American Bittern
Taken from the West Dyke of Richmond, March 6, 2009. These rather rare birds are hard to spot because of their remarkable camouflage. When they detect an intruder they "hide" by putting their bill in the air and trying to blend in with the reeds. Once seen, they are easy to photograph because they move in an incredibly stately way, carefully placing one foot down on the reed bed before lifting the other one up.
American Bittern
Taken from the West Dyke of Richmond, March 6, 2009. These rather rare birds are hard to spot because of their remarkable camouflage. When they detect an intruder they "hide" by putting their bill in the air and trying to blend in with the reeds. Once seen, they are easy to photograph because they move in an incredibly stately way, carefully placing one foot down on the reed bed before lifting the other one up.