Tag Archives: lake mattamuskeet nwr

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes

Bird watching at the Lake Mattamuskeet NWR: the Orange-crowned Warbler

On a winter birding trip to Lake Mattamuskeet in Swanquarter NC, I encountered a sweet Orange-crowned Warbler hunting for a meal in the marsh.


I’d forgotten that they hang out here in the Tarheel State during the winter and was delighted to see him. He made quite a fuss of digging insects out of the reeds. Every so often, he’d hover in mid air gleaning for his prey then savagely snap up his quarry with all the tenacity of a Bald Eagle downing a fish lol!



Orange-crowned Warblers are opportunistic hunters and foragers. Like a few other species of Warblers, in addition to insects, berries and other small fruits are also on its menu especially in the winter when six or eight legged meals become scarce.
They are even known to raid Sapsucker tree wells for tree sap and will steal a sip of nectar from any flowers or hummingbird feeders that are available too!

Their ability to adapt their diets to include non typical Warbler fare serves them well as south eastern North Carolina is nearly at the top of their normal wintering range. Although we’ve still got a few insects flying around, the fact that the Orange-crowns will eat other types of food aids in their survival in the coldest weather.
In addition, the birds who spend the winter here in North Carolina may have an advantage during the spring migration ahead.
This is because they already have a several hundred mile head start for the return trip north to their breeding grounds in Canada (and the mountain west) on their counterparts spending the winter in the deep southern states and Mexico. Perhaps this means that the birds who arrive first are able to stake out the prime nesting territories first which is something interesting to think about.

These gorgeous birds will stick around eastern North Carolina until mid April and occasionally may be found until early May in smaller numbers throughout the rest of the state.
Look for the Orange-crowned Warbler in wetland areas wherever there is dense brushy habitat available. Marshes and ponds lined with evergreens are excellent places to go see them too!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame @canonusa
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Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Birding at Lake Mattamuskeet NWR: Blue headed Vireo

Recently I took a trip to the Lake Mattamuskeet NWR to scout out some locations for future birding trips.
This is such a wonderful spot to visit in the wintertime! There’s a nice variety of birds to be found here and the landscape is warm and inviting even on the coldest of days.



One of prettiest birds I encountered at the East Pond along Wildlife Drive was this Blue-headed Vireo. It was neat to get a nice up close look at this feathered gem in the marsh near the dock. We watched one another for a minute or two before he flew off into the brush.
Though it was a brief encounter, I was happy to grab at least a few photos while it lasted.


A year round resident of North Carolina, Blue-headed Vireos breed in the western part of the state during the spring & summer and then spend the winter months in our eastern coastal counties.


During nesting season, they’re relatively easily to find in the Appalachian Mountains at elevations consisting of mixed coniferous and hardwood forests. Take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and you’re likely to see (or hear) at least a couple when pulling off onto those scenic overlooks.


That being said, I’ve had the most luck spotting them during the wintertime in the mid to lower canopies of trees as well as foraging in low lying shrubs in open fields. A curious little bird, they seem to respond well to pishing and will fly in close if you give that a try.
Aren’t they lovely?

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

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

Tundra swan observations at Lake Mattamuskeet

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

While birding at Lake Mattamuskeet in coastal North Carolina, I found a flock of Tundra Swans feeding on the water.
It’s an incredible experience to see so many of these large birds in one place!


If you’ve never seen a swan migration for yourself, I highly recommend that you visit this area to check it out.
The Tundra Swans will be here throughout the winter until February so there is still time to go!



I observed this pair for a little while before they decided to join the rest of their flock on a different area on the lake.
Watching them take off was quite a sight to see!
Despite their enormous wing spans, Tundra Swans are not quite strong enough to take off by flapping it’s wings alone.
It takes a lot of power to achieve the lift needed to get their 23 lb bodies into the air.


A running start on the surface of the water is required to gather enough momentum for them to take flight.
Flapping their wings, they’ll extend their necks straight out and race across the water like a sprinter in a 100 meter dash.
Their large webbed feet help propel them off the surface of the lake, leaving a path of water splashes behind them before they make the final push for lift off.
Amazing.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatchingnc
Canon 5Ds

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

NORTH CAROLINA BIRDING TRAIL : Searching for Tundra Swans at Lake Mattamuskeet NWR

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

Last weekend I took a day trip with my daughter in search of Tundra Swans at the Lake Mattamuskeet NWR in Swan Quarter N.C. We arrived at Lake Landing around 9AM and set off to a small drainage pond at the southern end of the lake.

We spent about 2 hours exploring the area and taking pictures. What an amazing experience it was to see these large birds up close! Tundra Swans migrate to the Lake Mattamuskeet area every year during the winter. They are found all over the place. From the lake itself, to the farm fields surrounding the NWR.

I have posted a video below of the highlights from the day. I also included footage of our quick lunch break at Martelle’s Feed House Restaurant and a brief trip into nearby downtown Englehard because I thought it would be neat to show what kinds of things there are to do in the local area besides birding.

Here is a map of the area…

I also wanted to share a link to a few places to stay if you are traveling to the areas. Just click on the photo below to check out the hotel options on Google.

Enjoy the video and Happy Birding!

-Sally

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

In search of Tundra Swans: november Birding at Lake Mattamuskeet NWR

By: Sally Siko, Admin Birdwatching N.C.

Had an excellent time birding at Lake Mattamuskeet NWR and the surrounding area this past weekend! Saw over a 1000 migrating Tundra Swans and quite a few other species too.

These Swans are freak’n huge! Their wing span is 7’ and they stand nearly 4’ tall. Adult birds can weigh up to 23 lbs!

Fully mature swans are solid white while immature swans have more gray toned plumage, particularly their head and neck area.
Like geese, swan mate for life and from what I’ve observed, they tend to stick close by their partners even in large flocks.

Tundra Swans breed in the Arctic Coastal Plains then migrate during the winter to the West and East coasts of the United States, including here in North Carolina. It’s pretty cool to think about what an amazing journey these birds made just to arrive here where I was standing.


Interestingly, the greatest number I saw yesterday were feeding in the wide open fields near the lake. As I drove around there were thousands of them flying back and forth between the lake and the farm lands.


From what I’ve read online, it’s not an ideal situation for the birds or the farmers. The swans natural wintering habitats are being disturbed by hunting, the destruction of aquatic plants and competition from invasive species such as Mute Swans.
Hopefully we can find a way to stabilize their numbers because it would be a shame to lose these incredible birds here in N.C.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatchingnc
Canon 5Ds