Click on the American Bittern image to enlarge

American Bittern

American Bittern is a wildlife photograph taken in late afternoon light at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Valley of California.

I had always wanted to see an American Bittern let alone photograph one.  On this particular day I did both.

I was driving and photographing along the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge auto tour route when I came upon this American Bittern.  The sun was low in the horizon and created a beautiful warm light on the bird while the background was in deep shade.

The bird was alerted but did not fly off.  It stayed and posed for me.  I needed the bird to be patient as it was a difficult shot for me to shoot with a large telephoto lens on the camera. The bird was on the right side of my car.  That meant I had to lean over the center console of my Subaru Forester, stretch my way across the passenger seat, and lean the lens on the window ledge of the passenger side door.  With the lens on the ledge I had some support to stabilize the heavy camera gear setup I need for wildlife photography.

The American Bittern is a heron. They are very solitary which is why they can be difficult to see. They feed in marshes and ponds on insects, amphibians, reptiles and of course fish. They are a protected animal, it was once hunted in the Cajun Bayou and was considered a delicacy.

As in this photograph, when the American Bittern feels it has been seen it will raise its neck and remain still.  This behavior is an attempt to blend into the environment.  It is normally heard, not seen, as it has a booming distinctive call that can be heard great distances away.

On this particular afternoon I was fortunate to both witness and photograph an American Bittern.