This morning I saw a Least Bittern at Crane Lake in northern St Louis County.
Last week I heard the bird calling the morning of May 31st. I made a recording of the call with my little point and shoot camera. There were also lots of American Bitterns calling and a Pied-billed Grebe in the distance. I was hearing a pou, pou, pou type call that didn't sound right for a Cuckoo. This morning when I stopped by the same wetland, I immediately heard the bird calling. I waited around for about a half hour intently watching the vegetation. I first saw the bird jump up from the reeds. It was smaller than an American Bittern by far, and also bigger than the Red-winged Blackbirds by comparison. The bird kept calling sporadically and I could hear it getting closer. I made another recording with my little camera that I could upload to youtube later today. Then I saw it fly back into the swamp. I got a good look while it flew away. It was much smaller than an American Bittern and Green Heron. I could see the legs extending out from the back. How unusual is it to see a Least Bittern in northeastern Minnesota? I'm curious if anyone else has seen a Least Bittern this far north and east; at the edge of the BWCA? Dee Kuder Crane Lake -- Dee Kuder ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
