View allAll Photos Tagged americanbittern
Réalisé le 30 mai 2021 au Marais Léon-Provancher, Neuville, Québec.
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Taken on May, 30th / 2021 at Marais Leon-Provancher, Neuville, Quebec.
We observed this American Bittern for quite awhile as he emerged from the reeds, quickly retreated behind the dense vegetation, and repeated the process every four or five minutes. Finally, he remained exposed, raised his wings and puffed out his feathers and quickly darted forward to snatch a tiny fish from the shallow water. He returned to the reeds and that was the last we saw of him.
A "calmer" view of him in the first comment below.
Réalisé le 30 mai 2021 au Marais Léon-Provancher, Neuville, Québec.
Double-Cliquez sur l'image pour l'agrandir / Double-click on the photograph to enlarge it.
Taken on May, 30th / 2021 at Marais Leon-Provancher, Neuville, Quebec.
I’ve been birding for fifty years, but the American Bittern remained my nemesis for most of them. I’d heard their strange, gulping calls echo from the marshes, but spotting one? Rare. Photographing one? Forget it.
That changed in North Dakota.
I saw ten bitterns and heard at least twenty more. One stood still between the road and the marsh—surprisingly cooperative. As I edged closer for a better view, I nearly stepped on a second bittern hiding in the reeds beside me.
He burst into flight just feet away.
I didn’t have to think—I followed. Years of birding and photography had wired that response into me. I stayed on him, tracking with the camera, waiting to see what he’d do next.
Then, like a gift, he made a wide U-turn and passed directly in front of me at eye level.
I was ready.
He wasn’t my nemesis anymore. He was a living exclamation point, flashing past, as if to say: That’s your shot. You’re welcome.
We usually see the American Bittern as an unusual looking heron with a very long neck. This handsome Bittern holding it’s fresh catch has a totally different look. This was taken at sunset when they are the most active. They hunt in reeds and emerge to prepare their catch where it is safe before swallowing it whole.
I love how American Bitterns can blend right into the reeds. We were birding at Ridgefield NWR yesterday, when my husband spotted three American Bitterns! I was photographing the two Bitterns that were across the canal in the reeds. John noticed that there was a Bittern about 8 feet from our SUV. I was shooting with my Nikkor 500mm f/5.6 Prime lens, so of course I turned and took some up close and personal shots of the closest Bittern.
An American Bittern camouflaged in the reeds! He was walking right towards our vehicle (only about 8 feet away) and stalking a possible meal. Photo taken at Ridgefiled NWR.
Photographed the American Bittern off a road in the Township of Maisonville in Sesekinika in Northeastern Ontario Canada
Highly dependent on wetlands throughout its annual cycle, the American Bittern population showed a sharp decrease in Canada in the 1970s that has been linked to habitat loss and degradation (Lowther et al. 2009). Results from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest that the decrease ended by the mid-1980s and, during the most recent years, has shown an increase. However, regional results vary for this widely distributed species. The American Bittern’s elusive behaviour means that the magnitude of long-term change remains somewhat uncertain, but overall the national population has shown little change since 1970. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
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Had a great, hour-long photo shoot with this bittern who did his call numerous times during that hour. I originally heard him calling from 3 miles away. Still can't believe I found him!
Here is my video compilation of his call.
You'll need sharp eyes to catch sight of an American Bittern. This streaky, brown, and buff heron can materialize among the reeds, and disappear as quickly, especially when striking a concealment pose with neck stretched and bill pointed skyward. We spotted this one moving from one side of the reeds to the other. Usually, they can be heard but rarely seen, so we were thrilled to see this one emerge from the brush.
Found this Bittern at the Celery Fields in Sarasota Florida last winter, it was staking out a snake which it caught later.
I usually set a time to leave a shoot and not before. I do this because, so often, I get my best shots minutes before my leave time. I set my time to leave at 10 AM this particular morning. At 9:58 AM, not much was happening so I thought I'd leave. However, being as superstitious as I am, I rejected that idea. At 9:59 AM, this American bittern popped up from the marsh and flew right in front of me. I hadn't seen it in the grass but my reactions were good enough to catch it in the air. Furthermore, my practice of not leaving even a minute before my preset leaving time paid off handsomely.
The American bittern was photographed at Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland, Florida, USA.
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American Bitterns are mostly warm brown, buff, and white. They are strongly streaked, especially on the neck, and they can be very hard to see against marsh vegetation. In flight the dark outer wings contrast sharply with the brown of the rest of the bird.
Bitterns are stealth predators and typically stand motionless as they wait for prey to approach, or stalk it with barely perceptible motions. They adopt a classic pose when alarmed, with the beak pointing straight up, helping this streaky bird blend in with its reedy background. They tend to forage alone.
Butor D'Amérique / American Bittern.
Merci à mon conjoint, Yves de l'avoir repéré, car je ne l'avais pas vue et il était dans le sentier à prendre sa marche pour fuir les curieux de l'autre côté du marais ;-))
An American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) searches the thick foliage for a morsel in Last Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary east of Simpson, Saskatchewan, Canada.
23 September, 2014.
Slide # GWB_20140923_4408.CR2
Use of this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission is not permitted.
© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
It was nice to see him sitting in the ditch on the dyke at Terra Nova Park. Thanks to my friends for spotting it for me before I got there. It's amazing how they can just blend in and camouflage as they do. It is very hard to capture these elusive birds in the open. I look forward to spring when breeding season starts and I hear their gutteral mating sounds! Our population in the lower mainland is non-migratory. We are so lucky to have them all winter!
Photo de juin 2018, au Parc De-la-Rivière, Terrebonne. Nous étions sur la passerelle et ce Butor était tout prêt de nous. Il s'en donnait à cœur joie.
© Michel Guérin. Tous droits réservés - All rights reserved ©.
Merci beaucoup pour vos visites et commentaires ♥
Thank you very much for your visits and comments ♥
An American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) skulks through the tall vegetation on the prairie landscape at Last Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary near Simpson, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Its cryptic colouration allows it to blend into the surrounding habitat.
23 September, 2014.
Slide # GWB_20140923_4414.CR2
Use of this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission is not permitted.
© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.