Tag Archives: lake lynn nc

By Sally Siko

Had an excellent morning of birding at Lake Lynn in Raleigh NC this past October.
I arrived around 8:30am to find a nice mixed flock of migrating Warblers flitting through the trees.
It was so much fun to try and catch a few shots as the tiny birds fluttered around, gleaning unseen insects from the sunlit leaves.
Admittedly it’s a real challenge to photograph these energetic birds. They move so quickly in and out of the harsh light and into the dim shadows that even coming home with a dozen use-able shots feels like a win.

One of the species I was most pleased to see was this Tennessee Warbler.
Since I’d missed out on ticking one off my list earlier this spring, it was great to finally lay eyes on the bird for the year.
Happily this Tennessee was quite cooperative allowing myself and about a half dozen other photographers some great opportunities for nice shots.

So cool!

With that tiny pointed beak and diminutive size, Tennessee’s sort of remind me of Blue-winged Warblers which makes sense since they are closely related. In fact they were once lumped under the same genus as Blue and Golden winged Warblers until 2010.
In addition to similar appearance, they behave in a similar way as well.
All three species tend to forage in similar habitats of the mid to high canopies of hardwood forests while making their way through NC.
This means catching a look at eye level at one of these feathered gems a special treat indeed.

If you’d like to find one for yourself, October is the best time to get out there since the Tennessee Warbler is a transient species only found in North Carolina during the spring and autumn months.
Look for them again next year from late Apr to mid-May.

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

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A Northern Waterthrush at Lake Lynn, Raleigh

October 12, 2023 admin

-Sally Siko

With autumn migration upon us, some interesting birds are making their way through North Carolina.
One species, I was particularly happy to find this month was a pair of Northern Water Thrushes at Lake Lynn in Raleigh.
After hearing their distinctive chip calls, I was able to locate the pair, moving through the low brush of the mudflats and shallow creek waters at the north end of the lake.
Though the late morning lighting was a bit harsh it was great to finally grab a couple photos of these elegant birds.

Despite their name, Northern Water Thrushes are actually a species of new world warbler.
They’ve also got a surprising diet which
includes the usual insects and spiders yet they also eat snails, small clams, crabs, minnows, and even salamanders too!
Another unique characteristic of the species is that they prefer to nest on the ground.
These scrappy warblers build their nests in the dark hiding spots created in the tangles of roots from fallen or standing trees. They’ll also nest in clumps of dense vegetation near water or in cavities of stream banks.

Over the next few weeks, your best shot at finding one is near slow moving bodies of water in hardwood forested areas, such as wooded pools, slow-moving streams, and in swampy areas.
They also hang out in the margins of dammed up beaver ponds, and along the shores of lakes and ponds such as was the case here at Lake Lynn.
Look for them moving through the Carolinas from now through mid October.

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Birdwatching News

Rare Bird Alert North Carolina: Roseate Spoonbills spotted in Raleigh at Lake Lynn

July 5, 2021 admin

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

Yesterday I received a rare bird notification from @eBird that a pair of Roseate Spoonbills had been spotted at Lake Lynn in Raleigh NC so I decided to go see if I could get a look at them with my friend Corie @calatta
We met up an hour later in the southern parking lot and walked to the north end of the lake where we were happy to find these beautiful birds hunting for a snack in the shallows with a Little Blue Heron
Nice to get a win so easily!

Roseate Spoonbills are normally found in southern Florida and along the coast of Texas during the summer which is why it was so unusual to find these two at Lake Lynn.
That being said, sightings of Spoonbills here in North Carolina have been on the increase in recent years though most of those have occurred in our southern coastal regions.

These lovely birds are best spotted in marshy areas foraging for a meal in the water or mudflats.
Sweeping their namesake spoon-shaped bill side to side in the shallow water, the Spoonbills mouth is partially open as their bill probes into the mud. When they stir up a fish or invertebrate, they’ll clamp that bill shut to capture their prey.
Their diet mainly consists of minnows, but they’ll also eat shrimp, crayfish, crabs, aquatic insects, mollusks, and slugs. Spoonbills will also snack on plants including the roots and stems of sedges.

I have no idea how long these two will stick around the Triangle for so if you can get out within the next day or two you might be able to find them as well.
For reference, I’ve included a Google Map pin drop showing the exact location of these birds at the north end of Lake Lynn (as of yesterday & today) to the end of this post.
Hope you are able to see them too!
Happy birding!
-Sally

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