I have been bestowed the rare honor of a female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird showing me her nest. This is something I've been hoping to see for at least 10 years and the wonder and magic of its discovery was every bit what I had hoped! #hummingbirds #rubythroatedhummingbird #ncbirder #carolinabirds #birdnerd #birdphotography #naturephotography #birding #franklincountync #nofilter #migratorybirds #nestingbirds #birds #birdingisforeverybody
How can something so small bring so much joy???? #hummingbird #rubythroatedhummingbird #birding #ncbirds #ncbirder #migratorybirds #wingedjewels #goodthingscomeinsmallpackages #hummingbirds #birding #franklincountync #pollinator
Pine Warbler
Houston, we have lift-off #baldeagle #franklincountync #ncbirder #birding #birdsofnc #raptors #birdphotography #birdsinflight
Happy #nationalsparrowday !! This Savannah Sparrow was kind enough to pose for me :) #sparrowday #sparrow #savannahsparrow #birds #birding #ncbirds #ncbirder #birdlife #franklincountync
Bald Eagle
Happy Mallard
The #greyghost in all his glory! #northernharrier #ncbirds #birding #birdnerd #ncbirder #franklincountync #ruralnc #thingsyouseeinthecountry #countryroads
Somewhere along the way I’ve become a bird photographer? #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifelover #nuts_about_birds #nuts_about_owls #nuts_about_wildlife #naturephotography #natureshooter #nature_brilliance #rawnature #barredowl #barredowlsofinstagram #owlobsession #owllovers #owlphotography #birdfreak #birds #ncwildlife #northrivergameland #ncbirder #gooutsideandexplore #animalplanet @robertjschellie
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Another day, another #christmasbirdcount This time at #fallslake and the beautiful but hilly #newlightbiketrails It took me almost 7 hours to hike 8.5 miles but it was an absolutely gorgeous morning! @ncstateparks #ncstateparks #ncbirder #takeahike
"I don't know. What do you think?" #noedit #nofilter #nikond3200 #americanrobin #ncbirds #birdphotography #birdingphotography #birds #ncbirder #amateurphotography
This yellow-bellied sapsucker has been visiting our holly tree right outside our garage the past few days. I've been able to get pretty close to get some shots of her in action. This is a first for me getting a shot of one of these. . . . . . #yellowbelliedsapsucker #woodpecker #woodpeckerfamily #northcarolinabirding #ncbirding #ncbirder #northcarolinabirder #northamericanbirding #northamericanbirds #backyardbirding #birdsandblooms #featheredfriends #feathered #northcarolinawildlife #ncwildlife #goexplore #wildlifeadventure #wildlifeadventurer #foreverwildlife
Made it out to the outer banks this weekend to find a few lifers. This was the view from the sand dunes for lifer #1. American Flamingo. Believe me, they are are WAY WAY out there. not the most satisfying picture opportunity but was still able to observe them in the scope.
Sora (10/21)
Wilson’s Snipe
Always take time to smell the flowers! #nashvillewarbler using the #nashvillefilter #ncbirds #birdphotography #birdnerd #birdsofnc #ncbirder
Tennessee Warbler
Happy #worldmigratorybirdday !! It's also #globalbigday for birders around the world so keep your eyes open! This is a juvenile Yellow-Crowned Nightheron I spotted on Ambergris Caye in Belize in 2022. I can't help but wonder how far this little one has traveled since then.... #birding #bigday #Belize #ambergriscaye #weareallconnected #birdnerd #ncbirder #birdwatching
💚🍃 #fms_green #birdsmakemehappy #birdsofnc #ncbirds #birdsintrees #bestofthetarheelstate #birdsofnc #276_worn_out_23 #ncbirder
Some Ruby-throated hummingbird friends for National Hummingbird Day! - 📷 Canon Powershot SX30 IS - #nationalhummingbirdday #rubythroatedhummingbird #rubythroatedhummingbirds #archilochuscolubris #hummingbird #hummingbirds #hummingbirdsofinstagram #nature #naturephotography #bird #birdphotography #birder #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirder #northcarolinabirds #ncwildlife #ncwildlifephotography #ncwildlifephotographer
"Thou shall not pass" #franklincountyparksandrec #franklincountync #ncbirder #easternwoodpewee #birdphotography #ncbirds #ncbirding #birdsofnc #empidonax
Lots of flippy flapper tracks today!! #canadageese #ncbirds #ncbirder #animaltracks #franklincountyparksandrec #franklincountync
It's been a banner year for turkeys here in little ol' Franklin County! #wildturkey #gamebirds #turkeys #ruralnc #franklincountync #ncbirds #birding #ncbirder
While visiting the sunflowers at Dix Park, you have to go see the local bird celebrity, the Painted Bunting. Love watching this bird! #paintedbunting #color #colorfulbraids #wakegovparks #wakeparks365 #wakeaudubon #ncbirds #ncbirder #birdsofinstagram #birding_lounge #audubon_nc #birdsofnc #birds #naturephotography #canoneost7i #canonphotography #sigmalens #birdphotography #nature #naturesnaps #bestofthetarheelstate #birdwatching #birdphotography #birdlovers #birdnerd #birdwatchersofinstagram #birdinglife #birdcaptures
A House Finch taking a moment in my backyard. #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nuts_about_birds #nuts_about_wildlife #wildlifeonearth #wildlifelovers #naturephotography #natureshooter #housefinch #housefinches #housefinchesofinstagram #backyardbirds #backyardbirding #ncwildlife #ncwildlifephotography #ncbirder #natgeoyourshot #animalplanet #natgeowildlife #bbcearth #birdphotography #birdfreaks @robertjschellie
I captured this image of a Forster’s Tern in the predawn light on Lake Phelps in Eastern North Carolina. #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nuts_about_wildlife #nuts_about_birds #naturephotography #naturelover #natureshooter #forsterstern #ncparks #ncbirder #ncwildlife #ncwildliferesourcescommission #birdphotography #birdfreaks #birdinflight #shorebirds @robertjschellie
A beautiful Tundra Swan takes flight from a marshland in Eastern North Carolina. #wildlife #wildlifephotography #swan #tundraswan #waterfowl #waterfowlphotography #ncwildlife #ncbirder #ncbirds #ncparks #pocosinlakesnationalwildliferefuge #nationalwildliferefuge #naturephotography #natureshooter #naturelover #natgeoyourshot #animalplanet #nuts_about_birds #nuts_about_wildlife #birdfreaks @robertjschellie
I photographed this male Pileated Woodpecker in Pettigrew State Park in Eastern North Carolina. #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nuts_about_birds #nuts_about_wildlife #naturephotography #natureshooter #pileatedwoodpecker #ncphotographer #ncparks #ncwildlife #ncbirder #natgeoyourshot #animalplanet #nationalaudubonsociety #birdsofinstagram #birdfreaks
Eastern Phoebe
This Swamp Sparrow was being super cooperative today! #birdnerd #ncbirds #ncbirder #swampsparrow #sparrows #ncwildlife #bird #naturephotography
The best Cedar Waxwing shot I've ever taken!!! #cedarwaxwing #birdnerd #birding #ncbirds #birds #ncbirder #ncbirdphotography #birdphotography #prettybirds
Eastern Screech-owl day napping in an former pileated woodpecker home. Occasionally opening his eyes when loud vehicles would pass.
Pileated Woodpecker doing some wood working.
Hooded Merganser
Northern Cardinal closeup.
Thanks to a local birder who was out for a jog on NC State centennial campus, I was able to add this White-winged Scoter to my life list. The bird was spotted in a retention pond that I have passed many times but would have never thought to look in.
Pine Warbler
A Nashville Warbler has been making an uncommon appearance near Raleigh the last week or so. Normally they have moved on further south at this time but this little guy seems to be ok with the colder temperatures.
FINALLY!!!! After at least 6 years of looking for one of these I finally got one today!!! The 750 miles and $40 spent on gas was soooo worth it!!!! #easternscreechowl #owls #screechowl #ncbirds #birdsofnc #raptor #naturephotography #ncbirder #nature
Savannah Sparrow
Peregrine Falcon in flight. This was moments before it pulled in its wings and really started to move. Amazing bird.
Pacific-slope/Cordilleran Flycatcher (Western Flycatcher) This rare NC bird is usually found on the west coast ranging from Canada to Mexico. Once known as a Western Flycatcher (part of Empidonax genus) the species was split into two species. Since there are two species which visually are the same, the bird is noted as both species when recording it in eBird. Hearing the bird’s call or song can help determine species. While looking similar to other birds in the genus, the Western Flycatcher has a tear drop shape around the eye ring. It will be interesting to see how long this guy hangs around.
Cooper’s Hawk
A couple of buddies hanging out on Lake Raleigh. A Ring-Necked Duck and Canvasback
A Mallard
A Mallard
Some days are just…
It was nice seeing some new ducks in the area. This Lessor Scaup was hanging with some friends in Holly Springs.
American Avocet (10/21)
Chipping Sparrow😊🍃 . . . #chippingsparrow #sparrow #birdstagram #birdsintrees #keepingwatch #birdphotography #backyardbirdwatching #birdnerd #featheredfriend #ilovebirds #birb #ncbirder #birdsofnorthamerica #backyardbirdphotography #birding #birdsinbackyard #birds_n_branches #birds_adored #birdsofinstagram #birdsmakemehappy #backyardbirdshop #birdlife
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Laughing Gull looking very serious
Ruddy Turnstone
Common-Yellow Throat (f) close up.
Common Yellowthroat
White-eyed Vireo
While playing with an R7 rental, I was able to get a Killdeer in flight. The camera’s ability to track and keep in focus a bird in flight was pretty cool.
Great Egret
Pleasantly surprised by a few new birds this week. Small shore birds can be tough to identify, but sometimes when they are in larger groups the ability to compare them to others can help. This White-rumped Sandpiper stood out a bit from the others around them which helped in identifying him. I was just as excited that I was pretty sure I identified him before looking it up.
I had seen two more Wake County/NC life list birds today, the Western Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitcher. While both birds were to far away for pictures, I will commemorate the occasion with this picture of Lake Wheeler marsh. The birds are there in the back. 😀
This young Wood Stork found its way to the American Tobacco Trail near Raleigh. While not a new bird for myself it was fun to see one so close to home.
The rare eye level view of a Red-eyed Vireo.
Painted Bunting
From the rainy birding day collection (past week). Two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, male and female, are trying to keep dry. Normally the male (red throat) is chasing everyone from the feeder area but today, keeping dry has priority so they are chilling pretty close each other.
One of my favorite birds, the Painted Bunting, showed up in Raleigh today and thanks to a couple of precise reports from local birders, I was able to get one of the best pictures to date of this beautiful bird.
Together we have made great strides in protecting North Carolina bears living in the Panthertown-Bonas Defeat, Standing Indian, and Pisgah Bear Sanctuaries. The legislative session has ended. Calls to action will resume next year. In the meantime, if you haven't already, please sign and continue sharing our petition. Petition link can be found in our bio. https://www.change.org/p/prohibit-killing-bears-in-north-carolina-bear-sanctuaries-support-hb-1072 #oneprotest #beardefenders #northcarolina #ncwildlife #ncforest #nchiking #nchikingtrails #blackbear #bearcub #ncbirder #wildlife #nature #pisgah #pisgahnationalforest #panthertown #animaladvocacy
Green Heron
One of the closer encounters I have had with an Orchard Oriole. I wish all bird encounters were like this. 🙂