While birding a few weeks ago at Lake Betz in Morrisville NC, I got a lucky break by spotting this Blackpoll Warbler hiding in the brush next to the swamp.
He’d been sighted in the area earlier by my friend @nilaytphotography (thanks for the heads up!) but I didn’t think I’d have a chance to see this tiny bird given how dense the bushes were.
Normally my view of Blackpolls is looking up at them from far below a tree. In fact, these are my first two photos ever of this species that aren’t butt shots haha!

Blackpoll Warblers take an incredible migratory journeys each spring. They travel from Venezuela in South America all the way up north and as far west as Nome, Alaska to breed.
Happily they do stop in North Carolina for a short while to rest along the way.
Like most Warbler species they are voracious eaters of insects and are often seen gleaning for a six legged meal in the tree tops.
They are best spotted in the mid to upper canopies of hardwoods in open forest habitats and can be found by listening for their high pitched calls in the woods.

If you’ve missed them this spring, you’ll have another opportunity to see Blackpolls again this year from late September through October here in the Tarheel State.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds