The bright yellow eyes of a Least Bittern suddenly popped out of the dense marsh leaves as I walked by.
Once I saw this furtive little beauty, I waited ever so patiently for him to make himself a little more visible so I could get a really good shot. 😉
Knowing how elusive Least Bitterns can be, a passerby remarked, “Looks like he wants you to see him, just not well enough to take his picture.”
She was right!
Birder's Journey 
So glad your patience paid off so nicely. 🙂
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Thanks , Amy. At least his head appeared between the leaves from time to time to time ☺️
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I’m always happy to get Bittern shots, of any kind 😂😂. Very nice 😊
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Thanks Ted-agreed, it’s such a pleasure to come away with even a minimalist photo!
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I’d love to see one! Fine shots 😊
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Thanks so much, Belinda. I really hope you will have an encounter with a Least Bittern one day!
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I love these photographs! The bird’s eye really stands out in the first picture, which also conveys well the elusive nature of the bird and that last shot is fabulous.
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Thank you so much for your very kind words, Ann! He was really a sneaky little one.
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A challenge, hehe!
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😉
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Great shots in a great gift opportunity BJ ! Yes they are probably the most elusive bird species. I love the super sleuth movement through the reeds, and how they can be looking right at you but all you see is reeds. Our Aussie species even sways with the wind so it matches the reed movement.
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So do ours, AB! They believe they can’t be seen when they point their beaks skyward and stand very still, so their bodies look just like the arrowhead leaves of the marsh plants. 😉
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Great spot!!
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Pretty little thing… I can’t remember. Did you ever see one here?
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You’ve explained the difficulties that make someone wanting to photograph a bittern bitter.
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Lol… ☺️the effort is always worth it!
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And look at the effort—and the other animals— English seems to have gone through to create the modern form of the word bittern.
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Fascinating, thanks, Steve!
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That is great find whether you get a shot or not!
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Thanks! Always a real treat to encounter a Least Bittern.
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Excellent captures, Carol, really showing off the bird’s environment and behavior!
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Thanks so much, Ellen! Yes… Hiding in the thickest of the marsh, but just close enough to see from the boardwalk. 😉
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What an interesting looking bird. Thanks for sharing.
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Lovely photos. It must have been quite a challenge to keep the camera focussed in all those stems.
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Haha! It certainly was a challenge!
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Good for you. Your patience paid off. What a beautiful view of the bird’s head.
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It’s always worth the wait, thanks!
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