American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Normally a very reclusive bird, some these American Bittern’s were exceptionally cooperative with me. If it senses it has been seen, the this bird becomes motionless, with its bill pointed upward, causing it to blend into the reeds. It even sways if the wind is blowing the reeds. The first two images in this set illustrate this behavior.

American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: Mimicking a reed at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-27. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 15:41 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X5124-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: A lucky first-thing-in-the-morning meeting at the Colusa NWR east of Williams California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:31 8:29 |
Location:
Colusa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanBittern_D5X0109-ColusaNWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: Mimicking a reed at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-27. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 15:41 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X5131-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: (Botaurus lentiginosus) Stalking a meal at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-29. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:01 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X5929-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: (Botaurus lentiginosus) Stalking a meal at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-29. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:05 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X5943-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: My first encounter with this species. Stealth walking at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-29. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:06 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X5959-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: My first encounter with this species. Stalking a meal at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-29. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:07 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X5971-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: Ambush predatory behaviour at Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, in the northern section of California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-31. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 10:14 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6137-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: Ambush predatory behaviour at Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, in the northern section of California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-31. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 10:17 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X6142-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: Ambush predatory behaviour at Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, in the northern section of California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-31. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 10:20 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X6160-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: A lucky first-thing-in-the-morning meeting at the Colusa NWR east of Williams California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:31 8:32 |
Location:
Colusa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanBittern_D5X0116-ColusaNWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: My first encounter with this species. Stealth walking at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-29. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:06 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: Cut_D3X5959-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: My lucky first-thing-in-the-morning meeting lasted only a few minutes at the Colusa NWR east of Williams California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:31 8:35 |
Location:
Colusa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: AmericanBittern_D5X0169-ColusaNWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: A lucky first-thing-in-the-morning meeting at the Colusa NWR east of Williams California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:31 8:33 |
Location:
Colusa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanBittern_D5X0132-ColusaNWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: A lucky first-thing-in-the-morning meeting at the Colusa NWR east of Williams California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:31 8:32 |
Location:
Colusa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanBittern_D5X0125-ColusaNWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: A lucky first-thing-in-the-morning meeting at the Colusa NWR east of Williams California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:31 8:32 |
Location:
Colusa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanBittern_D5X0120-ColusaNWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |

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