NC Bird Watch

Hi, I'm Lauren, a WNC bird watcher & photographer.

10/29/2026

One more very cool bird seen in Scotland: the Common Kingfisher. This one has been on my list of birds to see for a long time. I love the detail in the first photo, even though the little branch in front of its beak is begging to be removed with AI or basic cloning (but I’m leaving it on purpose). The second photo is from a different perch but slightly further back. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to see this bird on this trip, as there hadn’t been recent reports in the area I was in, but I saw a flash of turquoise flying across the river, and there it was. They’re not uncommon in the UK, but it was still such an exciting bird to see!

10/24/2026

White-throated Dipper existing for almost a minute, dipping and catching a snack. (Any idea what it caught?)

When I first started birding, I saw a video of a White-throated Dipper in the UK and was shocked that such a tiny bird could swim and dive and bounce up and down, and it felt like part of a simulation. I didn’t even know at that moment that there was an American Dipper out west, and 5 species globally. Once I learned about the American Dipper, I found one on a trip in 2021. It only took 5 more years to see the bird that sparked my love of Dippers, the White-throated Dipper.

I’m hopeful for a more close-up video soon, but it’s windy and pouring now, so this will do for the moment!

10/16/2026

A very gray Orange-crowned Warbler. A sign of the final days of fall migration, but I’m grateful they’re passing through, and that this one was kind enough to pose.

While they’re a bit more drab than a lot of warblers, I think they have a sweet look to them. This bird seemed playful and kept perching closer and closer before disappearing. They’re one of the few warblers we can see during winter, either at the coast or further south, but they won’t be here in WNC after the next week or two.

10/12/2026

3 warblers and a Bobolink.

Parula, Black-throated Blue, and Magnolia Warblers all at my house. Bobolink in the swale.

The remnants from Isaias seemed to bring in a few extra birds, but a lot of them left last night when the skies cleared. I haven’t seen many warblers around today. I’ll be in mourning for the next 5 months, see y’all in April. 😭

10/08/2026

Even though fall birding time is winding down, some lovely birds are still here or passing through. This Ovenbird (the feet!) gave me nice looks this evening, as did the Black-throated Blue Warbler, both of which might be my favorite photos of each species this year.

Yesterday I was treated to a surprise Summer Tanager at my house (photo 3), and a few days ago I saw my first Nashville Warbler in town (photo 4). The Golden-winged Warbler was at my house about a week ago, and was part of a flock passing through. And finally, a look at an American Avocet that was in town a few weeks ago. (Birding royalty.)

09/20/2026

Two hazy looks this morning at one of our less common visitors, the Mourning Warbler. A few birders heard but couldn’t confirm this visitor yesterday, and a few of us lucked out today with decent looks. I was watching Tennessee Warblers in the goldenrod when it hopped right up in front of me today, in an area it hadn’t been seen yet. It was such a surprise and I was grateful to get these photos before it went back to skulking low and out of sight.

Other migration sightings: a high drama Blackburnian at my house, Cape May on the parkway, Canada and Hooded at the house. :)

09/09/2026

Another round of migrating warblers from the parkway and my house. Black-throated Green in lovely light, Yellow-throated in a tree by my window, Worm-eating perched low, Hooded backlit during sunrise, a Parula with a Tennessee photobomb, and a Blackburnian stopping to smell the flowers. 🌼

I feel like I haven’t been out birding as much I’d like to be, though these photos may make it seem otherwise.

08/29/2026

Migration moments on the Blue Ridge Parkway today, featuring a Black-throated Blue Warbler male, a Black-throated Blue female/immature, a Tennessee Warbler *and* a Black-throated Blue female/immature on the same w**d, a Canada Warbler, and a Blackburnian Warbler. This is such a bittersweet time, with so many warbler sightings - but knowing they’re about to be traveling south.

08/22/2026

Sweetest Piping Plover chick foraging for gnats and snacks while a parent calls nearby. (The peep sounds are from the parent.)

08/17/2026

This was my absolute favorite warbler bath video from last fall. The Tennessee Warbler that lands on the back of the other one! Unreal.

I had one tiny pond set up last year and am hoping for repeat moments like this — except now I have a tiny waterfall and a second tiny pond below the first, so a little more room for these sweet birds to move around. Fall migration is just getting started, so stay tuned. :)

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Asheville, NC
28806

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