Check out this sweet Ruby crowned Kinglet! She was my trail companion on a recent birding trip to the Pungo Unit in eastern NC. It was really neat to get a look at her up close as she followed me closely, fluttering from the bushes that lined the path.
These tiny birds have personalities that are similar to Chickadees in that they are both energetic and curious about people. Although if experienced this type of behavior before with Kinglets, I’ve never had one follow me for more than a minute or two. This one was different. Over a period of 10 minutes, whenever I’d stop to try and photograph another bird in the distance, she would “stop” too (at least by Kinglet standards which means that she was sticking close by the entire time all while flying up and down the branches of wherever the nearest shrub was located along the way).
This flurry of activity comes at no surprise as these tiny birds are constantly on the move. A fellow bird loving friend Mike Kopack @mpkopack once described them as feathered ping-pong balls which I believe fits them nicely lol! Happily, this Kinglet paused just long enough for me to grab a quick portrait which was pretty cool.
The Ruby crowned Kinglet requires a relatively large amount of food (for its size) to fuel their energy needs. In fact, they need to consume around 10 calories a day to keep moving. While this may not sound like very much, this may be a more difficult requirement to meet during the wintertime for a bird that mainly eats small insects, spiders and insect eggs. So, when the opportunities for six & eight legged meals become scarce, Ruby crowned Kinglets will also forage for berries and seeds in the winter. They may even be spotted dining at your suet feeders during the coldest months. They will stick around the Tarheel State until late April along our coastal counties and until early May throughout the rest of North Carolina before migrating to their breeding grounds in the Rockies, Alaska and Canada. Enjoy them while you can!
While looking for birds along the banks of a flooded out field at the Pungo Unit last month, I spotted a tiny Swamp Sparrow watching me from a sapling. It’s not often that I catch a glimpse of one not on the ground behind a tangle of brush so I snapped a couple photos quickly before it flew down into the leaf litter below. It was nice to have a chance to photograph this one on a rainy day. With no harsh shadows or highlights to contend with, the soft lighting made for some excellent photography conditions. Plus that silver glow of cloud diffused lighting really allows those colors to naturally pop!
Although Swamp Sparrows are a relatively common find during the winter in North Carolina they are a bit shy and tend to forage in muddy/ marsh areas that can difficult to access at times. Indeed as their name implies they can be found in swamps, bogs, wet fields and near ponds with brushy shorelines. Their diet consists of seeds, small berries, and aquatic invertebrates. They’ve got unusually long legs (for a sparrow) which allows them to hunt for insects in shallow water.
Swamp Sparrows breed in eastern Canada and throughout the north/ north eastern regions of the United States. Each autumn, they flock together moving south into the mid Atlantic and southeastern United States including right here in North Carolina to spend the winter in warmer locals.
With a local range stretching from the mountains to the coast, they are generally found more frequently in the eastern half of the Tarheel State from late April or early May. There’s still plenty of time for you to see one this season so get out there is you can 😉
While visiting the Pungo Unit, I encountered a pair of Eastern wild Turkeys making their way through a field as I drove along Canal D rd. I watched them for several minutes as they strolled through the grass just before sunrise. It was neat to see them out there in the open!
These large birds are constantly on the move, always on the lookout for a new snack (nuts, seeds, grains, insects and small fruits) to gobble down 😉 They’re most frequently observed foraging in the early morning hours around sunrise, and will also feed actively in the evening before darkness sets in.
A year round resident, the Eastern wild Turkey is found in nearly every county here in North Carolina. As a flock, they’re skittish birds which in my experience, are best found while driving around open fields. I’ve seen hundreds of them this way but have never seen one while hiking through the woods. These two didn’t stick around long enough for me to get a proper video, but it was neat to catch a glimpse (and a couple pics) of them before they beat feet back to the tree line.
One cannot write about a wintertime visit to the Pungo Unit at the Pocosin Lakes NWR in North Carolina without mentioning the vast numbers of Tundra Swans who spend the cooler months here.
During my birding trip last month, I was greeted by the sight of a huge flock of these large beautiful birds feeding in the wide open fields of the refuge. It was neat to stand there listening to the swans calling out to one another on the cold December morning!
Arriving in N.C. in late autumn /early winter, Tundra swans, make their way to the the Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes NWR where the agricultural fields are filled with leftover grain which provides winter nourishment for the birds. This crop management is the result of an agreement between the Wildlife Service and local farmers.
During the day, the swans move throughout the refuge flying from Pungo Lake to the farm fields in search of food. In the the large shallow ponds created by flooded out fields, the birds graze on the submerged vegetation below the waters surface. It’s in these fields that the birds are best observed up close vs. trying to view them paddling in the water over the vast expanse of Pungo Lake. Aren’t they lovely?
View of a wide open field at the Pungo Unit at the Pocosin Lakes NWRPungo LakeLake Mattamuskeet
Yesterday I headed out to go birding on the Pungo Unit at the Pocosin Lakes NWR and Lake Mattamuskeet. Originally I’d intended to see if I could find another Painted Bunting but that was not to be. Yet as it goes with birding, often disappointing losses actually turn into interesting opportunities to see new birds that one never expected to find. Well, that’s exactly what happened 4 times yesterday!
GREATER YELLOWLEGS
Greater Yellowlegs at Pungo Lake
The first unexpected encounter was with a Greater Yellowlegs that I found looking for food in what may be (generously lol) described as a big puddle at the Pungo Unit. Although they are known to spend the winter here, these handsome birds normally aren’t found in NC during the summer.
A Greater Yellowlegs in breeding plumage at the Pocosin Lakes NWR , July 2020
As seen in this photograph, during the breeding season, the Greater Yellowlegs sports plumage patterns of dense, nearly black lines speckled on their pale grey breast and necks. It’s quite a change from what we normally see of them in the wintertime which is a muted brown buff color.
Check out the map below for the location of where I found this bird.
BOBOLINK
Male Bobolink at Lake Mattamuskeet (molting plumage)
The second unexpected bird I found was a male Bobolink at Lake Landing on Lake Mattamuskeet. This was the place I’d expected to find a Painted Bunting and I was so focused on listening for their familiar call that I nearly missed the Bobolink. I first heard him calling out from the talk rushes sticking up from the mud flats of the drained pond. Initially I thought it was a Red-winged Blackbird call so I ignored it. After hearing it call out over and over again, I focused my camera on it because the calls began to sound different than usual to me. It was pretty far away but as soon as I saw that pale patch of feathers on his nape, I knew that this was no blackbird! I tried my best to get some clear photos but the bird remained far away at the limits of my focal ranges, thus the photos I took aren’t the prettiest. Still, I’m very happy to have documented the moments I first saw a Bobolink in the summertime at Lake Mattamuskeet!
A male Bobolink flying at Lake Landing on Lake Mattamuskeet
The Bobolinks northern breeding range extends from Maine to Washington State which is why it seems unusual to see one on the middle of July. That being said, their spring and fall migration does bring them down here to NC. Perhaps this one arrived in March and is just getting a head start on the autumn journey ahead by sticking around here for the summer.
Check out the map below for the location of where I found this bird.
TUNDRA SWAN
A lone Tundra Swan at the Pungo Unit in July
The third surprise bird was this gorgeous Tundra Swan at the Pungo Unit. I found the bird swimming around in a flooded out field with a flock of Canada Geese. I have had the pleasure of witnessing the great flocks of Tundra Swans during their winter migration here at the Pungo Unit in the past. It’s pretty weird to think that just six months ago there may have been more than 300k Swans filling the waters and fields here but now, there’s just this one.
Tundra Swan at the Pungo Unit July 2020
I met up with another N.C. wildlife photographer, Robert Mullen while I was out on this day who photographs birds here several times a week all year round. He indicated that the belief of the wildlife officials is that this bird may have been injured over the winter and was unable to migrate this past spring. I felt bad for this elegant one, all alone in the refuge. But, if he can survive the next few months, he’ll have plenty of company to spend time with this winter as the rest of the flock makes the southward journey from the Arctic to the Pungo Unit.
Check out the map below for the location of where I found this bird.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER
Last but definitely not least, I got very lucky when I spotted a female Magnolia Warbler while driving on Canal D Rd. in the Pungo Unit. I was headed out to the soybean fields to look for bears in the late afternoon when a flash of small yellowish bird flew in front of my truck and into a tree next to the dirt road.
A single female Magnolia Warbler at the Pungo Unit in July
I pulled over, grabbed my camera and got out of the truck to see if I could find and ID the bird before it disappeared deeper into the woods. Let me tell you, this was a difficult little bird to photograph! The sun was very bright and the shadows very dark when peering into the viewfinder of my camera. I’d lower my lens to look up at the tree to try and spot the movements of this tiny bird, locate it, then bring the camera back up to my face to try and snap a photo. The problem was that Magnolia Warblers are fast movers! As soon as I’d get a clear shot (and good exposure) it would move behind a leaf. I must have taken 15 photos and still only came up with two, half blurry shots lol! At least they are good enough for ID purposes so I’m chalking that experience up as a win in my book 😉
Magnolia Warbler (female)
Their typical breeding range extends from the mountains of WV, western VA, central PA, NY, MN, MI and up into New England and Canada. Although it is uncommon, Magnolia Warblers also breed in the mountains of northwestern NC. That’s why I was surprised to see this sweet female in July. I’m hoping that she will find a mate (or at least some friends) when the rest of the Magnolia Warblers make their way down here in September during fall migration.
Check out the map below for the location of where I found this bird.
Though I never found the Painted Bunting I’d planned for, I’m very happy with how the trip went yesterday. Like searching for gold, then coming up empty only to find diamonds instead, it’s days like this that renew my love for the adventure of birding.
Oh by the way, I did find some other birds yesterday at the Pungo Unit and Lake Mattamuskeet that aren’t rare but still are pretty cool too! Check out the photos below!
One of the best places to go birding in the east coast of North Carolina is the Pocasin Lakes NWR. Especially in the wintertime during the Tundra Swan migration. Each November, these majestic birds arrive by the thousands. Their huge flocks congregate in the Pungo Lake area to feed on the spilled grain in the vast fields which surround the lake.
A flock of Tundra Swans in a canal near Pungo Lake
They are most easily viewed at close range paddling around in the flooded out corn fields and canals which dot the swampy areas surrounding the lake itself. They will be here through mid February to early March before they head back up north to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. If you’ve never witnessed this great migration, there is still plenty of time to go see them!
Tundra Swan in flight
By the way, in addition to Tundra Swans, there are a ton of opportunities to view other wildlife too! The Pungo lake area is well known as hosting a very large population of black bears. You can also see a wide variety of raptor species such as Northern Harriers, Bald Eagles, Red Tailed Hawks, American Kestrels and more.
River Otters in a canal at Pungo Lake
On top of that, there are even families of river Otters swimming around in the canals. Truly, the Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes NWR is the crown gem of refuges here in N.C.
Spotted a small group of Sandhill Cranes preening among a flock of Tundra Swans yesterday morning at Pungo Lake in the Pocosin Lakes NWR. I’ve never seen one in the wild before so it was thrilling to finally have a chance to photograph them. So awesome to get another lifer!
Sandhill Cranes Pungo Lake, N.C.
Scientists believe that ten million years ago, birds similar to these were found to be structurally the same as modern Sandhill Cranes. Today, these beautiful birds are found throughout in North America. Their range extends from Mexico, through the United States and as far north as Siberia. Despite the widespread occurrence of the species in the Western Hemisphere, they are not commonly found here in North Carolina. It was wonderful to add one more “rare” bird species to my eBird list as the year draws to a close 🙂
Sandhill Cranes are omnivorous and will dine on items such as lizards, small rodents, frogs and insects, as well as vegetables, such as bulbs, roots, grains and seeds. The ones I photographed here seemed to split up their time between preening and foraging for food in the mudflats along the shoreline.
Six Sandhill Cranes preening at Pungo Lake, N.C.
This small flock of birds may have hit the jackpot by choosing to spend a few weeks this winter here at Pungo Lake. In addition to hosting a variety of small lizards and rodents on site, the lake is surrounded on all sides by wide open fields of cut corn stalks, with plenty places available for the Cranes to feed on spilt grain on acres of vast agricultural fields. I hope they stick around for a little while longer so that my fellow N.C. birders have the opportunity to see them before they head out!
Pungo Unit – Pocosin Lakes NWR
Dates visited: 11/29-11/30
Hello All,
The Holiday season has finally arrived and if you’re like me, you’re excited to use some of the extended weekends around this time of year for birds! Well, Thanksgiving weekend has just passed and other than Thanksgiving day, my calendar was clear. I decided to head out to eastern North Carolina for 2 days. This would be my 3rd 2-day trip out to that part of the state this month, but the 1st time back in 3 weeks.
I was very excited to return in hopes that the Tundra Swans and Snow Geese would be gaining numbers. When I last visited, there were a couple hundred Tundra Swans and a few Snow Geese sprinkled in. They were just starting to flood the impoundments as well.
While the numbers did increase, much to my surprise it wasn’t as big of a difference as I expected. After speaking to a few people there, the refuge management said they are waiting for a certain weed to sprout before they completely fill the impoundments. Apparently this is something the geese and swans love (Widgeon Grass or Pond Weed possibly?). They admitted that it was a “few weeks” behind schedule, as last year at this same time the impoundments were already filled and there were more swans/geese.
11/29
I arrived at North Lake Road (just north of Pungo Lake) Friday morning 11/29 about 45 minutes prior to sunrise. It was supposed to be a nice, clear morning. Well the sun finally came out about 10:30 lol. Within a few minutes, I started seeing the Tundra Swans flying away from Pungo Lake for the day. A number of different groups flew by in about 30 minutes. Anywhere between 2-50 birds at a time. While walking along that road I saw a number of Cardinals, Song Sparrows, White Throated Sparrows and Eastern Phoebe. I decided to head over to the south/east side of the Lake to the Hyde Park area. While there, I spotted a flooded field and noticed about 5-10 Killdeer along with 5-10 Yellowlegs (not sure if Greater or Lesser). I love watching them so I spent about an hour watching and photographing before moving on.
I wanted to head back to North Lake Road area, but on the way I stopped by the Duck Pen Wildlife Trail. It is a ½ mile out-and-back trail with a small blind at the end on the southern part of Pungo Lake. The blind wasn’t a good spot this morning, as the Swans were clear across the other side of the lake, but you could still see tons of them. While walking the trail, I ran across a nice Great Blue Heron hunting in the canal. I got to observe it for about 15 minutes before it finally flew off.
Heading back to North Lake road, near the impoundment, I notice a large Red Shouldered Hawk. The picture doesn’t do it justice but this was by far the largest Red Shouldered Hawk I’ve ever seen.
Still heading back to North Lake Road, I see a Northern Harrier hunting in an open field.
I arrive back at North Lake Road around 2:00PM. For any wildlife lovers, other than birds there are quite a few black bears in the area as well. As I got out of the truck I see one of the many black bears crossing the road that I’m about to walk down. My excitement increases 😊
I walk about ¾ mile and decided to setup there for the rest of the day.
I see 3 more Northern Harriers hunting in the field in front of me.
A number of Red Bellied Woodpeckers.
I could hear a Pileated Woodpecker but never spotted it.
A cooper’s Hawk briefly flew over.
Right at sunrise, I decided to head back towards the impoundment on the south side of Pungo Lake. At that point, all the Swans and some Geese were starting to fly back in to the lake for the night. It was a beautiful sunset and I was able to get a few silhouetted pics of the swans against the fiery sky.
11/30
I head back to North Lake Road at sunrise and spend the following 10hrs there. Again, all the swans/geese were flying away from the lake for the day. I saw a lot of Red Bellied Woodpeckers. There were 2 Northern Harriers flying around for a couple of hours. And an adult Bald Eagle that likes that area decided to show up as well.
The weather didn’t cooperate as much as I had hoped, but overall it was a great trip and I will be making a return trip out there sometime in December and/or January as well. This is my 1st year birding and I have seen glimpses of how amazing the swans and geese can be, so I cannot wait to see them in full force.
