Cistothorus paludicola
Western Marsh-Wrens are small, brown secretive birds with dark caps, thin bills, whitish eyelines and bold black and white patterns on their backs. Their tail is usually held in an upright position.
Three years ago today, I spotted a Marsh Wren in the marsh of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and stopped to take photos of the wren singing out in the open.
Two days ago, as I was driving along the auto tour route at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I spotted a cute yet somewhat grumpy-looking immature Western Marsh-Wren.
More fresh snow on the ground this morning. I am snow weary. What I need is a bird, nature, gone exploring in the wild fix with no real or clear return time.
This morning I am sharing this photo of a tiny Western Marsh-Wren hanging upside down in the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge simply because I like it.
The first bird I photographed yesterday at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday was a curious Western Marsh-Wren perched in a Greasewood bush that seemed to have an eye on me.
Four years ago I found a Western Marsh-Wren perched on a Cocklebur on a bright October morning in the wetlands of the refuge.
I spent a few minutes with a singing Western Marsh-Wren that I spotted in the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge last week. The tiny wren wasn't close so pointing him out was no easy task.
On my last visit to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I heard the unmistakable song of a Western Marsh-Wren singing and throughout the morning I heard more of their songs.
February 2nd is World Wetlands Day to raise global awareness about the critical role of wetlands for people, wildlife and our planet.
By using a vehicle as a mobile blind I was able to photograph the wrens as they sang, searched for nesting materials, defended their breeding territories and built their nests from a distance.
Western Marsh-Wrens are year round residents here in northern Utah and this week I've photographed them in the marshes of both Farmington Bay WMA and Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
May is a time of renewal at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and as the marsh begins to green up the migrant birds return and along with the year round residents their songs and calls can be heard over the wetlands.
Western Marsh-Wren nesting season has begun here in northern Utah and in my opinion one of the best places to see, listen to and photograph them is from the auto tour route at Bear River MBR.
Mostly today's post is about a nest building Western Marsh-Wren but I'm including an unexpected hawk I also found on my way out to the auto tour loop.
While looking for an image in my archives I came across this photo of a Western Marsh-Wren making a funny face while doing the splits on some cattails at Farmington Bay WMA and wanted to share it.
This Western Marsh-Wren popped up into clear view to briefly perch and looks towards me before it dove back down into the vegetation.
Western Marsh-Wrens are small, brown, secretive birds with dark caps, thin bills, whitish eyelines and bold black and white patterns on their backs that usually hold their tails in an upright position.
I was so happy to photograph this mixture of spring birds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge that I had a hard time picking out which birds and which photos to share.
I will be listening for the male Western Marsh-Wren songs at the pond nearby and the marshes at Farmington Bay WMA and Bear River MBR and waiting to see them pop up on top of the cattails, phrags and rushes.
In this Western Marsh-Wren image it would have been great to have a clear view of both of the wren's feet but I had a bent over cattail stalk in the way.
I was delighted by several tiny Western Marsh-Wrens foraging in some cattails close enough to photograph with autumn colors in the background.
The males will start singing before too long and the Western Marsh-Wren nesting season in Utah will begin.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge looks beautiful this time of the year so I took a few images of it with my cell phone and a short video when I was there two days ago.
I headed up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday morning and I am very glad I did because of the wonderful birds I saw.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is always a delight and I never know exactly what I might see when I am there which suits my spontaneous nature perfectly.
The snow has melted in the Salt Lake Valley where temps have been unseasonably warm thanks to the "Pineapple Express" and although winter hasn't left it has begun to feel like spring which means it won't be long before spring has sprung up all over Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge!
One of my favorite locations to photograph birds in northern Utah is Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I've selected some of the birds there that delight and entertain me while I observe and photograph them.
I photographed these male Western Marsh-Wrens during breeding season when they were calling on their territories, while the male and female are alike in most aspects the exception is that only the males sing. And sing they do!
This is the time of the year that "midges" are as thick as flies on you-know-what at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.