Every time Julie and I arrive in Anchorage, we have the same routine. Pick up the rental car, leave the city behind, and start looking for birds. This trip was no exception. Within a short time, we found this beautiful Townsend's Warbler feeding along the edge of a trailhead parking lot.

Early June is one of my favourite times to photograph birds around Anchorage. Spring migration is still underway, breeding territories are being established, and the forests are alive with birdsong. The nearly endless northern daylight means there is no shortage of opportunities to be in the field when the light is at its best.

Townsend's Warblers are among the most striking wood-warblers in North America. Their brilliant yellow face, bold black cheek patch, olive-green back, and finely streaked underparts make them unmistakable. Although they breed throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, they can be surprisingly cooperative when they're actively feeding.

One of my favourite tips for finding warblers is to slow down and listen before you start looking. Stop every so often and let the forest come to you. A singing bird will often reveal its location long before you see it. Once you've found one, resist the temptation to chase it. Stay put and be patient. More often than not, the bird will continue working its way through the branches and eventually offer a clean photographic opportunity.

This handsome Townsend's Warbler was a wonderful reminder that some of the best photographs don't happen deep in the backcountry. Sometimes they're waiting just a few steps from the parking lot.