Pic of the Day

     Least Bittern – Viera Wetlands; Viera, Florida:  While at the alligator farm at Saint Augustine I made a quick trip to Viera to check for least bitterns.  I searched all afternoon with no success.  It was not until about thirty minutes before sunset that I saw a least bittern flying across the top of a patch of reeds.  Watching where the bittern disappeared I set out to search for the bird.  Within a few minutes this bittern came to the edge of the reed bed and presented itself to be photographed.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/100sec. @ f13

Pic of the Day

Before

After

     Least Bittern – Wakodahatchee Wetlands; Palm Beach, Florida:  If I had to make a list of  birds that are the most challenging to photograph, the least bittern would be near the top.  Bitterns are secretive birds and are most often seen in the breeding season when they are busy chasing each other through their weedy habitat.   I have spent hours looking for bitterns; slowly driving along drainage canals and pond edges looking for the slightest movement that might give up this master of disguise.  Their delicately streaked feathers provide the perfect camouflage among their golden marsh reed habitat.  On occasion I do find them; and when I do, I savor the opportunity to shoot.

     Finding bitterns is one thing; finding them in a good location for shooting is another.  I found this least bittern while walking the boardwalks of the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Palm Beach. Florida.  The day was late and the sun was inching toward the horizon.  As the sun dropped this bittern came out of hiding to hunt among the lily pads that sheltered small fry.   I immediately took advantage of the situation and began shooting.  As the bittern slowly tread across the lily pads it would pluck a small fry from the water.  With each stab I shot a burst of frames.  These two images captures the essence of the hunt.  As the bird stalked it would stretch its head forward, slowly turning it left and then right to gauge the distance of the prey.  Then, with lighting speed the bitters thrust forward. Before the eye can realize what has happened, the head springs back to the body with a fish in its beak.  In less than a second the small fry is gone and the routine begins again as I continue to shoot beyond what the light will allow.  I savor each moment with each frame shot and  look forward to the next hunt for the least bittern.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4,  1/320 second @ f7.1, Arca Swiss Ball Head on Gitzo Tripod

Pic of the day

Least Bittern, Image 1

Least Bittern, Image 2

    Least Bittern – Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands; Viera, Florida:  Least bitterns are one of the least (no pun intended) seen birds among birdwatchers.  I went years without ever seeing one, that is until I learned the real secret to finding them.  That secret is not just where, but when.

    The where, is among wetland reeds and cattails where they feed, sleep and breed.  The when, is early April in South Florida and late April in Northern Florida.  I happened to be at the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in Viera, Florida in late April, and Least bitterns seemed to be everywhere, it was the time of bittern breeding.  I saw bitterns fly from reed patch to reed patch, stalking prey and copulating.  The breeding season seems to make the bitterns less wary, less reclusive and less inhibited.

    The first image is of a bird I stalked for about forty-five minutes before it stepped into a semi open area among the reeds.  The shooting opportunity was short, just a few seconds.  As I began shooting, the bittern plucked a frog from the water and paused for just a moment.  I took the image as the frog dangled from its beak, its eye visible between the reeds, and its body partially obscured with vegetation, typical of the secretive bittern.

   I found the bird in the second image as I drove along the dike roads of the water impoundments.  The bird was at the edge of a reed bed about fifteen feet off the road. The bittern was in a classic pose, feet stretched between two reeds, neck and head pointed upward, and an eye turned toward the camera, the kind of image I have wanted to shoot for years.  

   Bitterns are a challenge to photograph, as they stay hidden among reads most of the year. Breeding seasons brings them out of the depths of the reed beds, providing opportunities to photograph them, even though those opportunities are brief.   Knowing when Least Bitterns begin breeding in your area will increases your shooting opportunities as well.

Image 1.  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/640sec. @ f6.3, ISO 200
Image 2.  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/500sec. @ f6.3, ISO 200

Pic of the Day

     Least Bittern – Wakodahatchee, Florida: Another reclusive species that can be seen and photographed at Wakodahatchee is the Least Bittern. Least Bitterns are commonly seen in April and May along the elevated boardwalk. This bittern was photographed in April during the breeding season when bitterns are most active. At wakodahatchee, bitterns build nest in reed beds and clumps of Alligator weeds. This bittern was climbing through reeds when I first noticed it. When I stopped to set-up the camera and tripod the bittern froze in place, a common defensive practice of bitterns. Perching on a reed stalk, the stripped breast and tawny colors of the bittern helps it blend into the background, which makes it more difficult for a predator (the photographer in this case) to see.
Notice how the eyes of the bittern are facing forward. Forward facing eyes gives the Least Bittern binocular vision and exceptional depth perception which is essential for catching fish and frogs.

Nikon F5, 500mm f4, Gitzo Tripod, Monoball head