Peering through my telephoto lens at this tiny bird, I couldn’t help but smile—its energetic personality, round body, and tiny wings and tail were cartoon-like. It looked like a wren, but it certainly didn’t resemble the Carolina Wrens that I am used to seeing.
I did a little research and have concluded that this is probably a Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis). According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, these little birds are “incomparably energetic in voice” and per unit weight deliver their songs with ten times more power than a crowing rooster. I can only imagine groups of scientists with tiny scales and microphones conducting the research to back up that statement.
I noted on the statistics page of my blog that this will be posting number 1,000. I never imagined how much I would come to enjoy the process of blogging when I started this blog on July 7, 2012 with a photo of a Blue Dasher dragonfly. The support and encouragement from innumerable readers has helped to sustain me on my journey into photography. Thanks to all of you.
The journey continues.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
nice photo mike, we see a lot of wrens in Fairfax but this one does look different.
I don’t often leave comments but I enjoy your posts immensely. As a fellow birder, I love all the bird shots. However, the insect and animal pictures remind me there is more to life than just birds. It’s fantastic that you help us appreciate all aspects of nature.
I ended up as a birder by default last winter when the insects and flowers disappeared. I am pretty much an opportunistic shooter–I’ll shoot pretty much anything I see in the natural world.
Such a pretty little bird! Great photo!
Thanks. I think that my observation skills have improved as I have taken more photos, helping me to notice little birds like this.
Oh, I do understand! I was mesmerized last year watching little black birds on my porch. My memory has failed me, so their names don’t stick, but I can remember the way they look, behave and sound. Now, there is a little Chickadee on the feeder. I just love the little ones.
And so glad to be a part of and to see the products of your journey.
Thanks. I am so glad to have so many wonderful people along with me on the journey.
Nice! I’ve never had one of these little guys stay still long enough to get a photo.
I was awfully lucky with this shot. So often, a bird will fly away as I raise my camera to my eye, especially when they are as close as this one was.
What a little cutie!! Excellent capture, Mike! It’s a pleasure to follow your blog 🙂
Thanks, Camilla. My WordPress world is of a manageable size and I feel like I have gotten to know many of the folks in it. You’ve been one of the ones who has been a constant source of encouragement.
There was a time when a rooster was my alarm clock, so I’m not sure I’d want something 10 times louder outside my window, but he’s a cute little bugger.
I’ve enjoyed your blog from day 1 and am glad you’re going to stick with it. I can’t imagine doing a daily post, but you’ve done well at it.
Thanks. One of the nicest things about blogs is their flexibility–my postings tend to be short and provide small vignettes, while yours tend to be longer and help to educate people by showing them details they would normally miss. My style fits my personality and I suspect that yours fits your personality too.
I love wrens and these photographs have really captured their essence. I can see through the raised chest feathers on the second photograph.
Wrens always seem so cheery–I really like them too.
Fabulous! I’ve always wanted to see a winter wren.
Thanks. I am hoping that folks will jump in and correct me if my bird identifications are incorrect. Last winter was the first time I started photographing birds and I am hoping that I continue to see new species this winter, like the winter wren.
Wow, that is special. I always love the amazing detail you capture in your photos.
Thanks, Charlie. I was fortunate to be pretty close to this little bird and the light was favorable enough for me to capture a lot of detail.
Great photos, Mike. I’ve never seen one of these, they breed north of MN and winter south of us. Your close-ups are great for seeing the differences from the House Wrens around here. Congrats on reaching the 1000 mark. I just passes 500 myself, and thought that was a lot!
Thanks, Sue. I’ve gotten good enough with bird identification that I can usually distinguish a wren from a sparrow. This one had be baffled initially when I saw it, because it looked like no wren that I had ever seen I think my eyes are a bit more focused this year than last year and I look forward to discovering new birds this winter.
Great details in these shots!
Thanks. The little bird was amazingly close and I was able to kneel down to get a straight on perspective.
You are something else — great photos!
Thanks, Kenne. I appreciate your support and encouragement (though your photos from your hikes make me want to pack up and move to Arizona).