Sometimes your birding plans can change on a dime. While photographing a Prothonotary Warbler by the pond, a small white bird flew swiftly through the viewfinder. Naturally, I was distracted from the warbler and lowered the camera to see what it was that dared photobomb my photo. Suddenly, the warbler became a thing of the past. Altogether, there were three white birds diving … [Read more...] about Spotting the White Forehead of the Least Tern
birdwatching
When the Swallows Come Back to… CONTENTNEA CREEK?
You've heard of the annual return of the swallows to the Mission San Juan Capistrano in California, right? Well, let me tell you about ANOTHER return. Every year like clockwork, the Cliff Swallows and the Barn Swallows return around the week before or after Mother's Day in May... to the EXACT same mud puddle... just off the James Cameron Bridge that goes over Contentnea … [Read more...] about When the Swallows Come Back to… CONTENTNEA CREEK?
Stumbling upon the Motherload of Great Egrets!
For the many years as I've observed this particular "Jane Birding Hotspot," I have NEVER observed any Great Egrets there at any time of year before. Without any effort, my truck magically pulled a "super U-eee" at a nearby path to check this out! Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, Red-Shouldered Hawks and Red-Headed Woodpeckers were gathered in the fray there, … [Read more...] about Stumbling upon the Motherload of Great Egrets!
A “Lemon Bellied” Great Crested Flycatcher
After supper one evening, I decided to take a leisurely backyard stroll out to the "North 40" of the yard to birdwatch. The North 40 is a very primitive wooded area in the backyard with sub-canopy trees (Mimosas, dogwoods, maples, eastern redbuds, sweetgums, weeping mulberry, and a giant magnolia) under the tall cathedral-like pines. It also seemed to be an opportune time to … [Read more...] about A “Lemon Bellied” Great Crested Flycatcher
Yellow-Rumps and Yellow-Throats!
Spring is definitely here in all her splendor. From yellow green new growth on emerging leaf out of trees, to shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, yellow was definitely making her appearance in our area. Such would be the case on today's birding adventure back to our local River Park North in Greenville, North Carolina. Especially with the Yellow-Rumps and … [Read more...] about Yellow-Rumps and Yellow-Throats!