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The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Springtime Tundra Swan sighting at the Pungo Unit

I made a spur of the moment visit this morning to the Pungo Unit at the Pocosin Lakes NWR and was surprised to see 5 Tundra Swans feeding in the fields.
These guys should have migrated north last month so spotting this little flock was an unexpected sight.
I’ve never had an opportunity to photograph a Tundra Swan in the spring before. Normally it’s winter’s muted hues of grey and brown which color the background of my swan portraits so I was pleased to have a bit of that lovely green included in the landscape.



Tundra Swans are commonly seen here in southeastern North Carolina from November through early March in our coastal counties with peak numbers occurring in January.Look for them in open marshes, lakes, shallow ponds and estuaries in fresh and brackish waters. They are also easily found feeding in grain fields in agricultural areas too. It’s awe inspiring to see flocks of hundreds of Swans feeding in a corn field, wheat field or soybean patch.


Since the springtime migration window has passed for these swans I assume that they will remain at Pungo throughout the rest of the year.
Hopefully these magnificent birds with depart for their breeding grounds in the Colville River Delta region of north Alaska next spring.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Winter birding at the Pungo Unit: Tundra Swan Migration

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?

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

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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