Tag Archives: winter migration nc

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes

Redhead or Canvasback Duck?

The best part about wintertime in North Carolina is the arrival of interesting waterfowl to our state.
Two such gems are these handsome Redhead and Canvasback ducks.
They are incredibly beautiful creatures and I’m always excited to see them whenever I travel to the Pungo Unit or to the Pea Island NWR.

Though at first glance the two species may look similar to one another, there are ways that you can tell them apart, even at a great distance.



The Redhead drake featured in the first 2 photos has a blueish bill with a black tip, an orangey yellowish eye, and more rounded “traditional duck” head profile.
The most distinctive ID point when viewed from far away is their gray back.


The Canvasback drake featured in the photos below have a black bill, ruby colored red eyes, and a unique triangular head profile.
You can ID them easily from way across the water by their bright white backs.



From November through late March/early April, Redheads and Canvasbacks can be spotted paddling around in the shallow bays and marshes foraging for a an underwater snack of stems, seeds, and roots of aquatic plants: shoalgrass, pondweeds, and sedges at many of our coastal wildlife refuges.
There is plenty of time left for you to go see them this winter so get out there if you can!

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

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Birdwatching News, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

White-throated Sparrows are back in North carolina

Nothing says cooler weather is on the way during early autumn in central N.C. like the appearance of the White throated Sparrow.
I spotted my first one of the season this week while birding at Lake Betz in Morrisville, North Carolina.
This makes me very happy because I’m soooo done with the warm temperatures lol!

These gorgeous little birds breed in the northern boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. Each September, they gather in large flocks to fly south to their wintering grounds along the eastern seaboard of the US.
White-throated Sparrows are known to migrate at night and depart at sunset at each leg of their southward journey.


Did you know that there are research studies which suggest that they use the patterns of stars in the sky as a means of navigation?
That being said, cloudy skies can hinder this method so they are thought to also utilize polarized sunlight cues near the horizon at sunrise and sunset as a means to recalibrate their inner magnetic compass along the way.
Pretty amazing huh?

Photo by Sally Adams Siko
Lake Betz
Morrisville, NC

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Dark- eyed Juncos have returned to central North Carolina

The Dark-eyed Juncos have arrived in central N.C. !
It’s funny because I was just lamenting this morning on the fact that I haven’t seen any yet despite the recent cold front that has moved through.
Then this afternoon, a pair of them showed up on my property tagging along with a flock of Song Sparrows.
In my world, the first Junco sighting means that winter will soon be here.
So happy to see them again 🙂


If you’re unfamiliar with these lovely birds, Dark-eyed Juncos are pretty easy to identify. Males are mostly dark slate gray colored on their back, wings, and head, with a clean white belly. Females will usually have a mix of brown tones blending with the gray.


They are a common sight at backyard feeders across North Carolina in the cooler months. They are easy enough to attract with a good seed mix.
Some of their favorite foods include Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, Hulled Sunflower Seeds, Safflower, Nyjer, Cracked Corn, Peanut Hearts, Millet, Oats, and Milo.


Dark-eyed Juncos will spend their winters here until returning to our northern states in the spring for breeding season. There are even small populations of permanent resident Juncos in the mountains of western N.C!
I say, if you are lucky enough to have Juncos all year round, how do you know that wintertime is coming?!

Photos by @sally_siko
Canon 5Ds