American Bittern

burggraf (burggraf@erols.com)
Mon, 13 Apr 1998 10:35:24 -0400


Dear all,

On the advice of a friend, I went out Monday morning to Lake Roland (North
of Baltimore City) looking for an American Bittern.  My friend told me she
saw one three times during the last few days.  I saw it, after looking for
over thirty minutes.  The bird is so well camoflaged that it was hard for
me to pick out.  I needed my scope to find it.  (Even after finding it, I
tried to locate it with binoculars and I had a hard time.)  But, through
the scope, I got a wonderful look.  The bird stands at the far edge of a
little pond near what Lake Roland regulars call "the dike."  After crossing
the trail leading over the light rail, and following the main trail back,
at one point the trail divides, and one can either proceed straight into
the woods, or turn right and turn up an incline.  This is "the dike."  At
the top of the incline, one gets a nice view over the marshy areas of the
lake.  Following this second trail, at one point the trail turns to the
left.  Just at that point, a fallen tree crosses a path leading down and to
the right, taking one to a flat area, with stones and a large concrete
block.  The bird has been seen by standing to the left side of the concrete
block, and then scanning a pond on the far side of the marshy area (looking
in the direction of the light rail).  Also a happy surprise, a Virginia
Rail was singing "kidik kidik" the whole time I was there, looking for the
bittern.  Additional birds included wood ducks, green winged teal, palm
warblers, barn and rough-winged swallows, and lots and lots of
gnatcatchers.

--- Don Burggraf ---