Finding small birds in the trees is a whole lot easier now that the leaves have fallen here in central N.C.
I spotted this Yellow-rumped Warbler at Bass Lake in Holly Springs a few days ago as I was walking around the water. It’s subdued winter plumage actually makes for pretty good camouflage against the grey tree limbs but it’s pretty yellow colors gave it away instantly when silhouetted against the blue sky.

Yellow-rumped Warblers are one of the most versatile foragers of all warbler species.
They are the warbler you’re most likely to see fluttering out from a tree to catch flying insects in the autumn, yet they’re also quick to switch over to eating berries and suet from our feeders in the winter.

Yellow-rumped Warblers can also be found picking at insects in washed-up seaweed along North Carolina’s beaches, skimming insects from the surface of lakes, canals and even gleaning gnats off of shoreline waves of the Atlantic.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds