Least Bitterns

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited June 24, 2006 in Wildlife
Hi Y'all,

In the three years or so I've been down in Florida I've seen a least bittern twice. They are very secretive and usually stay in the reeds or other cover so even if they are around they are usually impossible to shoot. I was thrilled the other day when I came across one in the Viera Wetlands hanging out in the middle of the water lillies.

76670926-O.jpg

This member of the heron family goes about 11-14 inches long with a wing span of 16-18 inches and weighs between 1 1/2 ounces to 3 1/2 ounces
76670932-O.jpg

76670939-O.jpg

76670960-O.jpg

they eat small fish and insects
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76671013-O.jpg
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"

Comments

  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited June 20, 2006
    Beautiful series Harry of a beautiful bird. The 3th I like the most composition-wise.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

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    Website.
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited June 20, 2006
    Awsome! My wife and I saw an American Bittern here in California once, but It was too far to get any good pictures thumb.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited June 20, 2006
    Cool shots, Harry! The 3rd is great but that reed (I think) you had to shoot through is a shame. My favorite is the last one, check out those claws and that glare. That is one mean-looking critter!
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited June 21, 2006
    Gorgeous Harry. Congratulations on getting some beautiful shots of a shy bird. On the couple forums I frequent this is one of only a handfull of Least Bitterns I have seen posted.
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited June 21, 2006
    What great luck Mr B! And great shots to go with it clap.gif The last two are exceptional!

    It looks like what we call a Dwarf Bittern down here.
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 21, 2006
    Dick on Aruba wrote:
    Beautiful series Harry of a beautiful bird. The 3th I like the most composition-wise.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.

    Thanks Dick wave.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited June 21, 2006
    Nice, Harry.

    Good eatin'?
    Andy

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  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited June 21, 2006
    Just for my viewing pleasure! :D

    76670939-M.jpg

    OUT*UCKINGSTANDING, Harry! nod.gif
  • gtcgtc Registered Users Posts: 916 Major grins
    edited June 21, 2006
    very nice harry
    very nice harry-you must be well pleased to get a non- heron shot!
    Latitude: 37° 52'South
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  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited June 21, 2006
    gtc wrote:
    very nice harry-you must be well pleased to get a non- heron shot!

    Don't let the name fool you. The Least Bittern is the smallest member of the Heron Family. Harry just can't get away from them.
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 21, 2006
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Awsome! My wife and I saw an American Bittern here in California once, but It was too far to get any good pictures thumb.gif

    Thanks Glenn. I've seen bitterns a number of times but they are usually too concealed to get a decent shot. I got a shot of an American Bittern once.

    43870352-O.jpg
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 22, 2006
    DJ-S1 wrote:
    Cool shots, Harry! The 3rd is great but that reed (I think) you had to shoot through is a shame. My favorite is the last one, check out those claws and that glare. That is one mean-looking critter!

    Thanks DJ. That reed was a pain in the butt. It was the closest the bittern came to me an dthat darn reed obscured each shot.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • MarkjayMarkjay Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited June 22, 2006
    Omg............
    .......... those are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hard to capture, Harry!

    You lucky dog you
    You crackerjack photographer you
    you, you........

    I readily admit..... I'm envious :-)

    Your images / photography seem to grow stronger and stronger......
    you should be VERY proud of yourself, Harry!

    Image #3 is my personal fave.

    Great work!!!!!!!!!!

    Markjay
    Markjay
    Canon AE1 - it was my first "real camera"
    Canon 20D - no more film!
  • erich6erich6 Registered Users Posts: 1,638 Major grins
    edited June 22, 2006
    Awesome shots Harry. Thanks for showing them to us! thumb.gif

    Erich
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 22, 2006
    gluwater wrote:
    Gorgeous Harry. Congratulations on getting some beautiful shots of a shy bird. On the couple forums I frequent this is one of only a handfull of Least Bitterns I have seen posted.

    Thanks Nick. I think I lucked out and found the only Bittern in the state that's willing to pose.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 22, 2006
    BigAl wrote:
    What great luck Mr B! And great shots to go with it clap.gif The last two are exceptional!

    It looks like what we call a Dwarf Bittern down here.

    Thanks Al. I was lucky to drive by just as he had come into the open.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • KhaosKhaos Registered Users Posts: 2,435 Major grins
    edited June 22, 2006
    Great close up captures Harry. I think #3 is my favorite.thumb.gifthumb
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 22, 2006
    Andy wrote:
    Nice, Harry.

    Good eatin'?

    Thanks Andy but way to small to be good eating.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 22, 2006
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Just for my viewing pleasure! :D

    76670939-M.jpg

    OUT*UCKINGSTANDING, Harry! nod.gif

    Thanks Ric, I'm glad you liked it.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • ultravoxultravox Registered Users Posts: 776 Major grins
    edited June 23, 2006
    Great catch and for a city folk like myself your pics are magic.
    Tks for sharing Harry.
    clap.gif
    Cristian.
    [SIZE=-1]It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. - John Lennon.[/SIZE]
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 23, 2006
    gtc wrote:
    very nice harry-you must be well pleased to get a non- heron shot!

    Thanks Greeg and while I was very, very pleased to get these shots the bittern as Nick pointed out is a member in good standing of the reknowned heron family.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 23, 2006
    Markjay wrote:
    .......... those are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hard to capture, Harry!

    You lucky dog you
    You crackerjack photographer you
    you, you........

    I readily admit..... I'm envious :-)

    Your images / photography seem to grow stronger and stronger......
    you should be VERY proud of yourself, Harry!

    Image #3 is my personal fave.

    Great work!!!!!!!!!!

    Markjay

    Hey Mark,

    Always good to hear from ya. wave.gif. Thanks for the kind words. Its great to have the time now to shoot and do photography.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 23, 2006
    erich6 wrote:
    Awesome shots Harry. Thanks for showing them to us! thumb.gif

    Erich

    Thank you Erich
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 23, 2006
    Molsondog wrote:
    This member of the heron family goes about 11-14 inches long with a wing span of 16-18 inches and weighs between 1 1/2 ounces to 3 1/2 ounces


    Really only 1.5 - 3.5 ounces?. That's like a paper airplane. You'd think that one good windstorm off the gulf and they'd all be in Virginia.


    Well I haven't weighed any but that's the info from the good folks over at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Least_Bittern_dtl.html
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 23, 2006
    Khaos wrote:
    Great close up captures Harry. I think #3 is my favorite.thumb.gifthumb

    Thanks, glad you enjoyed them.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 24, 2006
    ultravox wrote:
    Great catch and for a city folk like myself your pics are magic.
    Tks for sharing Harry.
    clap.gif

    Thank you very much Cristian. Having lived in NYC it's a joy to have a chance to shoot wildlife.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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