where to find tundra swans lake mattamuskeet | Best Life Birding- Birdwatching Tours

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

Last weekend I took a day trip with my daughter in search of Tundra Swans at the Lake Mattamuskeet NWR in Swan Quarter N.C. We arrived at Lake Landing around 9AM and set off to a small drainage pond at the southern end of the lake.

We spent about 2 hours exploring the area and taking pictures. What an amazing experience it was to see these large birds up close! Tundra Swans migrate to the Lake Mattamuskeet area every year during the winter. They are found all over the place. From the lake itself, to the farm fields surrounding the NWR.

I have posted a video below of the highlights from the day. I also included footage of our quick lunch break at Martelle’s Feed House Restaurant and a brief trip into nearby downtown Englehard because I thought it would be neat to show what kinds of things there are to do in the local area besides birding.

Here is a map of the area…

I also wanted to share a link to a few places to stay if you are traveling to the areas. Just click on the photo below to check out the hotel options on Google.

Enjoy the video and Happy Birding!

-Sally

By: Sally Siko, Admin Birdwatching N.C.

Had an excellent time birding at Lake Mattamuskeet NWR and the surrounding area this past weekend! Saw over a 1000 migrating Tundra Swans and quite a few other species too.

These Swans are freak’n huge! Their wing span is 7’ and they stand nearly 4’ tall. Adult birds can weigh up to 23 lbs!

Fully mature swans are solid white while immature swans have more gray toned plumage, particularly their head and neck area.
Like geese, swan mate for life and from what I’ve observed, they tend to stick close by their partners even in large flocks.

Tundra Swans breed in the Arctic Coastal Plains then migrate during the winter to the West and East coasts of the United States, including here in North Carolina. It’s pretty cool to think about what an amazing journey these birds made just to arrive here where I was standing.

Interestingly, the greatest number I saw yesterday were feeding in the wide open fields near the lake. As I drove around there were thousands of them flying back and forth between the lake and the farm lands.

From what I’ve read online, it’s not an ideal situation for the birds or the farmers. The swans natural wintering habitats are being disturbed by hunting, the destruction of aquatic plants and competition from invasive species such as Mute Swans.
Hopefully we can find a way to stabilize their numbers because it would be a shame to lose these incredible birds here in N.C.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatchingnc
Canon 5Ds