Common Merganser female swimming in river surrounded by chicks
CategoriesWildlife by

Spring Bird Photography in the Great Smoky Mountains

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains is a season of renewal, where the forests awaken with vibrant wildflowers, rushing streams, and—most importantly for us—the songs and sights of countless birds. Straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border, this national park is a biodiversity hotspot, hosting over 240 bird species across its varied elevations and habitats. Nearly 120 species breed in the park, including 52 Neotropical migrants.  The elevation gradient—from 840 feet at Abrams Creek to 5,500 feet at Newfound Gap—creates microclimates hosting lowland songbirds and highland boreal species alike. Add blooming wildflowers and milder weather, and it’s a birder’s and photographer’s dream.

Spring (March through May) is prime time to witness both resident and migratory birds, including some rare gems that make the Smokies a must-visit destination. Whether you’re aiming to capture a stunning photo or add a new species to your life list, here’s a guide to 15 standout birds frequenting the Smokies in spring.

Male Hooded Warbler perched in tree singing

Hooded Warbler

  • Interesting Fact: The male Hooded Warbler’s striking black hood, framing a bright yellow face, isn’t just for show—it’s a signal of dominance. Studies show that males with larger hoods often hold better territories.
  • Tip: Listen for its clear, ringing “ta-wit ta-wit ta-wit tee-yo” song in dense undergrowth along trails like the Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail.
Male turkey fanning in a field of yellow flowers

Wild Turkey

  • Interesting Fact: One of North America’s largest birds, the Wild Turkey struts through open fields and forest edges in spring, with males fanning iridescent tails in courtship displays. Conservation efforts, like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, revived their numbers after near collapse.
  • Birding Tip: The males’ echoing gobble is a spring hallmark—April is peak display season. Scan open areas early and capture their strut in a field of flowers in Cades Cove.
Male Indigo Bunting perched on branch singing

Indigo Bunting

  • Interesting Fact: The male’s vibrant blue isn’t pigment—it’s light diffraction through feather structures, glowing brightest in direct sun.
  • Birding Tip: Spot them in open woodlands or along Cades Cove Loop Road, singing from exposed perches.
Tree Swallow flying in to feed chicks who are perched on a branch

Tree Swallow

  • Interesting Fact: These iridescent beauties are aerial acrobats, catching insects mid-flight. The fledglings lack the adults’ blue color on their backs.
  • Birding Tip: Watch for them swooping over fields near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Louisiana Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

  • Interesting Fact: Its loud, cascading song mimics the rushing streams it inhabits—one of spring’s earliest warbler arrivals.
  • Birding Tip: Seek it along streams like Little River, where it bobs its tail incessantly.
Male and female Common Merganser standing on a rock in the river

Common Merganser

  • Interesting Fact: This diving duck’s serrated bill, dubbed a “sawbill,” snags fish with ease. Females lead ducklings out of the nest into the river within 24 hours of hatching.
  • Birding Tip: Look for them in the Little River Gorge.
Yellow-breasted Chat perched on blackberry briar

Yellow-breasted Chat

  • Interesting Fact: Once classified as a warbler, this mimic’s wild repertoire includes whistles, cackles, and meows—think avian jazz.
  • Birding Tip: Find it in thickets near Newfound Gap Road; its ventriloquist-like calls confuse direction.
Male Common Yellowthroat perched on branch singing

Common Yellowthroat

  • Interesting Fact: The male’s black mask and “witchety-witchety” song make it a marsh maestro. It’s one of the most widespread warblers in North America.
  • Birding Tip: Check wetlands near Cades Cove; listen for its distinctive call.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird sipping nectar from a Jewelweed

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

  • Interesting Fact: Weighing less than a nickel, this tiny marvel beats its wings 53 times per second and migrates 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Birding Tip: Look for them in areas with Jewelweed and other flowers.
Barn Swallow adult feeding chick

Barn Swallow

  • Interesting Fact: Barn Swallows are endurance fliers, capable of traveling up to 11,000 miles round-trip during migration between North America and their South American wintering grounds. They’ve been clocked flying at speeds up to 24 mph while snagging insects mid-air.
  • Birding Tip: Watch them skim fields near historic barns in Cades Cove.
Eastern Kingbird chasing a Red-Tailed Hawk from its territory

Eastern Kingbird

  • Interesting Fact: This feisty flycatcher defends its territory by chasing off hawks—its hidden red crown flares in aggression.
  • Birding Tip: Look in open areas like along Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane; its “dzeet” call stands out.
Pileated Woodpecker feeding chicks in a nesting hole in a tree

Pileated Woodpecker

  • Interesting Fact: This crow-sized bird’s rectangular holes and Woody Woodpecker-like laugh echo through the forest. It’s a keystone species, creating homes for others.
  • Birding Tip: Listen for drumming in wooded areas, and look for them on downed logs and standing dead trees.
Barred Owl hunting in a creek in the Smoky Mountains

Barred Owl

  • Interesting Fact: Its “who cooks for you” hoot is a Smokies classic. It can catch prey in total darkness using sound alone.
  • Birding Tip: Barred Owls are most vocal and active during twilight hours. Their deep, rhythmic calls carry far in the Smokies’ dense woods. Stand still in hardwood forests near streams or swamps—prime habitat—and let the sound guide you.
Male Wood Duck

Wood Duck

  • Interesting Fact: North America’s most colorful duck, males sport a psychedelic palette. Ducklings leap from nests up to 50 feet high within a day of hatching.
  • Birding Tip: They favor wooded swamps, so check ponds in wetland areas.
Easter Phoebe perched on a branch

Eastern Phoebe

  • Interesting Fact: The first bird named by Audubon, it tail-wags like a metronome and was a pioneer in bird-banding studies.
  • Birding Tip: Listen for its distinctive raspy “fee-bee” call. Phoebes are sit-and-wait hunters, returning to the same low perch after short flycatching sorties. Find a spot with a clear view of a favorite perch and wait for it to return.
Getting the Shot

With quick moving subjects, variable lighting, and long distances, bird photography challenges the best wildlife photographers. Here are some tips to help ensure a successful bird photography venture in the Smokies.

  • Bring the right gear. A good pair of binoculars is a must have to spot birds. Bring a long lens to capture birds at a distance. Pack rain gear for the unpredictable Spring weather. Use a harness such as Rapid Strap or Cotton Carrier for your camera so that you can quickly go back and forth between your binoculars and camera.
  • Be in the right place at the right time. The prime time for bird photography is dusk and dawn (the first and last two hours of the day). The right place will depend on the bird species you are targeting. For example, many warblers will be found in the tree canopy where they are feeding on insects, while Swallows, can be found flying over open fields. Eastern Kingbird and Eastern Phoebe will be found hawking insects from a favorite tree branch.
  • Pay attention to the direction of lighting in open areas such as along roads. For example, the crossroads in Cades Cove run north and south. So in the morning you want to be shooting to the west. In the afternoon you want to be shooting to the east.
  • Male birds are typically easier to photograph, because they are perched singing declaring their territory and attracting females. Look for them atop bushes and small trees. They will also take advantage of fence posts alongside the road.
  • A rainy day offers great opportunities. After a rain look for puddles on dirt roads to capture birds bathing and drinking. 
  • When photographing birds in ponds or rivers, get low at eye-level with the subject to enhance the composition of your image.
Final Thoughts

The Great Smoky Mountains in spring are a symphony of feathers and song. For photographers, it’s a canvas of color and motion; for birders, it’s a checklist begging to grow. So, grab your gear, tune your ears, and step into this avian wonderland. In the Smokies, spring isn’t just a season, it’s a spectacle. These tips are a great starting point for birders and photographers. If you would like hands on private instruction from an expert to capture the spectacle, book a private tour with me. Or to take your bird photography a step further, join a small group of like-minded photographers April 15-18 for our Smoky Mountain Birds Workshop.

References:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds. www.allaboutbirds.org.

National Audubon Society. Audubon Field Guide. www.audubon.org.

National Park Service. Birds Checklist – Great Smoky Mountains. www.nps.gov/grsm.

“Birding in the Great Smoky Mountains,” Smoky Mountain Living, 2018.

“Your Guide to Viewing the Birds of the Smoky Mountains,” Visit My Smokies, 2017.

“40 Birds You Can See in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” Avian Report, 2020.

“Birds,” Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Service, 2024.

CategoriesWildlife by

Quick Tips – Beginner Bird Photography

Photography subjects are all around us. When you are a beginner, sometimes it can actually be overwhelming to decide what to start photographing. I, of course, focus on nature and wildlife photography. One of my favorite wildlife subjects is birds. I enjoy learning about them, the challenge of photographing them, and teaching others about them. In this Quick Tips blog, I will give some tips on getting started photographing our feathered friends.

Benefits of Photographing Birds

There are many benefits of learning how to photograph birds. A few include

  1. Getting outside and enjoying nature
  2. Your subject is everywhere, even cities and your own backyard
  3. For birders, good photographs help with bird identification and documentation
  4. All ages can enjoy it
  5. Provides a fun challenge

How to Get Started

Begin by learning some basics about your subject. Knowing basic behaviors and characteristics will help you appreciate your subject more and help you to identify, locate, and photograph them. 

Identification Help

Local year-round birds are easiest to start identifying and photographing. Migrating birds are fairly predictable, so you can learn the times of the year that various birds migrate through your area. Male birds are usually more easily identified because they are more colorful and vocal. Females and young males can look very similar. 

There are many great tools available to begin identifying birds and to learn more about them. The Cornell Lab Merlin app is a free tool that I highly recommend. A good bird guide book is another excellent resource. Many are available including ones by Peterson, Sibley, Audubon, and National Geographic. As you become more involved in bird photography, you may also enjoy joining a birding and/or photography club or group. Research your area for Ornithological Societies, Camera Clubs, and Birding Social Media Groups.

Basic Behaviors

Learning basic behaviors such as what birds eat and their preferred habitats will help you draw them to your yard, know where to look for them on location, predict their behavior, and get better photos. Backyard bird feeders will attract different birds based on the types of feed and seed that you use. To attract many different birds, use a variety of seeds and use suet for woodpeckers. Consider planting trees, shrubs, and flowers to attract birds. Hummingbirds, for example, will be drawn to nectar producing flowers. While other types of birds will eat the seeds produced by flowering plants. All birds will benefit from having cover and nesting places in backyard plantings.

Hummingbird feeding on Jewelweed

Some birds will feed predominantly on insects, and you can use this knowledge to get photographs of them catching a meal in flight or delivering an insect to their young as in the image below. 

Meals on Wings

Other birds that feed on berries will be found in trees and shrubs. So, looking for likely food sources can result in great photos of them eating colorful berries.

Yellow rump with a cedar berry in its beak.
Berries for Lunch

 Gear to Get Started

As you get started photographing birds, you will need some basic gear. A good pair of binoculars tops the list of recommended gear. There are many brands available. Look for good quality 8×42 binoculars. Binoculars will help you find and identify the birds that you want to photograph.

As with binoculars there are many camera brands available. Look for a digital (DSLR) camera from a respected manufacturer such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Panasonic. You will want a camera and lenses with vibration reduction (VR) and image stabilization (IS) capabilities. A good birding lens would be a 200mm or higher. Zooms are very versatile and can be used, also. Other equipment that will be handy is a tripod and a monopod with a Gimbal tripod head.

Photographing

Bird photography is fun and challenging. You are frequently photographing a moving subject that at times is quite small and in variable lighting. Below are some tips to follow as you practice photographing birds. Keep in mind that the key to progress is practice. Since birds are in nearly every environment, you can practice regularly even if it is in your backyard or a nearby city park. As you practice, the techniques become habit, and as you adventure into different settings to photograph birds your results will be better and better.

Photography Tips:

  1. Practice looking back and forth from camera to subject with your naked eye
  2. Practice panning (moving camera/lens the same speed as the subject) as you photograph the moving subject
  3. Study bird habits to anticipate their movements to capture action shots
  4. Be prepared – try to position yourself with better lighting such as sun behind you to help your images show better detail and color
  5. Shoot flying subjects as they are coming slightly toward you (not flying away)
  6. For static subjects shoot at lowest F Stop (f/2.8-f/5.6) and speeds equivalent to lens length (1/400-1/800)
  7. For moving subjects shoot at a higher F Stop (f/6.3-f/8) and higher speeds (1/800-1/1600)
  8. Use your lowest ISO possible for best results
  9. Use single point Autofocus for static subjects
  10. Use small group Autofocus for flying subjects

In conclusion, learning bird photography is a fun and challenging hobby that anyone can get started doing. Download a bird app such as Merlin by Cornel Lab to your phone and begin identifying the birds in your neighborhood. Improve your yard with feeders and simple plantings to encourage birds, and you will be able to easily practice your photography in your backyard. Get started with some basic camera gear and binoculars. Soon you will find yourself enjoying your bird photography as much as I do.

CategoriesLandscape, Wildlife by

Quick Tips: Photography Composition

Have you ever looked at an image that grabbed your attention and held your interest as you gazed at it? Did you wonder how the artist went about creating that visual experience? There is a good chance that some basic rules of composition were used in creating the image. In addition to knowing how to use your camera, learning a few basic composition techniques will greatly improve your images. We will cover 4 quick tips to improve composition in your photography:

  1. Rule of Thirds
  2. Leading Lines
  3. Color Bokeh
  4.  Natural Framing

1. Rule of Thirds

The “rule of thirds” refers to dividing an image into thirds horizontally and vertically. Placing subjects or strong lines of an image at the intersection points of the lines or along the lines themselves creates a balanced, visually pleasing composition.

Compare the two images below. In the first image, you will notice that the subject is placed according to the rule of thirds. Also, the lines of the rocks and mountains are roughly dividing the image into thirds. In the second image, the subject is more centered. The first image is more visually pleasing and has a more dramatic feel.

Person sitting on a rocky out-crop to the left of the image with rows of mountains in the background.
Image 1: Rule of Thirds
Person sitting on a rocky outcrop in the center of the image with rows of mountains in the background.
Image 2: Rule of Thirds Not Utilized

2. Leading Lines

Leading lines are lines in an image that lead the viewer’s eyes from one part of the image to another. Frequently the line or lines will lead towards the main subject or focal point of the image. Leading lines in landscape photography add depth and perspective to an image making a scene more three dimensional.

In this black and white image of Hyatt Lane in Cades Cove, notice how the leading lines of the fence and the road lead you into the field towards the mountains. The leading lines draw your eyes into the image creating a sense of depth and perspective. Also, note how the rule of thirds is utilized in the scene.

Hyatt Lane a dirt road with wooden fence post on each side cutting across a field in Cades Cove with mountains in the background.
“The Road”. Example of leading lines and rule of thirds.

3. Color Bokeh

Bokeh refers to the out-of-focus areas of an image. Bokeh can be used to create a pleasing background effect for subjects. It can result in an image where the subject appears to pop off the page. The basic technique for creating bokeh is to be as close to the subject as possible with the background at a significant distance and shoot with a shallow depth of field (large aperture). It is also important to pay attention to the colors, highlights, and shadows of the background to ensure optimal placement of the subject.

Notice how in this image of a ruby-throated hummingbird sipping nectar from a jewelweed blossom the background is blurred creating a soft, complementing background to the bird. The bird and flower appear almost 3-D.

Ruby-throated hummingbird drinking nectar from an orange jewelweed blossom.
Ruby-throated hummingbird with soft color bokeh.

4. Natural Framing

Natural framing is when an element within the image such as tree branches or an architectural element frame the subject of the image. This draws the viewer’s eyes into the photo and serves to highlight the subject. Natural framing creates a strong composition emphasizing the subject.

Cantilever barn in Cades Cove framed by walnut tree branches in the foreground.
Cantilever Barn in Cades Cove with a walnut tree used for natural framing.

In this barn image of the cantilever barn in Cades Cove, notice how the walnut tree in the foreground is used to frame the subject. The eyes are drawn into the center focal point of the picture.

Lastly, keep in mind when composing your photographs in the field to leave room in your image for later cropping during post processing. When reviewing your images, you often will see a way to compose an image that you did not see when shooting it. So having room in the image to crop it will be important. With a little practice these compositional techniques will become second nature when you are viewing a scene and will improve your photography.

CategoriesWildlife by

What Do American Black Bears Eat?

The American Black Bear is the iconic inhabitant of the Great Smoky Mountains. No visit is complete without picking-up a bear souvenir and trying to site one while driving a scenic byway. But have you ever wondered what the bears are doing while you are looking for them? Most likely, if they are not sleeping, they are busy foraging for food. This is particularly true for female bears who are nursing their cubs.

Five bear cubs playing

So, what are they eating out there in the woods and fields of the Smokies? Black bears are omnivorous, meaning that they are opportunistic feeders who will eat a variety of things, including vegetation and meat. In the Spring when food is scarce, bears may eat grasses, inner tree bark, insects, and insect larvae.  They will tear apart rotting logs and overturn rocks looking for invertebrates. Bears will also feed on carrion that they come across. They will follow the food sources that become available throughout the year such as blackberries, cherries, acorns, and walnuts. 

Black Bears are the smallest North American bear, but they have the keenest noses in the park. Bears rely on their sense of smell for finding food.  It is thought that they can smell a food source over two miles away! Because of this it is always important to follow proper food storage protocols when hiking and camping to help minimize human and bear interactions.

Bear cub in cherry tree

While you enjoy your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains, don’t forget to respect the wildlife and the wilderness around you. Bears and the other inhabitants of the area are wild animals and approaching them is dangerous for both humans and the animals. Photographs and videos in this article were taken with appropriate telephoto/zoom lenses while maintaining a safe distance from the subject.

Video of black bear digging up a yellow jacket nest to eat the larvae.

References:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/american-black-bear.htm

http://www.bearconservation.org.uk/eastern-black-bear/

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/black-bear

https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/american-black-bear

Smoky Mountain Wildlife Photos, Photographer Barry Spruce, Prints available at Cades Cove Gallery in Townsend TN.
CategoriesWildlife by

Albino and Leucistic Wildlife

If you are lucky, you may one day see an animal or bird lacking pigment in fur or feathers. A loss of pigmentation caused by a genetic mutation that interferes with the production of melanin is called albinism. Melanin produced in an animal’s body is the main pigment that determines skin, fur, and eye color. A true albino animal will typically have pink eyes. Albino animals are rare in the wild. They do not survive very long due to their conspicuous color and poor eyesight. Other forms of partial pigmentation loss such as leucism occurs more frequently.

Leucistic Animals

Leucism does not completely eliminate pigment and can result in a variety of patterns. Leucistic animals will have some pigment in their fur, eyes, feathers, etc.  A leucistic deer can vary greatly. In some instances, they may have some white splotches. In other cases, they may be half brown and half white or nearly all white. Piebald is a term used for mixed brown and white animals. Leucism in deer is a recessive genetic trait found in about 1% of the population.

White leucistic squirrel.

Leucistic Squirrel

White leucistic squirrels are a tourist attraction in several U.S. cities. As with other animals, fur color in squirrels varies widely, and true albinos are rare. Even though most white squirrels are leucistic, the town of Olney, Illinois has a colony of albino squirrels. Approximately 12% of Olney’s squirrels are true albinos.

White squirrel with leucistic characteristics including brown eyes and a patch of darker fur on its head.

Smoke-Phase Turkeys

Leucistic and albino turkeys are also observed in the wild.  There are several different color phases of turkey, such as the smoke-phase, which is much more common than leucistic or albino. The smoke-phase has a significant lack of brown pigments, and appears more gray or smoky looking. The majority (approximately 95%) of smoke-phase turkeys are hens.

Smoke-phase turkey hen that has predominately light colored feathers with dark streaks and dark eyes.

Smoke-Phase Turkey Hen

Regardless of the cause of a rare color variation in nature, it is always an exhilarating experience when one has the opportunity to photograph it.

References:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/albino-animals

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birding-basics/albinism-in-birds/

https://blog.nature.org/science/2016/02/03/white-deer-understanding-a-common-animal-of-uncommon-color/

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/white-wild-turkey/

https://blog.nature.org/science/2021/10/11/whats-up-with-white-squirrels-and-black-squirrels/

CategoriesWildlife by

Piping Plover

The Piping Plover population of the USA has been in trouble for a long time now. Thankfully conservation actions were started to protect the beaches along the Atlantic coast where they breed. There has been a slight boost in the population (numbers now range in the 5-10 thousand) in recent years as a result of these actions of conservation. Their breeding range is from south Newfoundland to northern South Carolina along the Atlantic coastline. There is also a small population in the midwest, south and west of the great lakes.

The Piping Plover gets its name from the bell like whistles used in its call and is often heard before it is seen. The adult is about 7 inches long and has a bright yellow beak as well as yellow legs. Despite that bright coloration, they blend in remarkably well to their beach habitat. They can stand still for long periods of time and then suddenly run for a burst 20-30 feet before stopping motionless again. They feed on small insects and vertebrae found on the beaches. Piping Plover are often found breeding on the same beaches as breeding Least Terns. I will be posting the terns in future posts.

They winter in the Caribbean and US Gulf shoreline from September-March and breed April-August along the Atlantic shoreline. They can have several broods, and the 1st one in May usually produces 3-4 chicks with subsequent broods producing less. The chicks have to forage for their own food, and they do so as early as 1 hour after birth. This chick included in the post is only days old and about 2″ long. I included the seaweed in the image to show the details of its small size at such a tender young age. The images were taken on the last day of June. I witnessed a few 3 chick families but mostly 2 chick families at this location.

CategoriesWildlife by

Black Bears

Smoky Mountain Black Bears males average around 250 pounds while females are just over 100 pounds. This is an extreme difference and can sometimes be used to tell the sex of a mature bear. Some other physical appearance differences are the shape and size of the head and its parts. Adult females tend to show a more elongated face (more dog like) and longer taller ears. An adult male’s head and face has more round like features, and their ears have a more squatty appearance. Both males and females can run up to 25-30mph if they have to. They are extremely strong and able to lift 300 lbs. with a single lift of a front forearm. What is more amazing is the dexterity they have along with that strength. They are able to use their paws and claws to do the smallest and most difficult precise movements when foraging and feeding. They hear and see better than humans, but their most amazing sense is smell. They can smell 7x better than a domestic dog. Females can breed as early as 3 years old, and American Black Bears live on average to be 18 years old in the wild.

CategoriesWildlife by

Red Foxes and Gray Foxes

Today’s post is on the Red Fox. Hopefully between description and photos when you are done reading my blog you will have a better understanding of the differences between the Red Fox and Gray Fox. The two foxes are distant cousins to each other. Both are common to the US with the Gray Fox being the dominant fox West of the Mississippi and the Red Fox the dominant fox East of the Mississippi.

The Red Fox is only slightly larger than the Gray Fox. Its overall color is an orange brown and the tip of its tail is white. Different to other foxes it has black legs called stockings.

It is also different than the Gray Fox because of where it lives. The Red Fox has only a small presence in the actual territory of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Fearful of another canine, the Coyote, it chooses to rather live in outlying areas buffering the heavily wooded national park. It can be found in towns and even cities which have greenbelt areas and county parks. It also enjoys living around golf courses and country clubs. Those locations are surrounded by wooded areas in which they hunt and the grassy fairways are like their highways to get from one hunting ground to another.

Because they do live in close proximity to humans, Red Foxes may be seen when they are moving from one area to another. They are seen even more in late winter and early Spring when males are searching for females. Females and kits are seen frequently in late spring. One of the reasons for this is that female Red Fox have to hunt and provide for their kits. They also have a tendency to move their kits from one den site to another. Sometimes the first spot is very small or very close to human activity. As the kits grow more space and privacy may be required, so she moves them during the night time hours. If this occurs she will move one kit at a time until the whole family is secure in the new location. Red Fox usually have 1-7 kits sometimes called cubs. It is common for a female to have a litter of 4 or 5.

Smoky Mountain Wildlife Photos, Photographer Barry Spruce, Prints available at Cades Cove Gallery in Townsend TN.
Red Fox Vixen and Kit
Smoky Mountain Wildlife Photos, Photographer Barry Spruce, Prints available at Cades Cove Gallery in Townsend TN.
Gray Fox Kit