There were two Am. Bitterns (Botaurus lentiginosus) in a small marsh beside a road I travelled this morning....one flew farther into the marsh, the other hid among the cat-tails.
I waited, patiently.....
I had no idea bitterns had such long, deadly-looking talons
Bitterns eat amphibians, crayfish and fish
This one steadily kept on walking; no hunting while I was around.
Click on pix for larger & clearer, if you want to.
I waited, patiently.....
I had no idea bitterns had such long, deadly-looking talons
Bitterns eat amphibians, crayfish and fish
This one steadily kept on walking; no hunting while I was around.
Click on pix for larger & clearer, if you want to.
Those are huge talons, I would hate to be a small amphibian. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteWow. That first picture looks exactly the way I saw my first ever bittern last spring. I wasn't even looking for anything in particular just starring at a spot in the marsh. Now thats an odd shaped cattail, I thought. There it was....
ReplyDeleteYour closeups are fantastic.
Thanks, both prairiebirder & troutbirder. Bitterns are so neat - I love it when I find one posing and trying to fit right into the cattails. "Can't see me!"
ReplyDelete