Tag Archives: pungo unit

A Ruby crowned Kinglet at the Pungo Unit in the Pocosin Lakes NWR

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!

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

A swamp Sparrow at the Pungo Unit

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 😉

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

A closer look at a Ring necked Duck at Pungo Lake

This is a gorgeous bird with a somewhat confusing name, the Ring-necked Duck!


I photographed this one last week at Pungo Lake in eastern N.C.
The adult male has a glossy purple, blue and green-ish colored black head, a black back, with well-defined gray sides and a white stripe of plumage between the sides and the breast.
Their bills are a light gray with a white ring and a black tip.
Their namesake cinnamon-colored neck ring is usually not visible but occasionally you can see it if the lighting is just right!
Check out the photo below to see that sneaky ring for yourself 😉



These good looking birds breed in small areas of Alaska, across central and eastern Canada, south throughout the northern United States and into northern California and Colorado.
They spend the winter along the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts and and across the southern U.S. all the way down south into Mexico, Central America, and even the the Caribbean.

Lucky for us, Ring-neck’s are among North Carolina’s most commonly found diving ducks during the winter months from the mountains to the coast.
You can see Ring-necked Ducks here from mid to late October to late March and early April throughout the state.

Look for them foraging for a meal in large ponds and wide lakes, with forested shorelines.
Interestingly, they usually forgo inhabiting the deeper middle portions of large lakes and open waters, preferring to find a meal much closer to the shoreline.
This makes them a bit easier to see and photograph than other species of other diving ducks, something I am immensely grateful for!

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

Wintertime birding in eastern North Carolina

I had an excellent time this week birding in the OBX! Spending 3 days straight, I saw thousands of beautiful birds from Cape Hatteras, to Pea Island, Pungo Lake and the Alligator River NWR.



Of all the birds, my favorites were the American Widgeon, Pintails and Redheads. Those ducks are simply gorgeous!
It was an incredible sight to see thousands of waterfowl all in one spot. So much squeaking and quacking, these large flocks are pretty noisy once you get close.

With pictures like these, you might ask why is eastern North Carolina such a duck magnet?
The answer is that the majority of the waterfowl here in North America breed in Canada’s Prairie Provinces and the United States’ upper Midwest, particularly in the area known as the Prairie Pothole Region.

Every autumn, ducks and geese funnel down the Atlantic Flyway to the farm fields, ponds, lakes and rivers of eastern North Carolina to spend the winter in our temperate regions where there are vast quantities of food still available throughout the colder months.
Pretty neat, huh?
I’ll have a ton of photos and new videos coming soon from the trip so stay tuned…

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

Birding Video at Pocosin Lakes NWR

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The best part about birding is the unexpectedly awesome birds that we encounter along the way. Happy to find a Greater Yellowlegs, a Bobolink, a Tundra Swan and more all on the same hot July summer day! Pungo Unit at Pocosin Lakes NWR – Pantego, NC Lake Mattamuskeet NC Photos & video by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty @canon #5Ds . . . . #birdnerd #birdsofinsta #birdsofinstagram #ncwildlife #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #bird #birds #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirdwatching #canonwildlife #northcarolinabirding #birdwatchingnc #northcarolinabirds #audubonsociety #birdoftheday #audubonnc #bestbirds #birders #birdwatchers #lovesbirdsluvsbirds #pocosinlakes #lakemattamuskeet #pungolake #birdersofyoutube #birdvideo

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Birding video: Summertime at the POcosin lakes NWR & Lake Mattamuskeet NWR

Here is a video I made highlighting some of my favorite finds from my latest birding trip to the Pungo Unit at the Pocosin Lakes NWR and Lake Mattamuskeet NWR on the coastal plain of eastern North Carolina last week.


What a neat place to go bird watching, even in the middle of summer!
10/10 recommend a visit 🙂

Filmed on a Canon 5DS at the Pungo Unit at the Pocosin Lakes NWR – Pantego, NC & Lake Mattamuskeet NWR – Englehard, NC

Wintertime Birding at Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes NWR

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.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

Rare N.C. Bird News: Sandhill Cranes spotted at Pungo Lake

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching 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!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

Here is a map showing where the Sandhill Cranes were sighted in a small flooded out field on the western side of the lake…

Thanksgiving Weekend at Pungo Lake

By: Dan Gettis

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.

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