Hello everyone,
I want to thank a bunch of people for locating and sharing information on the
Least Bittern observed at Dutch Gap Conservation Area. They include, Bruce
Richardson, Jan Frye, Wendy Ealding, a couple of photography friends and other
bird watchers this morning (Wednesday, June 15, 2011). Good seeing you again,
Julie! (So many Prothonotary Warblers sure sounds fantastic to me!)
I arrived a bit early, near sunrise, to find the gate closed and a posted sign
informing me of a 8 A.M. opening. So I visited the marsh at the entrance to
James River NWR and Flowerdew Plantation off Route 10, east of Hopewell,
Virginia. I saw a Male Belted Kingfisher, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher and quick
moving Male Common Yellowthroat. (No new photos from this marsh today.)
After arriving back at the first platform of Dutch Gap Conservation Area, two
Least Bittern were seen flying from a patch of water plants just to the right
of
the platform. One landed just in front of and approximately 125 feet from the
platform. The other veered off and landed approximately 175 feet to the right
of the platform. Both quickly disappeared into the vegetation. They appeared
to move back and forth between these spots about every forty five minutes to an
hour. Tough little dickens to keep track of and find!
My thanks to a photography friend for finally spotting one poking it's head
above the vegetation. I had told him I was leaving in half and hour and then
added 10 minutes for good measure. I also told him that as soon as I left, he
would spot the bird. So, as I traveled toward the second platform to turn
around, I see him with a hand up, pointing. Bingo, he found it!
So, I have a couple of usable, I hope, but not yet edited, images of one Least
Bittern's head poking out of the vegetation. Because of the efforts and
undertakings of several birders/photographers, I felt that these images should
be shared with the VA-Bird public and not be made a part of my "for sale"
collection. Give me a day or two to edit them and I will provide a link to
their download area. I will provide, if they are good enough, several
printable
sizes. I only ask that no one use these images for commercial use or personal
gain. They will contain my digital watermarks imbedded in the files.
Again, much thanks to those that found and then shared their sightings!
Best birding!
Les Brooks
Glen Allen
http://www.natures-finest-photography.com
