Rock Wren On The Last Day Of Summer

Rock Wren on a large boulder – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I spotted this Rock Wren at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago. The wren looked slightly out of place surrounded by the marshes that are found at this location. I quickly snapped a few pictures of the wren. Then sped up my approach in order to capture full-frame shots of the bird.

With experience, I’ve developed an ability to decide how and when to approach my subjects quickly over time. Too often, even a brief delay has prevented me from photographing my subject at all or resulted in unsatisfactory images of them.

Rock Wren perched on a boulder – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

My quick approach was the best choice. As soon as I turned the engine off on my Jeep the wren seemed to pose exclusively for me on top of a large boulder. To say that I was pleased with what I saw through my viewfinder would be an understatement. My delight was palpable, and my pulse quickened.

Rock Wren staring at me – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

As I viewed the Rock Wren through my viewfinder, I enjoyed the great view I had of its eye, the indistinct eye brow, the speckling on its chest and belly, and its form. For a bit, I almost forgot to breathe.

Rock Wren on the last day of summer – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I’ve only seen Rock Wrens in marsh habitats during the late summer and fall. Which leads me to believe that those wrens in marshes might simply be migrating through the area. Rock Wrens are considered partial migrants. Some are migratory and some move to lower elevations during the coldest months of the year. Some are also year round-residents.

Typically, Rock Wrens are found in arid and semiarid areas with exposed rock and in some alpine habitats. Not in marshy habitats.

Serious looking Rock Wren – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised to find this Rock Wren at Farmington Bay WMA. Over the years since I moved here in 2009, Farmington Bay has become drier and drier. If it weren’t for water management by the staff at the WMA it might be even drier and more arid than it is now.

Migrating Rock Wren – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Photographing this Rock Wren also clued me in on another subject. While I was taking images of the wren, I caught movement on the rocks in my peripheral vision. When I looked away from the viewfinder, I was tickled to see a Long-tailed Weasel.

Long-tailed Weasel sniffing a rock – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Every minute of my morning after my arrival to Farmington Bay WMA, from my time traveling the roads, to my chats with other photographers, and how long I photographed each subject, led me to finding the Rock Wren and Long-tailed Weasel at the precise times they appeared in my view on the boulders and rocks.

Long-tailed Weasel leaning on a leaning rock – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light

Had I arrived at this precise spot even a minute or two earlier or later, I might have missed seeing and photographing the wren and weasel.

Some people might call finding these creatures karma, luck, or happenstance. Me? It is simply how I live my life, where I am actively looking for the small and great things in it. I am ever so grateful for what nature gifts me with.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Rock Wren photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my Long-tailed Weasel photos plus facts and information about this species.