I have to admit that after the Marsh Wrens of Arcata Marsh in California earlier this year, the Marsh Wrens of North Dakota are difficult. Same feisty little bird. Same habit of singing at the top of their lungs for hours at at time from a few chosen perches, but the wrens of California perch up high in the cattails where you can see them…while the wrens of North Dakota skulk down deep in the reeds where getting on them with a camera is most difficult! Downright inconsiderate of them.

These are from the same little pothole wetland that provided my fill of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. It was one of the stops on the way out to Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge on the Chase Lake Field Trip at the Potholes and Prairies Birding Festival. With a bus load of birders pulled up along side, this Marsh Wren is well photographed (but then, unlike Arcata, it is unlikely to see another birder all year!)

Canon SX40HS. Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation.  1) and 3) 1240mm equivalent field of view (840mm optical zoom plus 1.5x digital tel-converter). f5.8 @ 1/400th @ ISO 100. 2) and 4) 1680mm equivalent (2x digital tel-converter). f5.8 @ 1/400th @ ISO 100.

Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.