Monday was a wonderfully sunny autumn day, so I headed out with my camera to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Suspecting that the insects were almost completely gone, I decided that I would primarily be searching for birds and switched to my longest telephoto lens, my Tamron 150-600mm zoom lens. This is a really versatile lens, but it has a minimum focusing distance of almost 9 feet (2700 mm), which makes focusing on small subjects problematic.
There were ducks on the bay, but they were too far away to photograph. I also spotted a few Bald Eagles as they flew away from me. Fortunately I had better luck with a Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) that I initially heard singing. I located the small bird and waited until it turned its head to the side and captured this wonderful little shot of the wren with its mouth wide open and its tail lifted up.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That’s a wonderful photo. They are one of my favorites birds and they do come to New Hampshire now. Such a loud songs for such a little bird but very cheery. Thank you.
Ann
Thanks, Ann. I hear Carolina Wrens a lot more often than I see them. It is amazing how loudly such a small bird can sing and I too find those songs to be cheery.
I enjoy watching these birds. I once had a Carolina Wren yell at me from a tree while I was out in the Sourland Mountain Preserve. I guess I may have walked too close.
This is a stunning shot, Mike! I love that there is an atmosphere of chill to the image, because of the cold blue-greys and the bare branches, but there is a warmth to the wren because of the hues of its plumage. I love all of the detail in the gorgeous wee wren, including the catchlight in its eye and especially the sense of it having been captured mid-song.
What a cracker!
What a lovely photo of this beautiful little wren! I love Carolina Wrens and their delightful singing, but rarely have the good fortune to see them so close up.
Thanks. It is extremely rare for me to get a clear shot of a Carolina Wren. Most of the time I too am content to hear them singing.