Introduction

I've photographed Marsh Wrens in one location only: adjacent to the boardwalk at the Leeds Eco-Trail at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville, NJ, as illustrated on this satellite view (note: north is to the left).

There are three sets of bushes, (1) to the left opposite the first structure where some Barn Swallows hang out, (2) on the right opposite the arm of the boardwalk the extends to the stream that passes by, and (3) at the end of the boardwalk on the left and beyond the end. I've seen Marsh Wrens at all three spots during various visits.

During September 2015, I saw another Marsh Wren near the new boardwalk at Sandy Hook, but I wasn't quick enough to get a photograph.

First Encounter

I first saw a Marsh Wren during a visit to Forsythe on June 23, 2013. It was on stalks at location 1 on the map above:

Subsequent Sightings

Later in the summer of 2013, I was again at Forsythe and got these photos of a bird that was doing its best to hide in the bushes at location 2. Had it not been for another birder who pointed the wren out to me, I might well have missed it:

In 2014, these two shots were taken probably at location 2 (based on the angle of the sun in the photographs). I don't have a strong memory of this encounter.

During a visit of brother-in-law Dave in early June, 2015, we spent an hour or more at location 3 on the map before I finally managed these two shots of a Marsh Wren at location 3 on the map.

Almost exactly a year later at the end of May, 2016, I again encountered a Marsh Wren at location 3. At first, I could hear it beyond the end of the boardwalk, but suddenly it emerged from the foliage and flew to my down-sun side giving me this stunning view: