then 🙂
Until next time, Happy Birding!
-Sally Siko
Photos and video captured with my mighty Canon 5DS. If you are
interested in getting shots like these with this 50 MP beast of a
camera, please check out the link below to Canon USA.
Birdwatching NC is sponsored by Canon USA and I am proud to be a
Canon shooter. After 13 years of trusting my professional photography
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Found a sassy Mockingbird singing it’s heart out in a parking lot in Fuquay Varina N.C. while I stopped to get gas on my way out to birding at another location. He was so loud, lol!
A common sight here in central North Carolina, suburbia often provides suitable habitat for Mockingbirds: dense shrubbery, open spaces, scattered trees and plenty of berry bushes. Well known for their boisterous singing, Mockingbirds learn their songs from other birds, animals, and even machines around them. They sing their playlists round and round, a wheel of chirps, chortles, squawks and trills that dominate the local soundwaves. With age and experience, they keep learning new songs. Males, the louder and more relentless singers, may learn up to 200 songs in their lives. Their musical variety, then, can attract long-term mates who know that they have been around and have the stuff to survive.
