Showing posts with label american bittern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label american bittern. Show all posts
Sunday, May 19, 2013
2 Bitterns 2 Days
Two Bitterns in 2 days...What? Yep! Got lucky twice! American Bitterns are stocky and a well-camouflaged heron of dense reed beds, they are difficult to see. Their far-carrying booming call is distinctive, but the bittern itself likes to keep under cover.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Befuddled by a Bittern
It's easy to say that American Bitterns are a difficult species to find, let alone photograph. I am lucky, I know of a pair close by. I expect to see them every spring and hope for that "great" photograph. I check on them every chance I get, hoping they don't move to a more private pond, as they always do every spring. The race is on with every moment I catch a glimpse, wondering if this is the last day I might see them. The pictures below are over several days, and the different areas they cover around the closest pond at the prairie.
On this day, I sat directly across from one on the complete opposite side. I didn't see him for hours, but I sat and sat, scanning the edges, and as you see if you look closely, he is there. Enlarge for better view. The car in the background is mine in the parking lot about a quarter(ish) of a mile away. (I used 600mm lens for all shots)
This photo is in the same area, but just north of the last. He was not as easy to see as it looks. I passed by him and then did another pass and spotted him. He is about 100 yards away.
This is his mate. She (I don't really know which is which!) was just east of him, and again, I didn't see her until after the photoshoot of him was over. She looks so obvious! She wasn't!
On this day, I was at my original spot, on a bench across the pond. I had been there for hours again. A couple of people were making there way in my direction, so I thought I should check the shores before they spook it if indeed it was close. I scan to my right, nothing, I scan to my left...There he was just 30 yards away. I passed right by him, within a few short feet. I stopped the people from approaching any closer, set up my tripod, and took some shots. The people decided to turn around, (Thank You!) and I continued to approach ever so closely. I gained about 15 feet, shot a few more and this is the result. He was backlit, and getting on the other side would be a miracle, but I tried. It took forever to move, because I would only move when he put his head down below the grasses. As I rounded the corner, I saw him running low, all hunched over, waddling his way thru his escape route. Oh well, I crave to shoot another day...
On this day, I sat directly across from one on the complete opposite side. I didn't see him for hours, but I sat and sat, scanning the edges, and as you see if you look closely, he is there. Enlarge for better view. The car in the background is mine in the parking lot about a quarter(ish) of a mile away. (I used 600mm lens for all shots)
This photo is in the same area, but just north of the last. He was not as easy to see as it looks. I passed by him and then did another pass and spotted him. He is about 100 yards away.
This is his mate. She (I don't really know which is which!) was just east of him, and again, I didn't see her until after the photoshoot of him was over. She looks so obvious! She wasn't!
On this day, I was at my original spot, on a bench across the pond. I had been there for hours again. A couple of people were making there way in my direction, so I thought I should check the shores before they spook it if indeed it was close. I scan to my right, nothing, I scan to my left...There he was just 30 yards away. I passed right by him, within a few short feet. I stopped the people from approaching any closer, set up my tripod, and took some shots. The people decided to turn around, (Thank You!) and I continued to approach ever so closely. I gained about 15 feet, shot a few more and this is the result. He was backlit, and getting on the other side would be a miracle, but I tried. It took forever to move, because I would only move when he put his head down below the grasses. As I rounded the corner, I saw him running low, all hunched over, waddling his way thru his escape route. Oh well, I crave to shoot another day...
Monday, April 19, 2010
American Bittern
I found this guy with a backward glance almost passing him by. As I tried to position myself focusing in-between the tall grasses, I scared up another one just ahead that was practically in the clear. Doh! The flight shot in the comments section is the one I flushed.
Although common in much of its range, the American Bittern is usually well-hidden in bogs, marshes and wet meadows. Usually solitary, it walks stealthily among cattails. If it senses that it has been seen, the American Bittern becomes motionless, with its bill pointed upward, causing it to blend into the reeds. It is most active at dusk. More often heard than seen, this bittern has a call that resembles a congested pump.
Like other members of the heron family, the American Bittern feeds in marshes and shallow ponds, dining on amphibians, fish, insects and reptiles.
Click on any photo to see larger!
Although common in much of its range, the American Bittern is usually well-hidden in bogs, marshes and wet meadows. Usually solitary, it walks stealthily among cattails. If it senses that it has been seen, the American Bittern becomes motionless, with its bill pointed upward, causing it to blend into the reeds. It is most active at dusk. More often heard than seen, this bittern has a call that resembles a congested pump.
Like other members of the heron family, the American Bittern feeds in marshes and shallow ponds, dining on amphibians, fish, insects and reptiles.
Click on any photo to see larger!
Monday, May 4, 2009
American Bittern!
Another amazing weekend with plenty of firsts, but I am savoring these posts and spreading them out over the next few days. First off, I am starting with the American Bittern. I have only seen one once, last year, as it flew away, but I did get some dark shots. This time was quite different...and quite dramatic!
There were a total of three of us as were walking along the trail to a rumored bittern location. As we are approaching the pond, we hear the distinctive "boom" of the bittern. "Pam" sees what might be the head sticking up above the tall grasses, and takes a second look thru her lens. It is! After excited whispers as to what to do, the bittern flies off and lands on the trail at the far side. Ooooh! We trek the trail at a leisurely pace and stop along the way for closer shots. The bittern starts working the reeds and is not quite keeping our pace so we push on...
We sat on a bench for quite some time, letting it relax in it's environment as we excitedly ponder our good fortune.
We continue our path as it gets quite a distance from us, and rediscover it's location on the other side of the pond. It started "booming" right in front of us!
There isn't a cooler sound than that of the American Bittern!
Another sound that added to the mix, was that of the Pied-billed Grebe. If you haven't ever heard their unique courting call, google it! It's worth the effort!
For a Bittern to let us into it's life was such a lucky moment. Wow! I still can't describe how amazing it was!
There were a total of three of us as were walking along the trail to a rumored bittern location. As we are approaching the pond, we hear the distinctive "boom" of the bittern. "Pam" sees what might be the head sticking up above the tall grasses, and takes a second look thru her lens. It is! After excited whispers as to what to do, the bittern flies off and lands on the trail at the far side. Ooooh! We trek the trail at a leisurely pace and stop along the way for closer shots. The bittern starts working the reeds and is not quite keeping our pace so we push on...
We sat on a bench for quite some time, letting it relax in it's environment as we excitedly ponder our good fortune.
We continue our path as it gets quite a distance from us, and rediscover it's location on the other side of the pond. It started "booming" right in front of us!
There isn't a cooler sound than that of the American Bittern!
Another sound that added to the mix, was that of the Pied-billed Grebe. If you haven't ever heard their unique courting call, google it! It's worth the effort!
For a Bittern to let us into it's life was such a lucky moment. Wow! I still can't describe how amazing it was!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Goose Lake Bittern Chase
I have been hinting about good things to come out of Goose Lake for over a week now, and delivered on the bluebirds, but the intent was the bitterns that I was very excited about, and I'm surrendering the best photos I have, which isn't anything to brag about. But...Here's the story of the chase for bittern photos...
American Bitterns and Least Bitterns have been on my short list of "Life Birds" (if you want to talk in "birderspeak"). I have heard of American Bitterns being at Goose Lake for years, but have never ventured to the marsh for that particular reason, although I would scan the lake if I was walking by, only half-believing they were there...This year was different. Being that the last month has been dry--photowise--It was worth a look to make the hike. I took my buddy "Ridge" with me, and upon first approach, something small and "least bittern colored" flushed within the reeds. Ridge thinks to this day that it was a green heron, but I stand firm on its coloring being the bittern. How exciting! We took our seats at the top of the hill overlooking the lake and waited. We didn't venture down to the walking bridge as of yet, fearful that we might scare something else. As we sat there, we heard semi-distant calls from what we thought must be the Goose Lake-famous Sandhill Cranes. Oooh! This is getting good! It was absolutely amazing to hear the calls to eachother, but to see one within the reeds was impossible. We have been back since, for 3 straight days, and have yet to see one in the open. Come On! Anyway...We decided to walk down to the broken bridge after an hour or so, and...as our luck would have it, an American Bittern flushed! This is the dark shot that I got:
Since that evening, we have been back 3 more times, 2 in the evening before sunset, and once at sunrise. No Sandhill Crane shots...But...We did hear them each day! O.K. Now lets talk about the next picture. The Least Bittern. We didn't expect to see one. But we did! We saw one flush almost every time we approached the lake. Least Bitterns are far less common than the uncommon American Bittern, so excitement at the prospect of finding one is an understatement. This is the only shot that has come out:
It just so happened, that on 2 occasions, as we were walking away from the lake, 2 Black-crowned Night Herons flew over our heads. And...If you don't know it, Black-crowned's are extremely shy birds, so for that to happen twice was unbelievable!
This Juvy followed its parent into the reeds. I don't think they were used to people being near their home.
It was very difficult, to say the least, to go out to the lake every day. Each day heated up to excede the 90 degree mark, which is why we chose the morning/evening hikes. The deer flies were horrible,--I mean it--Horrible! I put on all kinds of bug spray, with extreme deet content, which depreciates my health I am sure, and practically soaked a ballcap in the stuff to deter them away from my ears, face, and eyes. Believe me when I say they were all over my head! Swarmin' I say! Oh, and they bite...Hard! Every single step of the way was miserable! I have now decided that I just can't go back out there for awhile. I do want the Sandhill Cranes, but I am waiting for the deer flies to calm down. My head has been itching from the spray from 3 days ago, so I suspect the ballcap was saturated just a little too much and caused irritation to my scalp. Geez...I can whine alittle can't I? Sorry! But did I mention the ticks? No? We had a total of 8 of them on us... I will be back though...when the bugphobia subsides...maybe in a few weeks...the chase has only begun...
American Bitterns and Least Bitterns have been on my short list of "Life Birds" (if you want to talk in "birderspeak"). I have heard of American Bitterns being at Goose Lake for years, but have never ventured to the marsh for that particular reason, although I would scan the lake if I was walking by, only half-believing they were there...This year was different. Being that the last month has been dry--photowise--It was worth a look to make the hike. I took my buddy "Ridge" with me, and upon first approach, something small and "least bittern colored" flushed within the reeds. Ridge thinks to this day that it was a green heron, but I stand firm on its coloring being the bittern. How exciting! We took our seats at the top of the hill overlooking the lake and waited. We didn't venture down to the walking bridge as of yet, fearful that we might scare something else. As we sat there, we heard semi-distant calls from what we thought must be the Goose Lake-famous Sandhill Cranes. Oooh! This is getting good! It was absolutely amazing to hear the calls to eachother, but to see one within the reeds was impossible. We have been back since, for 3 straight days, and have yet to see one in the open. Come On! Anyway...We decided to walk down to the broken bridge after an hour or so, and...as our luck would have it, an American Bittern flushed! This is the dark shot that I got:
Since that evening, we have been back 3 more times, 2 in the evening before sunset, and once at sunrise. No Sandhill Crane shots...But...We did hear them each day! O.K. Now lets talk about the next picture. The Least Bittern. We didn't expect to see one. But we did! We saw one flush almost every time we approached the lake. Least Bitterns are far less common than the uncommon American Bittern, so excitement at the prospect of finding one is an understatement. This is the only shot that has come out:
It just so happened, that on 2 occasions, as we were walking away from the lake, 2 Black-crowned Night Herons flew over our heads. And...If you don't know it, Black-crowned's are extremely shy birds, so for that to happen twice was unbelievable!
This Juvy followed its parent into the reeds. I don't think they were used to people being near their home.
It was very difficult, to say the least, to go out to the lake every day. Each day heated up to excede the 90 degree mark, which is why we chose the morning/evening hikes. The deer flies were horrible,--I mean it--Horrible! I put on all kinds of bug spray, with extreme deet content, which depreciates my health I am sure, and practically soaked a ballcap in the stuff to deter them away from my ears, face, and eyes. Believe me when I say they were all over my head! Swarmin' I say! Oh, and they bite...Hard! Every single step of the way was miserable! I have now decided that I just can't go back out there for awhile. I do want the Sandhill Cranes, but I am waiting for the deer flies to calm down. My head has been itching from the spray from 3 days ago, so I suspect the ballcap was saturated just a little too much and caused irritation to my scalp. Geez...I can whine alittle can't I? Sorry! But did I mention the ticks? No? We had a total of 8 of them on us... I will be back though...when the bugphobia subsides...maybe in a few weeks...the chase has only begun...
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