Carolina Young Birders

As unusually early Snow and Ice blows through much of North Carolina tonight and parts of South Carolina I am reminded of the exciting winter birding coming our way.  Waterfowl have begun making their appearances, including Eurasian Wigeons at the Outer Banks and other nice sightings.  Before long the swans will be returning to their wintering sites throughout parts of the Carolinas.  Also sparrow sightings have been on the upswing, including a nice Vesper sighting by our very own young birder Ryan Justice near Raleigh, as well as Fox and Lincoln's Sparrow.  Juncos and white-throats have returned to backyard feeders after breeding in the high mountains in the Carolinas and boreal forests of Canada. Sapsuckers, creepers, and nuthatches enliven the trees in the forests throughout the region, filling up on acorns, seeds, and the last hardy insects. Hummingbirds stick around at some feeders, especially near the coast.

The point of this post is, get out and get birding!

Enjoy our returning winter birds!

Matt Janson

Charlotte, NC