Sometimes a bird you seldom see shows up where you least expect, sticks around longer than you would hope for, and makes one a believer in letting the birds come to you. The American Bittern
images were taken at the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge in Swanton, Vermont on the day before International Migratory Bird Day. This bird was viewed just off the parking lot of the refuge building site as we arrived for Maeve's talk on migratory birds. We viewed many species of birds on the refuge trails the next day. This bittern was the ice breaker for excellent birding at the refuge.
American Bittern images taken at Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge on May 19, 2017.
With a bit of stealth of my own, I was able to get comfortably close to the bittern.
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| Photo Credit: Sarah Rosedahl |
According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, "The male's call is preceded by clacking and gulping. To accomplish the pump-er-lunk sound, the male inflates his esophagus by way of almost violent body contortions-opening and closing his bill as if lunging for flying insects-and then uses the stored air to unleash his call."
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| Photo Credit: Sarah Rosedahl |
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| Photo Credit: Maeve |
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| Photo Credit: Maeve |
American Bittern, we salute you! Happy International Migratory Bird Day.
P.S. A birding tip from Jim Osborne along our 5am bird walk. During spring migration, on early AM bird walks, expect warblers and other birds to visit trees where the sun first reaches - that is where insects may converge first followed by their prey the birds. Oak trees seemed to be a favorite of the birds during our walk. We viewed many warbler species in one tree for about 10 minutes while the sun shone on it; once it was shaded, the birds moved on to other sun laden trees.
Of course, the birds occasionally like to watch us as did this Black-throated Blue Warbler
who was behind our group (fortunately someone turned around and spotted it) and about six feet off the ground watching us with our heads arched looking high up in the canopy at other warblers.
P.S. A birding tip from Jim Osborne along our 5am bird walk. During spring migration, on early AM bird walks, expect warblers and other birds to visit trees where the sun first reaches - that is where insects may converge first followed by their prey the birds. Oak trees seemed to be a favorite of the birds during our walk. We viewed many warbler species in one tree for about 10 minutes while the sun shone on it; once it was shaded, the birds moved on to other sun laden trees.
Of course, the birds occasionally like to watch us as did this Black-throated Blue Warbler
who was behind our group (fortunately someone turned around and spotted it) and about six feet off the ground watching us with our heads arched looking high up in the canopy at other warblers.
Vermont Birds and Words
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