Including several recent fledglings that are messy with spider silk, plant debris and brine flies.
Five days ago on Antelope Island I had a completely unexpected encounter with a family of Rock Wrens. They were flitting around a couple of rock piles right at sunrise but for most of the time I was with them the rock piles were still in shade, so the light was low. In an effort to have ‘enough’ shutter speed for such flitty birds, I chose to shoot at ISO 2500 and in some of these photos it shows in the image quality. Partly because some of the photos have been cropped significantly.
I never could tell for sure how many wrens were in and on the rocks but there was at least one adult and at least three recent fledglings. I had the impression there were more.
At first I thought this wren was cleaning its bill but it was actually searching for tiny insects/spiders in that crevice in the rock.
It caught one too. Here we see it in the wren’s bill. There’s another one in the crevice below and slightly in front of the tip of the bird’s bill.
There’s an incredible number of spiders on that area of the island right now and their webs are everywhere. So the wrens have a very difficult time avoiding…
the webs and the tiny insects caught in them. Here we see spider silk hanging down from this bird’s throat with two tiny insects, probably brine flies, caught in it. There is more silk and more insects stuck to ‘his’ tail.
That particular bird was the one that I photographed most often so I have many photos showing his messy lower throat.
A closer look at his tagalong insects. There is spider silk above his eye and on his bill.
Most of the wrens I photographed were messy with debris of some kind. This one had some plant debris stuck to it’s throat.
Here’s a better look at it. Once again, sticky spider silk was probably involved.
There was more variation in the markings of these wrens than I expected. I suspect this bird might be an adult “wearing to dark“.
This photo was taken just as direct light finally began to hit the rock piles, and the wrens. But right about then my good friend April Olson drove up and I hadn’t seen her for a while so visiting with April easily took priority. I came back to the rock piles later in the morning and found the wrens again but by then the light was beginning to get harsh, so I just headed for home.
Ron
While I like and admire spiders I loathe the feeling of their webs on my skin. I wonder whether birds feel the same?
Another post that starts my day (later than usual it is just after 5 here) well. Thank you.
EC, I have the same reaction to the feeling of spider silk on my skin. Which is one of the reasons I don’t go out walking in the sagebrush this time of year.
I’m definitely team save-some-for-a-snack, so I appreciate the lengths these wrens are going to for the same. 😉 Thank you for the reminder about wearing to dark as well.
I’m glad you and April had such a great chat. I like the way you prioritize good friends. 🙂
April’s special, Marty. For lots of reasons.
You did get there early! I headed for other locations first that morning, and was swinging back to the phalaropes before going home. I don’t go as early as you do, I like to get sun on the causeway as I arrive. Unless I want sunrise on the east side drive down to Garr Ranch, then I am there earlier. It was fun talking with you. I am not going out as often as other years, I am tired of driving in our congested traffic on the interstates and for me just getting out of Salt Lake. I would like to go out tomorrow morning again, just haven’t decided between two locations.
April, I’m definitely an early bird.
I hope to go somewhere tomorrow too.
Excellent series!!!!
Thanks.
Rock wrens on rocks. Amazing. I usually see them on rusty corrugated roofing panels in pastures.
Then your species is Roofing Panel Wrens, Catherine. 🙂
Watering some plants this am, and one bush is pretty much completely covered with spider webs – thought I’d brush one off with my finger, which ended looking a lot like these rock wren throats and faces. 😛 These are really beautiful little birds. So interesting, your capture of them catching those tiny insects.
Carolyn, I hope those webs aren’t from spider mites. They can do a lot of damage to certain plants.
Fun! The spider webs are certainly a PITA for the wrens while also providing grub. I REALLY enjoy the wrens we have here – house wrens I believe……. 🙂
Judy, spiders are thick on certain parts of the island this year. That’s good news for a lot of species, And for photographers.
Love the lead in. Of course Rock Wrens can be found on rocks. 🙂
I think I also have some Rock Wren photos on rock. Here in Prescott where everything is built on granite rock you would have to. Neat series. Wonder if they can get the spiders off their chest or if it takes another bird to grab them? Excellent photography when you can catch photos clearly showing that tiny insect in the beak.
Thanks, Everett. I wasn’t close to that wren with prey in its bill but I was able to crop a lot and still have good detail. I can thank the R5 for that.
A bit ago I spent a couple hours with rock wrens, taking a few dozen photos. Your series on their spider-chasing is so much more interesting than what I got.
Thank you, Kent. For me (and for you, apparently) behaviors usually make bird photos more interesting.
Very nice Ron. Really like that second photo.
We have had Bewick’s Wrens nesting in a birdhouse that I built with my daughter Mia many years ago when she was quite young. I have a lot of photos and video of them building nests and bringing food to the young. None nesting in that birdhouse this year though. Kind of symbolic, in that Mia left her “nest” to make one of her own this summer.
Thanks, Michael. I’ve never seen or photographed a Bewick’s.
I suspect Mia’s parents are experiencing empty nest syndrome.
What a good morning for you– a whole bunch of unusually
“texturized” subjects, willing to pause briefly for you to capture their portraits, and a visit with an old friend into the bargain ! It certainly
seems to be a good season for fledglings– all day long, including
as I write, I hear choruses of begging baby birds of many kinds!
“Texturized” subjects, I like that Kris.
Around here that chorus of begging baby birds is beginning to die down but I still hear it occasionally, in the field and in my yard.