Waiting for the tide

Earlier this week during one of the big tides (~ 7 ft. high, one of the biggest of the year), I noticed a few Marsh Wrens (Cistothorus palustris) temporarily displaced by the high water.  

I photographed a couple of them in different habitat types while they were waiting for the tide to recede.


Perched in Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis):

 

Peering out from behind some Pickleweed (Salicornia pacifica) at the very upper edge of the salt marsh: 

 

At the top of the vegetation in a brackish water marsh:

 

On Bodega Head during the breeding season, Marsh Wrens are typically associated with deeper, freshwater marshes that support dense stands of Bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum) and Panicled Bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus).  But in winter, their habitat use broadens, and they may also occur in salt marshes — as in the second picture above!

For a little more information about Marsh Wrens, you can review the post from 18 February 2012.