Marsh Wren in a Marsh, Who Knew?

Personally, I am a fan of Wrens.  A big fan.  They are awesome little birds that are adaptable, tough, and easy on the eyes.  I have a print of a Carolina Wren in my living room actually.  It is a nice print and enjoy seeing it everyday.  But back to wrens.  Marsh Wrens are another of the wrens we get in the Northeast and they live in... well... marshes.  They are very vocal and territorial.  They are often seen bounding between reeds, grasses, and other marsh plants trying to get food, protect their boundaries, and building nests.  Long story short, they work hard.  Their songs are also loud and pretty easy to hear if you are near a marsh.

I had a close encounter with a very active and vocal Marsh Wren recently.  I took advantage of his singing to take several photos of him.  His singing set off some of the other birds around the marsh too.  Red-Winged Blackbirds, Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrows, and other birds all joined in after the Marsh Wren began singing.  He did not seem to care much that I was there for the show either.  Half a dozen other people either listened in as well, or walked right by him.  It was a great moment to share with the little critter and I wish those walking by would listen a bit more to the world around them.

Until the next time!  Get out and go birding!

Marsh Wren Singing

Dramatic Pose...

Marsh Wren at All About Birds - Link Here

Connecting to Wild Bird Wednesday - Link here

Birding by Eye

I want to be an altruistic birder.  I want to see the birds for the sake of seeing the birds themselves.  That doesn't seem to be working out.  While I am definitely not some crazy lister than only cares about what they see next.  I want to see all the birds I can and now I want to have photos of them and what I am seeing to be able to share them.  So I guess that makes me a selfish birder...

That's ok to.  I can use my selfish birder to make things better for the birds and people everywhere.  I've noticed recently that when I am out with non-birders, I go full on into teacher-mode.  Let's look at this, What do you see here, What do you think... start about 90% of my sentences.  Connecting with nature is key these days and I feel a need to help people do just that.  Maybe birding just isn't about the birds after all.  Its about all of us on this planet and sharing one large super-complex ecosystem. That's a heavy thought for the weekend, maybe it is just about the lists....

I had to take a step back after chasing after a picture of a little Marsh Wren.  I struggled with just enjoying is song and admiring how well suited he was for his environment.  I had to have a photo of him.  I needed the photo.  So I decided to settle for just a slight picture of him.  Can you spot him in the last photo?

Semipalmated Plover and Least Sandpiper

Greater Yellowlegs 

Some Herring Gulls just hanging out

Can you spot the Marsh Wren?

Coming Soon:
Photos from a pelagic and A review of the Warbler Guide