One of the more challenging species of birds to spot here in NC is the American Bittern.
As seen in the 3rd photo in this post, they are masters of camouflage with brown striped and buffed plumage well suited for a life spent hunting for a meal in the tall grass along a ponds edge. Can you see it?
*Check out the 4th pic to see the cropped version for a closer look!
I was lucky enough to see two Bitterns while birding in eastern NC. One of which was stalking prey in the water which offered me the rare opportunity to photograph it out in the open.The Bittern moved slowly, each foot deftly placed carefully into the water barely making a ripple in the surface.After a few minutes he struck his bill into the water grabbing some sort of unseen snack which it quickly gulped down in an instant.It was an amazing experience to be able to share this bird with a group of photographers who’d never seen one before!
American Bitterns are known to breed in small numbers throughout coastal areas of North Carolina but are more commonly found from September through early May, particularly during migrational periods.They are primarily found in our freshwater marshes and wet fields containing cattail reeds and tall sedge grasses.Though they are indeed difficult to see when hiding in the tall grass, the good thing is that individual birds tend to return to the exact same spots of shoreline year after year.So, if you happen to locate one but it’s hiding in dense cover, it’s quite possible to come back the next day or even the next year to have another try at seeing the Bittern out in the open.
Last month I tried to find an Iceland Gull which had been been reported on Pea Island in the OBX of NC. Unfortunately I never found the bird which didn’t come as much of a surprise since the Iceland had been spotted hanging out with a large flock of other gulls at Oregon Inlet. Given that the flocks tend to move around quite a bit throughout any given day, my odds of success in finding the Iceland that morning were slim at best.
Redemption was found last weekend though while on another birding trip to the OBX. While walking on the Salt Flats Wildlife Trail along the North Pond, the Iceland Gull that I’d searched for weeks ago flew directly in front of me, wheeling and banking in the air just a few feet above the ground and water! I couldn’t believe that the bird was right there, no effort required other than walking a few feet in the rain down a weedy sand path. How cool was that?! Though part of me always seems to crave more of a challenge when it comes to finding rare birds, I’ll take a win whenever I can get it.
Though the far southern range of the Iceland Gull extends off the coast of North Carolina during the winter months, they are an uncommon bird to find here in the Tarheel state. These lovely birds are a medium-size gull, whose smaller size helps to differentiate themselves from the look-alike Herring Gulls they like to hang out with. Iceland’s have very pale plumage and white wing tips and, like the glaucous gull, it is been given the nickname of ‘white-winged’ gull. They’ve also got a rounded head and smallish beak, giving them a sweet, almost dove-like expression. Just gorgeous and well worth getting out into the rain to see on a windy January day!
I made it out to the Pea Island NWR for a very quick trip last weekend and was pleased to find a small raft of Blue winged Teal hanging out on the North Pond. It was really neat to be able to spend a few minutes watching these feathered gems at close range. The flock was quite vocal and I learned that the hens quack while the drakes make peeping sounds while calling out to one another.
As with other species of dabbling ducks, Blue-winged Teal are usually seen snacking on shallow freshwater vegetation such as sedges, seeds, and small invertebrates while swimming along a shoreline with emergent vegetation. They rarely dive but will occasionally roll over underwater while bathing, following up with a good feather shake and a preening session.
Blue winged Teals are generally spring and fall migratory residents of North Carolina. That being said, I’ve seen them as early as late January in the OBX. Your best bet to see them is in our coastal counties from March-May and then again from late August through October. Aren’t they beautiful?
One of the more challenging species of birds to spot here in NC is the American Bittern.
As seen in the 2nd photo in this post they are masters of camouflage with brown striped and buffed plumage well suited for a life spent hunting for a meal in the tall grass along a ponds edge. Can you see it? *Check out the below to see the cropped version of the 2nd pic for a closer look!
I was lucky enough to see two Bitterns while birding with friends a couple of weeks ago in eastern NC. One of which was stalking prey in the water which offered me the rare opportunity to photograph it out in the open. The Bittern moved slowly, each foot deftly placed carefully into the water barely making a ripple in the surface. After a few minutes he struck his bill into the water grabbing some sort of unseen snack which it quickly gulped down in an instant. It was an amazing experience to be able to share this bird with a group of photographers who’d never seen one before!
American Bitterns are known to breed in small numbers throughout coastal areas of North Carolina but are more commonly found from September through early May, particularly during migrational periods. They are primarily found in our freshwater marshes and wet fields containing cattail reeds and tall sedge grasses. Though they are indeed difficult to see when hiding in the tall grass, the good thing is that individual birds tend to return to the exact same spots of shoreline year after year. So, if you happen to locate one but it’s hiding in dense cover, it’s quite possible to come back the next day or even the next year to have another try at seeing the Bittern out in the open.
One of the most entertaining species of bird to watch in NC is the Tundra Swan. Each November, huge flocks of them arrive in our eastern coastal counties to spend the winter on waterfowl impoundments and agricultural fields. That being said, just because they travel together doesn’t mean that they all get along.
This was the case when I photographed a small group of swans on the North Pond at the Pea Island NWR. There were three swimming together when a fourth swan flew in. Upon landing, the first three birds immediately set in to attack the fourth bird but he was not deterred by their efforts in the least. Instead he fought back, biting and slapping his wings against his attackers before settling in to join the flock. Bird drama at its finest lol!
Tundra Swans nest in northern Alaska and in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northeastern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and northwestern Quebec. Interestingly, Tundra Swans break off into 2 distinct groups of eastern and western migrating populations when traveling between breeding and wintering grounds. Swans that nest east of Point Hope in northern Alaska winter on the Atlantic coast, while birds breeding from Point Hope south & west winter along the Pacific. It seems odd for the birds in the Coleville River region of AK make such a long trip east which spans the United States when a flight due south/west to California is quite a bit closer. Whatever the reason, I’m glad they are here!
These impressive birds will stick around eastern North Carolina until February before heading north so we’ve still got plenty of time to enjoy them over the next few months.
Here’s a familiar sight found on North Carolina’s beaches, the Black bellied Plover. I spotted this one looking for a snack in the sand along the shoreline of a small cove near Oregon Inlet in the OBX. It was quite amicable to my presence and walked up to me a couple times which allowed for some good close up photo opportunities.
The bird featured here is likely a juvenile or non breeding adult due to the streaky pattern on it’s breast and overall spotty appearance. Adult male Black bellied Plovers display jet black plumage on their face, running down the front of their necks and down across their breast and belly. The adult females look similar to the males but showing less contrast in their appearance.
Black bellied Plovers are a wintertime visitor to coastal areas of the Tarheel State. That being said, a small population of non-breeding birds will spend the summer months here too. They are best found on our beaches but also in tidal mudflat areas and on short grass lawns searching for a meal. They’ll stick around until April before heading north to their nesting grounds in the tundras of Alaska and Canada so we’ve got plenty of time to enjoy these sweet birds for the season ahead.
Back home after my trip to the Alligator River NWR & the OBX this past weekend and thinking about the importance of pre-bird tour groundwork. Because nature is somewhat unpredictable, I’ve found it useful over the years to do a little location scouting a day or two before my tour dates. This time allows me to check the conditions of the trails and routes plus be able to confirm that all of the seasonal bird species are where I’d expect them to be. Most of the time it’s all good but in this case, yikes! Thank goodness I headed out to the Alligator River NWR earlier in the week before my guests where scheduled to arrive because apparently the impoundment areas were bone dry.
Dry as a bone at the Alligator River NWR
Normally the fields are flooded in October to provide safe haven for migrating waterfowl over the winter but due to dry conditions, a shortage of workers, and a beaver dam stopping up the pumps, they were unable to start the pumps to flood the fields this year. Thus, aside from a small flock of Tundra Swans, a half dozen Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles, there were hardly any birds to be found along the first stop of my tour. Not exactly the best conditions to start off a birding trip…
Red-tailed Hawk at Alligator River NWR
So, I contacted my guests before the tour day and explained the situation on the ground. My new plan was to spend less time at the Alligator River NWR and add an extra stop at the end of our tour on to find a rare species of bird (a Snow Bunting) on Pea Island. I don’t like to have to change things last minute but I always want to make sure that my guests are getting in the most birds (and the most fun!) out of the time we spend together so this felt like the right move.
Black Bear at the Alligator River NWR
As it turned out, Alligator River NWR was still worth the short visit as there were plenty of opportunities for my guests to spend time photographing the resident Black Bears which was pretty cool!
It was such a joy to see so many happy bird loving photographers getting their first ever shots of a bear. Plus, I got to show the group a family of Bald Eagles hunting Swans in the fields.
All in all, not a bad way to start the day 🙂
Thankfully our next stop on Pea Island came through with thousands of ducks and swans to see swimming on the ponds in the refuge.
American Wigeon at Pea Island NWR
There were Redheads, American Wigeons, Ringnecks, Scaups, Pintails, Gadwalls, Black Ducks, Mergansers, Buffleheads and more including American Avocets, Clapper Rails, Godwits, warblers and sparrows! Plus uncountable numbers of Tundra Swans, geese and American Coots to round out the day’s list which you can see in the photos below.
Lesser black backed Gull
Common Merganser
Savannah Sparrow
Hooded Merganser & Bufflehead
Clapper Rail
Black Duck
Red winged Blackbird
White Ibis
Redhead Ducks
White Pelicans
Pintails, Redheads & Gadwall
American Avocets & Godwits
Tundra Swans
American Coots
Pintail Duck
American wigeon
Assorted Waterfowl
Yellow- rumped Warbler
Ruddy Turnstone
Black bellied Plover
Oh and yes, I was able to deliver that Snow Bunting too (a new lifer-bird for every guest!) which was a total cherry on top.
Snow Bunting at Oregon Inlet
All in all and despite an unexpected start, a wonderful day 🙂 I can’t wait to get back out there for the next tour later this month!
All smiles on the OBX!
If you’d like to join me this winter on a birding trip, click on the dates shown in green on the calendar below for tour availability, locations and booking info.
PS. Shout out to my friend John Carter who completed his goal to go birding in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties!
He say’s that he is now officially retiring from birding (to focus on his Raleigh – Durham Real estate career) and that his last bird of the year was the Snow Bunting we found on this trip 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS JOHN! Hope you come out of bird retirement again someday. Never say never my friend 😉
This past weekend, I led a birding trip to the OBX and was pleased to show my guests a rare wintertime visitor to NC, the Snow Bunting! It was such a joy to see how happy this bird made the people on the tour, so many big smiles, what a great way to cap off the day.
Snow Bunting at Oregon Inlet on Pea Island in the OBX, North Carolina
Dedicated cold weather birds, Snow Buntings breed in the high Arctic. They nest in the crevices and deep cracks of rocks which provide protection from the Arctic winds. Though their nests are thickly lined with grass, feathers and tufts of fur, due to the extreme cold temperatures the female is unable to leave the nest so her mate is wholly responsible for feeding her while she is incubating the eggs.
Often seen with flocks of Longspurs and sparrows, Snow Buntings feed on the ground, foraging for a variety of seeds and buds as well as insects and other small invertebrates, including small marine crustaceans when spending time in coastal areas. This particular bird spent most of its time either on the rocks overlooking the water or on the ground eating grass seed under the bridge along Oregon Inlet.
The Snow Buntings normal wintertime range extends from southern Canada down to Pennsylvania on the east coast, across the upper Midwest over to western Oregon. They are also an infrequent visitor to the coastal areas of Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. Look for them hiding on the low dunes, short grass/ sand flats, and on rock jetty’s in the OBX from November through February.
Finally colder weather has arrived and with it, new birds are making their way to North Carolina to spend the winter. I’m so excited because this means my favorite time of year is here, weird duck season lol!
These are some of my favorite birds from my trips to the OBX last year. As you can see it’s mostly about waterfowl like Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, Redheads, Tundra Swans, Pintails, Eiders and Scaups but there’s also giant American White Pelicans, Coots, American Avocets and more to find too! And oh yes, there are LOTS of them out there. The barrier islands of the OBX in eastern NC offers superb habitat conditions for visiting migratory waterfowl with large, shallow freshwater ponds and brackish water marshes for the birds to feed in. Every autumn, thousands of ducks, geese and swans arrive to settle in these areas which offers excellent viewing and photographic opportunities for birders and bird photographers alike to get up close to these gorgeous feathered gems.
This means that starting on November 28th, I’ll be making several trips to the coast to lead birding / photography tours in the OBX at Pea Island NWR and the Alligator River NWR from now through February 2022. These trips are an opportunity for us to connect with like-minded bird loving photographers who enjoy the chase as much as we do. On a personal level, I mean where else can I hang out with groups of people who actually want to hear more random bird facts along with chatter about F stops and shutter speeds? Do you know how hard it is to find people like you IRL off of the net? Talk about a “rarity”! Lol! At the end of the day, it’s just nice not to feel alone in this pursuit and incredibly rewarding to know that I can help others move forward on the journey with me. Yeah it’s corny to say out loud but it’s how it is haha 😉 Anyway…if you’d like to join us out there check the calendar below for the Birdwatching NC tour schedule. Book your date today before space is gone.
I’m looking forward to meeting you to go birding this winter!!!
Can you feel it? The cool breeze seeping in under the still warm sun and crisp blue skies. The leaves starting to lose those vibrant greens in the west, fading ever so gently into muted tones soon to blaze red & gold into brown. Yes. Autumn is here in the Carolinas and following on its heels, the most wonderful time of year… Weird duck season!!!
Today we’re all concentrating on the fall migrational movements of Warblers and other songbirds but in my opinion, winter will bring my favorite feathered gems to North Carolina. Redheads, American Wigeons, Green winged Teal, Blue winged Teal, Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, Canvasbacks, Eiders, Pintails, Northern Shovelers and more waiting to delight us once the weather turns cold.
I’ve made the decision to spend as much time as I can this winter traveling to our coastal counties this winter to photograph and share as many duck species as I can from November to February. Although I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I can expect to find out there, there’s always the potential to be surprised and delighted by something new floating out there in the water (or something furry hiding in a cornfield, lol!).
Wanna join me? After all, birding & bird photography is better with friends! Birders / Photographers of all skill levels are welcome and I’ll be sharing plenty of tips along the way. Check out the link below for my winter tour schedule to book your date.
