Many people who venture out to view wildlife, or simply walk the trails in Circle B Bar Reserve, never happen to see the elusive American Bittern. The main reason for this is the way in which they go about their business of stalking and catching their next meal. Because of their coloring, and habit of walking very slowly among the grasses and reeds around their environment, they can be very hard to see. Even once you have spotted one, they can disappear quickly back into the weeds.
I remember one occasion when I was in St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge, and stopped to photograph some wading birds in a small pond beside the road. Another photographer was already there taking pictures. As I stepped up near him I noticed a Bittern in a small clump of reeds and grasses close to shore. I mentioned the bird and the other photographer was surprised since he had not seen it before I pointed it out to him. One of the fun things to watch is a bittern who is trying to blend in with it's surroundings. I have seen them actually swaying back and forth with their head held pointed skyward as the breeze moves the grasses around them.
Here are some shots of one just after it had caught a small catfish, and was in the act of swallowing it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment