Tag Archives: nc bird watching

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A Bobolink encounter in Pittsboro NC

By: Sally Siko

Each spring, flocks of migrating Bobolinks return to central NC to stop off for a few days to rest & recharge on their journey to their breeding grounds in the northern US and Canada.
The best spot to see them in the Triangle is in the fields along Mid Pines Rd in Raleigh.
That being said, these flocks are usually spotted far out in the fields making them a little tough to see without a scope, a long lens or bins.
That’s why I was so excited to get a close up encounter with one near Bynum Bridge in Pittsboro about 3 weeks ago!
It was so cool to actually be able to get a proper look at one of these beauties as it hopped around the brush on it’s never ending search for insects hidden in the leaves.



Bobolinks are about the size of a house sparrow, approximately 6.3–7.1 in long from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail.
Perched on a grass stem or displaying in flight over a field, breeding male Bobolinks are striking! No other North American bird has a white back and black underparts (some have described this look as wearing a tuxedo backwards lol!). Added to this is the male’s rich, straw-colored patch on the head and his bubbling, virtuosic song. Once summer ends, he’ll molt into a buff and brown plumage.



As mentioned above, Bobolinks are mostly a migratory visitor to the Tarheel state showing up for just a few days in the spring and autumn.
Yet, in recent decades this species has been observed nesting in the grassy meadows of western NC in increasing numbers which is pretty neat!
Elsewhere throughout the state, look for them in dry grass lands from late April-early May and in wetter fields/marshes again in late August through early October.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, 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

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Spending time with a Great Blue Heron at Bass lake Park, Holly Springs N.C.

Even when they’re tucked up and relaxing, Great Blue Herons are an impressive sight.
I spotted this one while birding at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs NC last month. He barely moved over the course of 20 minutes, only changing the position of how he stood to switch legs once.
It’s not often that I’ll catch one in ‘zen mode as usually I find them hunting for a meal along the waters edge.



At a height of about 54”, these impressive birds are the largest species of Heron in the U.S. It takes a lot of food to feed a creature of this size!
Their diet is made up primarily of fish, but these birds are opportunistic hunters and will eat whatever comes within striking distance of that formidable pointed bill.
Commonly found foraging in both freshwater and brackish water habitats, any thing that they can catch is on the menu including shrimp, crabs, crayfish, small mammals such as moles, voles and mice, amphibians like frogs, salamanders and newts, snake, lizards, small birds, and even insects.
With such a wide ranging appetite, I’m awfully glad that we are larger than this handsome bird or I’m pretty sure he’d be sizing me up for a meal possibility too, lol!

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

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

Winterbirds in the summer: Dark eyed Juncos in western N.C.

One of the joys of birding in the mountains of North Carolina during the late summer & autumn is finding the birds that one usually sees in the wintertime here in the Triangle region.
Commonly referred to as the “Snowbird” by residents of central and eastern NC, the Dark eyed Junco calls the higher elevations of western NC home year round.



Often traveling in small family flocks, these birds are constantly on the move as they forage in the low brushy scrub areas in a never ending search for a meal.
I spotted this one at the Craggy Gardens Picnic area along the Blue Ridge Parkway while leading a bird tour here last month. Interestingly, the Juncos that I’ve seen up in the mountains appear to be larger in size than the ones that I typically see in my yard in central NC during the winter. Whatever they are finding to eat around here clearly serves them well in building fat reserves for colder weather ahead 😉

During the warmer months, Dark eyed Juncos feed mainly on insects, seeds and occasionally berries. Once the cold weather arrives, their diet consists of entirely seeds.
They are known to practice an interesting foraging method called “riding.” They’ll fly up and land onto a seed cluster on the top of a flimsy stem then catch a gravity assisted “ride” it to the ground where they pick off the shower of seeds that dropped on the way down.
Thinking that the round ones I’ve seen up in the mountains have that behavior down to a science lol!

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

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Old Bynum bridge Birding: A cape May warbler encounter in Pittsboro NC

If you’re looking for a place to find a nice variety of migrating warblers in the Triangle tomorrow morning, the Old Bynum Bridge in Pittsboro N.C. is the place to be!
I was pleased to see 7 different species this morning including this gorgeous Cape May Warbler foraging in the tree tops.



A brief visitor to the Tarheel stare in spring & autumn, these little guys breed in boreal coniferous forests throughout Canada, from Alberta to Quebec and in the northern United States from Minnesota to Maine.
Although they will dine on most kinds of insects, Cape May Warblers favorite food is the Spruce Budworm. In fact, this warbler’s population fluctuations may directly correlated to the boom and bust of the spruce budworms. The Cape May’s are actually pretty important to the coniferous forest ecosystem since the Spruce Budworm insects cause periodic widespread defoliation of spruces and firs. By eating the Budworms, they actually are preserving the very trees that they need for breeding and shelter.



Cape May Warblers spend the summer months in southern Canada and pass through North Carolina during September & early October on the way to their wintering grounds in the Caribbean.
Look for them in the mid to high canopies of trees in areas near water where there is still likely an abundance of insects to be found.
They will only stick around here for a short time so get out there and find them soon or you’ll have to wait until April to see ‘em 🙂

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame 50MP DSLR, the @canonusa
#5Ds

PS. I also got to meet some fellow birders / photographers (that I follow on Insta and even some who follow me here on FB) in person for the first time.
It’s neat to experience the magic of autumn migration with my kind of people 😉
Shout out to @apexbirdluver @krchauvaux

Bird watching Videos, Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

In search of Red headed Woodpeckers: Birding on the Old Tobacco trail

One of the best spots to find Red headed Woodpeckers is along the American Tobacco Trail in New Hill, N.C. With that cherry red head and that deep black plumage, these striking birds are one of my favorite species of woodpeckers. Check out the video above to see some highlights from my trip there earlier this week.

Red headed Woodpecker

The Red-headed Woodpecker is a fiercely protective , vibrant bird that can be found over a large portion of the swamps, grasslands, and clearings throughout the United States. With a bright-red head, white underparts, and black backs, these feathered gems are easily identifiable whether they are deep in a forest or hanging out on trees coming up from the water.

Red-headed Woodpecker at the Old Tobacco Trail

These nomadic birds prefer to differ their breeding location year-after-year. However, even when not in breeding season, Red-headed Woodpeckers can be found nesting in dead trees and cavities in dead parts of living trees. Although both partners build a nest, the male woodpecker is the dominant craftsman. Speaking of mates, Red-headed Woodpeckers prefer to play “hide and seek” with potential partners as they dart around stumps, branches, and trees: once a mate is chosen, woodpeckers remain monogamous for a few consecutive years.

Red headed Woodpecker

There are also a few other interesting birds to be found along the American Tobacco Trail such as Green Herons, Mourning Doves, American Goldfinches, Northern Flickers, Red winged Blackbirds and Yellow billed Cuckoos.

Northern Flicker
Green Heron
Mourning Dove
American Goldfinch
Red winged Blackbird
Yellow billed Cuckoo

If you plan to visit the area, it’s best to arrive early as this trail can get very crowded with joggers and bikers after 9am. I’ve also got a trip planned for next month so if you’d like to come with me to see the Red-headed Woodpecker (and other cool birds) check out the link below!

Birdwatching News, Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

A yellow-rumped warbler encounter at Bass Lake Park, Holly Springs North Carolina

The Yellow-rumped Warbler is one of my favorite wintertime birds to see here in the Raleigh area of North Carolina.


They are a common sight around the lakes, ponds and bogs, flying from branch to limb searching for berries.
Yellow-rumps are one of a handful of bird species that can digest the berries of the Wax Myrtle. This is why they are often spotted in these quintessential North Carolina trees.
A small flock of hungry Yellow-rumps can strip the tree of it’s fruit within a matter of days.


They are not a flashy winter bird, often under appreciated by casual viewers.
Their winter plumage shows shades of gray from whitish to darker streaking on the flanks and breast. The lone splash of color is found on two yellow patches on the sides of the upper breast and a patch of yellow on the rump.
By mid-April the muted hues will change to a beautiful plumage of blue-gray, black and white colors. The yellows will deepen and contrast sharply against the gray and black feathers. Add a yellow patch right on top of the head and the transformation is complete from a understated winter feeder, to a stunning, spring breeder!



And then…. they leave, lol!
The destinations are their breeding ground in the western forests of the higher elevations of the Appalachians, on up into New England, and even Canada.
Then we will have to wait until October to see them again here in central N.C.
Enjoy them while you can!
🙂 Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

Birdwatching News

A note from the admin of Birdwatching N.C.

By: Sally Siko

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has followed me here at Birdwatching NC over the past year.
For those of you who don’t know, my name is Sally Siko @sally_siko
I’m a professional photographer who is passionate about telling stories and sharing photographs of the beautiful birds I encounter everywhere in the Tarheel State.


The thing is, I’m no one special in the great big birding world, but I am someone who believes that it’s important that we all rise higher when we lift each other up.
This is why I started Birdwatching NC as a place to highlight the endeavors of birders, photographers, tour guides and other small birding based businesses here in North Carolina.
It has been of a particular joy to have been able to promote the work of other birder- photographers on the website and here on Insta.
I am in awe with how much all of you know about our feathery charges and appreciate those of you who have pointed me in the right direction along the way, especially when I get something wrong 😉
I could not be more grateful for each and every one of you.
Thank you.


It is with great happiness that I wanted to share with you today that I’ve recently picked up @canonusa as an sponsor advertiser on the website.


As a dedicated Canon shooter, I’m humbled to have them on board.
I’ve trusted Canon equipment to serve my clients as best I could for over a decade and I’m proud to offer their retail services and incredible products on my site for other photographers so that they can grow with me.
If your reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and I’ll continue to bring the best of what I’ve got to share with you from the world of birding here in North Carolina.

Happy birding!
-Sally
Admin Birdwatching NC
Canon 5DS
Canon 5D Mark ll
Canon 5D (yes, this camera still takes great pics!)
Canon 7D
Canon 80D

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

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

yellow-rumped Warbler in Englehard, N.C.

Spotted this female Yellow-rumped Warbler in downtown Engelhard N.C. a few weeks ago.
She was rather friendly and didn’t seem to mind my presence as I snapped off a few shots.



A wintertime resident of North Carolina, Yellow-rumped Warblers are one of the most widespread and well-known species of warblers in North America.
Lots of of us know them by their aptly nick named “butter-butts,” since their bright yellow rumps are an eye-catching ID characteristic, lol!
In addition to sporting yellow color patches on their sides, adults also have a yellow crown patch, most obvious in adult males and somewhat subdued with females and juveniles.

It’s nice to live someplace where we’ve got a species of wintertime Warbler. Now that most of the leaves have fallen, spotting these little gems is a whole lot easier!
What a marvelous little bird.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatchingnc
Canon 5Ds

Field Notes, Instagram Birding

Big flock of common Grackles in Fuquay Varina, N.C.

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

View this post on Instagram

Sound on 🙂 A ton of migrating Common Grackles here in Fuquay Varina NC this morning! Took this clip a moment ago. Common Grackles migrate from the far-northern U.S., Canada, and the Great Plains to winter in the central and southern U.S. including right here in N.C. Always a cool sight to hear & see so many in one large flock! Video by @sally_siko of @birdwatchingnc on an iPhone . . . . #birdnerd #birdsofinsta #birdsofinstagram #ncwildlife #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #bird #birds #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirdwatching #shotoniphone #ncoutdoors #ncnature #canonwildlife #ncwildlifephotographer #northcarolinabirding #birdwatchingnc #northcarolinabirds #audubonsociety #birdoftheday #naturesbestphotomagazine #earthfocus #commongrackle #grackles #autumnmigration #autumnmigration2019

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