For this weeks feature bird I am sharing my not so great photos of the Bombay Hook Least Bittern.
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Hidden behind the tall grasses, you can make out the yellow legs and the beak. They are small birds range from 11 to 14 inches in length. The birds underparts and throat are white with light brown streaks.
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This is a shot of a GB Heron with the Least Bittern still hiding behind the tall grasses. If I had not seen it move I think it would have remained well hidden.
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A cropped shot of the Least Bittern.
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This was my first sighting (May 19) of the Least Bittern also seen at Bombay Hook. I think it is just a funny looking pose. The shot above shows more of the coloring on the Bittern's head, back and side.
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It is a cool bird to see and I just wish my photos could have been better. But, I will take what I can of this elusive bird. They do spend time straddling the reeds like the American and when alarmed they freeze and point their bill straight up.. blending in with their marsh vegetation.
I was excited to see the Least Bittern somewhat out in the open and I hope you enjoy my Least Bittern.
Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your nice comments. I always appreciate your visits.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!
59 comments:
Hi Eileen! Funny to see the Least Bittern in that pose. Especially the last photos are very clear and the bird is better visible than in the first photos.Thanks for your patience to write a post about these birds. Have a great day!
Hahaha!
The way he holds himself on the reeds is quite funny:
Interesting captures, Eileen!
Keep well!
Thats a cracking looking bird - and I think I can see why its called Least!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
PS: ankle is getting there - but dont want to go to soon and have this boot on for any longer than I needed!
Gorgeous shots!
Your photos are great! That pose is really funny:) xx
Great photos of the Least Bittern . . . love the straddled legs between the reeds.
Better photos than I could have ever taken and they are still very clear enough for me to notice what the Least Bittern looks like. I think they are fabulous photos.
Never knew it perched like that in the reeds. Interesting.
Hi Eileen... Yes i did in deed enjoy and had a great laugh at the reed gymnastics's pose's !!
Grace
Hi Eileen,
The bittern is a very difficult bird to photograph, it's you succeeded.
I've never even seen him.
Greetings Irma
I love that pose Eileen, what a great catch, one to start the day off with a smile. Great photos and wishing you a smiley day too :)
You've accomplished far more than I have...I've never photographed one. That last pose is awesome! Like a little gymnast!
So far I have only SEEN a least bittern. They are very shy and difficult to photograph. I have NO photos...yet. ;)
VERY cool sighting!
Oh, I'd be thrilled to see this bird!
Hallo Eileen!!!
Wonderfur pictures!!!That bird looks so funny!!!Great shot!!!
Hope you have a lovely week!!!Hugs!!
Dimi...
Hi illen That a great for you to see the Least Bittern and us too. It trying the do the splits is very funny.
I have never seen a Least Bittern, but have seen the American Bittern before. Nice catch!
A treat for me to see such a beautiful and unusual bird. Hope you have a nice day.
The Least Bittern looks so funny in that pose! Like he's doing the splits haha. I really like the heron, too!
What a funny pose! Cool shots.
What great photo's again Eileen. I love seeing all the birds.
Very interesting pics!I have learned something today,because I have never seen the Least Bittern before.
awwww he made you work for these!! An exciting moment for sure!!
Wow is that called the heron splits? Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
He sure is good at camouflage and he looks funny with his legs apart but I know why that is, It is because his underpants are white with light brown streaks...........(oops sorry couldn't help myself)
I've only seen the least bittern twice in all the times I've been out birding. In fact I'm showing one at the Bird D'Pot this coming weekend if all goes according to plan. They're awesome birds. Love the 'straddled legs'!!!
The Lesser Bittern is my fave, there in England where a couple few, let them be.
It is funny to see him hanging off the reeds with each talon.
Sweet sweet sweet!!! I love the golden hues of the Least Bittern. What a lovely sight to behold! Sneaky little birds:)
I really like the reed pictures and the reflections in the water.
Merle.......
Beautiful bird and great to see it well hidden in the reeds like that.
Hi! Nice captures. They are very beautiful. The last two photos are very interesting.
Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad you pointed the little fella out! Maybe some day you can catch him before he sees you :)
Funny pose, straddling the reeds like that. Doesn't look a bit comfortable!
Don't you love summer, birds and water!!!!
Cheers from Cottage Country!
The Bittern looks like it's either walking on stilts OR doing a split!! Fun and I can see why it was so exciting to see.
nice shots
Great action here!
I did indeed enjoy your Least Bittern. I've never seen one. It's so funny that they do the "splits", and I imagine it's even more amusing when they point their beaks upward.
Eileen, I would LOVE to see a least bittern, a species that has eluded me so far!
Great capture! I had to chuckle, tho, at that pose. He looks like he's doing the splits!
hahaha I enjoyed the funny impressions of this bird!!!
Have a nice day!!
How they balance on two reeds!
Great shots!
A very interesting bird. It blends in very well with the reeds.
I've never seen this bird, but of course I have seen the beautiful heron! I think your photos is good enough! Greetings Pia
I really like bitterns. Nice catches of these hide away birds.
Ooh, Least Bittern is on my most wanted list!
Don't apologize for those bittern shots. It is so much fun just finding one! As you note, just having photos provide the opportunity to revisit past experiences. Thanks for sharing!
Looks like he's clinging to the reeds for all he's worth. It's great to see this elusive bird.
Kind of like the green heron and flexible too.. Michelle
Hi Eileen, The Least Bittern is a bird I have never seen in person and is one I sure want to spot. Great pictures (I know how hard it is to shoot pictures of elusive or far-away birds). Have a fine day today!
that certainly is a cool shot. What is the bird doing? Pretending to be a warbler?
These are some awesome shots, Eileen!
Birds might be crazy, sometimes.
Fascinated, Eileen, to see your Bitterns. The photo of the bird with its legs splayed is particularly brilliant, and I also like your 'double capture' shot showing the difference in size between the two Bittern species.
My goodness, the fact that you even got shots of a Least Bittern is brilliant, I certainly wouldn't complain about the quality of the photos - you did a great job. It is useful to see it next to the GB Heron, makes me realise just how small it is.
How awesome to have seen the bittern Eileen, and what a bonus to have captured such wonderful images! So lovely to see, thank you.
great shots of the bitterne Eileen! i'd love to see one, i've tried and will keep trying :)
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