Recently I took a trip to the Lake Mattamuskeet NWR to scout out some locations for future birding trips.
This is such a wonderful spot to visit in the wintertime! There’s a nice variety of birds to be found here and the landscape is warm and inviting even on the coldest of days.

One of prettiest birds I encountered at the East Pond along Wildlife Drive was this Blue-headed Vireo. It was neat to get a nice up close look at this feathered gem in the marsh near the dock. We watched one another for a minute or two before he flew off into the brush.
Though it was a brief encounter, I was happy to grab at least a few photos while it lasted.

A year round resident of North Carolina, Blue-headed Vireos breed in the western part of the state during the spring & summer and then spend the winter months in our eastern coastal counties.

During nesting season, they’re relatively easily to find in the Appalachian Mountains at elevations consisting of mixed coniferous and hardwood forests. Take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and you’re likely to see (or hear) at least a couple when pulling off onto those scenic overlooks.

That being said, I’ve had the most luck spotting them during the wintertime in the mid to lower canopies of trees as well as foraging in low lying shrubs in open fields. A curious little bird, they seem to respond well to pishing and will fly in close if you give that a try.
Aren’t they lovely?

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame @canonusa
#5Ds