Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) can sing surprisingly loudly, and often times you know they are around long before you see them. At other times, though, they are very, very still. On more than one occasion, I have happened to look around and found one perched quite close to me without my ever having heard it. That was the case this morning. I had been photographing some cardinals when I glanced to my right and there was this little one perched about three feet from me. It didn’t seem at all concerned, even when I noticed it, and at one point it was preening itself. I got quite a few shots before turning my head for a moment. When I turned back my little friend had vanished just as silently as it had arrived.