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Subject:

American Bittern, Jug Bay, PGCO, 3/29

From:

Robert Ostrowski

Reply-To:

Robert Ostrowski

Date:

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:49:39 -0400

Hello everyone,

I birded Southern PG County today. My best bird was at Jug Bay (Patuxent River Park), where I spotted an American Bittern hunting on the edge of the vegetation, just beyond the viewing platform. I watched its movements, or lack thereof, for 30 minutes. It would stand extremely still for minutes at a time. The only perceptible movement during these periods was its yellowish eye searching for prey. A couple times it made lightning quick jabs at what I assume were frogs and was successful both instances. 

Here is a photo I took: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35144142@N04/3397368162/

Looking at the picture, even after having increased the contrast, you can see why these birds are so hard to find even if you know that they are there.

Robert Ostrowski
Bowie, MD