American Bittern

A. B. is a sneaky fellow! When he noticed me, he froze in place, trusting his concealing coloration. Then he climbed up into the reeds, stretched his neck up, and swayed slowly from side to side, as if imitating waving reeds.

With a Great Blue Heron, two Snowy Egrets, and about twenty-four Hooded Mergansers in the same pond, my entertainment was as great as yesterday's Nutcracker performance.

Botaurus lentiginosus