Brian Cassell wrote:

> At dusk tonight, a pair of birds flew up out of Boyd's Cove on the South
> River...too big for Green Heron which takes the same flight path
> occasionally.  They perched in the Gum trees along the drive, I
> scrambled for binocs...couldn't see any colors due to low light but
> clearly saw a light colored stripe extending from malar area down the
> length of neck.  Then they flew letting out one short harsh squork,
> sqounk or squomething like that...seemed much higher pitched than the
> typical Great Blue Heron flight call.
> 
> Am. Bitterns or one of the Night Heron spp?  I'm familiar w/all 3 and am
> comfortable w/daylight ID only.  My impression is Am. Bittern due to
> relatively tapered head and bill but have never seen them in a tree.
> 
> Any thoughts/suggestions?
> 
> Brian Cassell
> Annapolis, MD
> 
> 
I once did see an Am Bittern perched in the top of a pine tree at the 
edge of a marsh, some 40' up. (Only when it flew off could I believe my 
eyes). So it can happen.
-- 
Fred Fallon
Bowie MD