The Ironic Birdwatching Trip

Hundreds of Tundra Swans Gather in a Field

We set out to visit one of the largest natural inland lakes in NC: Lake Phelps at Pettigrew State Park. For a few months in winter, tundra swans migrate to eastern lakes in NC. In previous years, we had seen the swans at Lake Mattamuskeet and wanted to explore a new place.


Very much like Lake Mattamuskeet, Lake Phelps is in sparsely populated farmland. It was such a disappointment that no swans were sighted.


We drove to Elizabeth City along the Pasquotank River in Albemarle Sound for evening plans. Here a few seagulls squawked along the waterfront.

Waterfront View at Elizabeth City NC

As the day’s light was fading I suggested we stretch our legs at a local Walmart Supercenter. It looked like this newly developed commercial area might provide interesting options for dinner.


As we approached the shopping center adjacent to a highway, we could see huge farm fields resting after recent cultivation. In the background were slowly rotating giant wind turbines. 

My husband spotted the white shapes first. As we sat at a traffic light our hopes soared. These birds were way too large from this distance to be seagulls. We had found the Tundra Swans - not at a lake, but at fields next to a Walmart.


Sadly my cameras were back at the hotel. Even so we enjoyed the sounds of hundreds of gathering birds as light faded. The next morning we returned to take photos. Our proximity to the swans was limited. They were in sodden fields without road access. Still it was a thrill to watch the landing flocks and hear the chattering between birds.

Author Videotaping Birds with Osmo Mobile 3 and iPhone 8

Nearby rainwater retention ponds provided sightings of Mallards, Red-winged Blackbirds, a Meadowlark, and Canada Geese.

Mallard Couple at Rainwater Retention Pond

Ironically a visit to a wildlife area was a bust but a last-minute side trip to a shopping area provided an exhilarating birding experience.

Disclaimer: If you click on the Amazon link for the gimbal kit, I may receive a few cents for driving traffic to the retailer. Thanks for your interest!
My review of the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is here: http://bit.ly/GimbalForMobilePhone

My Favorite Things: Bird Feeders

Bird Watching 

The Droll Yankee Dipper (link above) is an excellent bird feeder that keeps squirrels from raiding your feeder. The bird perches collapse with the weight of the squirrel and they drop to the ground. This version of squirrel-proof feeders does not require a battery because it is entirely mechanical. I've had my Yankee Dipper feeder for 2 years.

I also own the Yankee Whipper (link below) with the circular bird perch. The weight of the squirrel causes the perch to spin and throw the squirrel off. I prefer the Dipper model that does not require recharging a battery. I have owned this model for 10 years.




A new purchase for me is the Droll Yankee brush for cleaning these long, tubular bird feeders. It really makes a difference to have the right tool for the job! This 24 inch brush is high quality and Made in the USA. It reaches all the way to the bottom of the feeder insides and leaves the plexiglass sparkling! (The link is below.)



If you would like to see my bird photography, I post on Twitter @gopamnc. My tweets are optimized for social media and include retweets of good Twitter bird photography. My portfolio-quality photography can be found on iStock/ Getty Images at: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/pam-schodt .



Affiliate Disclaimer: The links to my favorite things are items that I have purchased and am recommending. If you use the links on this blog post, I may receive a few cents for directing traffic to Amazon webpages.

Birdwatching at Lake Mattamuskeet, North Carolina

Tundra Swan and Canada Goose

In November, we visited the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge to observe the Tundra Swans in their wintering grounds. It seemed by the numbers and behavior, that the swans were just arriving at that time. We made plans to come back and see larger numbers of birds in the midst of their winter stay.

Over this past weekend (January 27), we made that trip back to this shallow lake where Tundra swans and other migrating birds enjoy a milder winter than in their summer homes.

Tundra Swan and Canadian Geese

Our favorite observation spots are along an impoundment road. There are canals on either side of the road with marsh grasses for cover and feeding. Although the number of swans were not any greater in this area than during our November visit, their attitude seemed more relaxed, which allowed closer photography.

Flock of American Coots

It was a real treat to see large numbers of American Coots with their distinctive bobbing head and white beaks. I had recently learned that these birds have green feet and legs. They seem to be shy about showing their feet because any lakeside birds immediately scooted into the water on my approach. At such distances their green legs were just black and green blurs.

Northern Shoveler - Female

Northern Shovelers were also shy about showing their beautiful plumage(male) and hid among the grasses. A large flock of egrets had gathered in the impoundment. A fearless Nutria swam towards us and grazed along and on the canal shoreline.

Tundra Swans gathering in cotton field

As we explored other areas of the lake, more swans were visible feeding in the waters. Small flocks would take to the air to destinations we could only guess at. We were told the water levels were higher than optimum for the swans to reach the underwater grasses, and that many were foraging in nearby fields. We didn't see swans in fields traveling to the lake, but that afternoon, as we traveled west, we witnessed hundreds gathering in a cotton field.

This is a fun place for birdwatching. It is remote so be sure to pack provisions. There's a wonderful visitor's center with a souvenir shop and restrooms plus displays and brochures to help with wildlife identification. On the drive, we made a quick visit to historic Bath, NC, which is famous as a home of Blackbeard the pirate. The town of Belhaven has fast food and groceries. Further west from Mattamuskeet, the Washington waterfront is a nice spot for dinner.

The article on my November visit to Lake Mattamuskeet is here.

My new Lily & Drew mini backpack is big enough to carry my camera with telephoto lens, an extra lens, and my wallet! It's just perfect for those impromptu hikes, and made with quality craftsmanship. It's available in many colors, but mine is a beautiful purple (Go Pirates!). Check it out by clicking the Amazon ad below:

Amazon Affiliate Advertising on this blog supports my writing. By clicking an ad, you are under no obligation to buy. If you see an advertisement of interest, please click.
Thanks!😊
 

Tundra Swans Winter at Lake Mattamuskeet NC

I'm happy to watch the Tundra Swans at Mattamuskeet Lake

Driving 4 hours east from my home brings me to a rural 40,000 acre lake. From November through mid-December Tundra Swans arrive by the thousands. This shallow lake and the surrounding Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge is one of their wintering locations, and hosts 65,000-75,000 of the majestic white birds.

3 Tundra Swans in Flight with More Swimming Below

Our visit on November 10 allowed us to see hundreds of newly arrived swans. Most were paired up and swimming around greeting each other with soft coo's as if to say "it's so good to be here." Young swans with dirty-white coloring followed their parents around. Many of the birds had heads completely submerged to feed on the aquatic vegetation that will make a big part of their winter diet.

Map Showing Swan Icons

With towns named Swan Quarter and Swansboro, it seems the migration to North Carolina has been going on since colonial times. Our road map had flying swan icons representing refuge areas along the protected coastal areas and lakes of eastern North Carolina.

Tundra Swans Swimming at Lake Mattamuskeet

The swans live and breed in the Arctic and subarctic tundra. That is an area across the northern borders of Canada and Alaska. As winter approaches they make the grueling migration through Canada and the Great Lakes area towards the Atlantic coast. (A range map for the Tundra Swan can be found here.) The young develop at a rapid rate in preparation for migrating with their parents. These birds can fly at an altitude of 5 miles.

The swans are beautiful with long curving necks, black bills, and bright white plumage. Because they share the wetlands with Canada Geese, I could really appreciate their huge size. They're about twice the size of the geese. They feed on aquatic plants in the lake and leftovers in nearby farm fields.

Tree Swallows Perched Along Wetlands

There were many Tree Swallows, Double-crested Cormorants, and Egrets at the lake. The number of Tree Swallows increased as the day progressed. They skimmed the water surfaces to gorge on flying insects. To rest between feedings, they gathered in large groups on bushes at the water's edge.

What birds migrate through your area? The excitement of arriving at a wintering place is amazing to watch, and I encourage you to explore your local migrations. I would love to hear about it.

Update: I went back to Mattamuskeet on January 27, 2018. Click here to see that post.

Hey check out my new Lily & Drew mini backpack. It's big enough to carry my camera with telephoto lens, an extra lens, and my wallet! It's just perfect for those impromptu hikes, and made with quality craftsmanship. It's available in many colors, but mine is a beautiful purple. Check it out by clicking the Amazon ad below:

Amazon Affiliate Advertising on this blog supports my writing. By clicking an ad, you are under no obligation to buy. If you see an advertisement of interest, please click.
Thanks!😊
 

Top 5 Viewed Garden Lady Articles

Looking back over 2015, I'm reviewing the top 5 articles that captured the interest of readers. How to Trim Pampas Grass which includes demo videos tops the list with State of the Garden: June at the bottom. Below are short summaries and links to the articles.

Pampas Grass

Some people strongly dislike Pampas Grass. I love the tropical look and drought tolerance of the ornamental grass. This post covers 4 techniques to trim Pampas Grass with videos. See it here.

Northern Cardinal at Bird Feeder

Characters at the Bird Feeder Parts 1 & 2 come in 2nd and 3rd on the list. These articles feature photographs and videos of bird visitors to my backyard bird feeder. Bird Feeder Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here.

Foodborne Illnesses Lead to Recalls

Number 4 in popularity is Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Farmers. Guidelines have been established to help farmers reduce contamination leading to foodborne illnesses. Information on these important regulations are here.

Eggplant and Tomato Plants in the Home Garden

State of the Garden: June is Number 5 on the list. This is a narrative of garden goings-on in the month of June. At that time, plants are just getting established and hopes are high for a productive garden. This report is here.

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