I had looked for the Least Bittern reported by Rich Miller yesterday morning but only got one of those unsatisfactory brief views as it flew from one part of cattails to another. I had a funeral to attend this morning so couldn't go again then decided to change strategies and try this evening. I brought a camp chair so I could sit quietly near where I had seen the bird--just over midway down the trail on the south side of the wetlands. At 6:50 pm, after 45 minutes of quiet waiting, I heard a strange call that I suspect came from the Least Bittern though it doesn't sound like the calls on recordings I have heard. As my limited experience with this species has not included vocalizations, I can't say for sure but the bird flew out right after that call. It landed about 50 feet in front of me in the cattails. I kept watching them and soon saw the cattails move as though being pushed aside by something below my view. Then the bittern thrust it's head out, then it's body. I watched it for several minutes as it perched in the hunting position (head thrust forward with neck almost parallel to ground. Then it retreated back into the thicket of cattails. I stayed another half hour and watched 2 Green Herons that had also flown across the cattails and were perched above the water. Around 7:30 both the mosquitoes and biting flies came out with a vengeance so I left.
Though challenging as the light was low and the bird was in the vegetation, I got several reasonable photos of the Least Bittern that I will edit and upload to my BirdsAndNature <http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com> shortly. SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com Now blogging for Birds and Blooms magazine at http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/<http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/category/southcentral/> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
