The last time I talked about wrens was in 2015 so what about a revisit. What’s nice about Wrens is they are bold, chatty, will get in your face when you are in their territory, and they will sit still. The Pacific Wren is very common in my old home of Santa Cruz, CA but on the east side of Sierras you need to know where to find them. I found this guy at the north end of Lake Tahoe a few miles east of Incline Village. I was walking along a creek when I heard the chatter of the Wren. He perched right in front of me and since it was overcast and I was in the shade I had to stop down to a shutter speed of 1/500s, use a wide open f/5.6, and an ISO1000. I was pleased with the quality of the image and the bokeh.
Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) - Chimney Beach Area, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 6-2-2022 at 11:25
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/500s, f/5.6, ISO1000, +1/3EV, Conditions: shade
Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) - Chimney Beach Area, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 6-2-2022 at 11:24
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/500s, f/5.6, ISO1000, +1/3EV, Conditions: shade
A few days later I was hiking through Long Valley Canyon and came across a family of Rock Wrens. I first saw 2 of them across the creek but then found 3 more within 10m of me.
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) - Long Valley Canyon, STO (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 6-8-2022 at 10:43
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/6.3, ISO250, +1/3EV, Conditions: overcast
One of my favorites is the Canyon Wren. I found this one outside Virginia City, NV after finishing a hike through Cedar Hill Canyon. I was putting my camera away in my truck and then I heard a Wren singing. I quickly grabbed my camera and searched the canyon for the singer. Again the Wren perched right next to me and and gave me a great opportunity and a very nice image.
Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) - Cedar Hill Canyon, STO (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 9-17-2019 at 12:12
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/4.5, ISO100, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny
The first Cactus Wren I saw was during a trip to southern Arizona in December 2019. Like most Wrens then took a high perch and didn’t care if I approached close.
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) - Case Natural Resource Park, PIM (AZ)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 12-11-2019 at 8:35
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO500, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny
Some common Wrens in the Reno, NV area are the Bewick’s, Marsh, and breeding migrant House Wren. Another first was finding a Carolina Wren along the Rocky Fork Road in Ohio. I was on a Warbler tour that started in Kentucky and ended in Michigan. It was very dark so the image did have more noise than I like but I’m glad I was able to get an image.
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) - Long Valley Creek, STO (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 10-9-2019 at 11:05
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO400, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) - Bowers Mansion RP, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 1-25-2022 at 10:35
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO400, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) - Little Washoe Lake, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 10-17-2016 at 9:19
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/4.5, ISO250, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) - Damonte Ranch Wetlands, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 3-21-2019 at 12:56
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO320, +1/3EV, Conditions: overcast
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) - Whites Creek Canyon, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D7200 1.5 crop factor, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 4-5-2017 at 10:36
Settings: 1050mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO320, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), immature - Crystal Peak Park, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 8-3-2018 at 8:35
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.0, ISO1250, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) - Rocky Fork Road, SCI (OH)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 5-11-2019 at 15:59
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/4.5, ISO2200, +1/3EV, Conditions: shade
Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.