[mou] Marsh Wren

[Thomas Maiello]

Heard a Marsh Wren on the boardwalk in the middle of Wood Lake Nature 
Center today.  Amazing sound.  Then with patience and auditory tracking 
saw movement in the cat tails and finally the little critter jumped 
right out and showed itself off for me.  A beautiful bird completely 
focused on finding tidbits here and there for lunch.  Saw it about 
2:00.  Also saw a breath-takingly beautiful pair of Eastern Bluebirds in 
the fields in the southwest area where they usually are and posing on 
the "saguaro" looking weeds.

Before that, walked Westwood NC in SLP and walked up on a Pileated 
Woodpecker beating away on a stump only about 10 feet in front of me on 
the trail.  Didn't seem to mind me at all.  From conversations with 
others there, a pair is nesting in the woods on the southeast part of 
the lake.  Also saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker making repeated calls from 
a dead tree.  I couldn't hear them but it seemed like it was verbally 
connecting with young in a nest in the hollow in the tree - pure 
speculation.  Also saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers and a pair of Common 
Mergansers feeding in the lake by the south side pier.  Also a Hermit 
Thrush and a Yellow-Rump.  Someone else saw a Palm Warbler.

Kind of a slow day actually.

Thomas Maiello
Spring Lake Park