Tag Archives: pea island life saving station birding

Rare Bird alert: Lark Sparrow sighting in North Carolina

September 2, 2021 admin

The neatest thing about birding is that ya never quite know for sure what you’re going to see when you step outside.
Sure, we’ve got our goals and general expectations on hand but each time we head out there is an opportunity to to be surprised and delighted with an unexpected find.
Case in point, this Lark Sparrow that I spotted while leading a trip to the Pea Island NWR this past Sunday.

Up until that point, tbh the birding was less then stellar that day lol. There had been a remarkable lack of bird activity going on so when I first put this bird into focus on my lens it was pretty exciting!
The reason why is because the Lark Sparrow’s range stretches from primarily the Great Plains and west to the California coast. Year-round populations also occur in Texas and northern Mexico.
That being said a very, very small population of Lark Sparrows spend the summer right here in North Carolina too!
Usually those birds are found in isolated spots the Sandhill region of the central part of the state so it was incredibly cool to find one here in the OBX at the beginning of migration.

When Lark Sparrows do show up in the eastern counties of NC during the autumn months, they prefer to forage in areas of wide sandy-scrub patches. The dry dunes and field habitats here on Pea Island are just perfect for them.
Unfortunately these beauties won’t be here for much longer as most will head south for the winter in a week or two but if you missed them this year, the Lark Sparrows will return to the Tarheel state next April.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty mirrorless monster of a camera, the @canonusa
#R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes

A Sanderling encounter on Oregon Inlet at the Pea Island NWR

April 9, 2021 admin

After visiting the North Pond at the Pea Island NWR with my guests, we headed north up Rt.12 to the Pea Island Life Saving Station to see what we could find along the shores of the Oregon Inlet.
Along with Pelicans, Gulls and Ruddy Turnstones, a couple Sanderlings flew in and began foraging in the sand.

A familiar shorebird to many here in North Carolina, Sanderlings are usually seen scurrying after waves as they roll back out to sea always in the hunt for tiny crustaceans and mollusks exposed by the retreating water.
These tiny birds are quite entertaining to watch! With legs that seem to move a ‘mile a minute, these pint sized dynamos make quick work in their efforts to find a meal on the beach.

What’s the secret to their speed?
As seen in the photo below, Sanderlings are the only sandpiper which lacks a hind toe!
Propelling their weight forward with every step into the sand, this unique foot adaptation allows them to be strong runners with less resistance.

Sanderlings are one of the most common species of Sandpiper in the world. Indeed, during the wintertime they may be found along every coastline in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii too.
Here in N.C. they are a year round resident but during the summer, they are slightly less common because the ones who spend the warmer months here on our beaches are non breeding birds.
Whatever the season, it’s always nice to see one 🙂

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

A Yellow-rumped Warbler encounter at the Pea Island Life Saving Station

April 5, 2021 admin

Here’s a cheerful sight on a grey day, the Yellow-rumped Warbler. I spotted this one while on a birding trip at the Pea Island NWR.
These little ones are quite curious about people and flew in close frequently to see what we were all about.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler is a familiar winter visitor to North Carolina. They arrive in the Tarheel state in September and hang out here until mid May before departing to their breeding grounds in New England, the Rockies, Canada and Alaska.
During the cold months, they may be found searching for a meal in open woodlands, marshes and near ponds with a a brushy shoreline.

As is the case with other species of Warblers, Yellow ‘rumps are voracious eaters of insects. In the spring you can see them gleaning and moving through the trees quickly to catch their prey.
In the wintertime when insects are scarce, Yellow-rumped Warblers switch their diet to consuming berries.

In addition, they’re the only species of Warbler that are able to digest Bayberries and Wax Myrtles. This unique dietary adaptation enables them to spend the winter much farther north than other Warblers when more traditional six or eight legged Warbler fare is unavailable due to colder temperatures.
In fact, the easiest way to find a Yellow-rumped Warbler here in NC is to hang out near a Wax Myrtle bush. It usually doesn’t take long for one to show up once the berries are ready!