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| N. East Track wetland. |
I'm always hiking in around the East track wetland because they're the gateway to other wetlands. Since it's a wilderness and not a park, the trails are railway maintenance, fire or snowmobile trails and therefore don't always go close to the water. I had also wondered if I would get my close ups of the Great Blues this year. All the wildlife here is unhabituated, if that's a word, and you therefore end up sneaking up on them, until in a frozen pose you take your photos and then move closer in an effort to get better photos. Sneaking up is the key although I talk in a low voice to them also, which just proves I'm as nutty as a fruitcake.
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| Canada Goose. |
I had seen some movement and a quick flight, and I thought it was some Canada Geese merely because this guy was still in the wetland.
The in flight Heron shots are the result of not sneaking up quietly enough in previous hikes. Still they're exciting shots,and in flight Heron are interesting photos.
So on my return from the trail I was on that day, I was plodding along and rounding a tree when this young fellow now identified as an immature American Bittern was in of all places,the other side of the tree. I got five shots, three of which are keepers. Quite a sight!!
The next day I returned hoping for a repeat with no such luck, but just before I returned home, I looked in the lower wetland, and what was there but two more Bitterns, possible matures, maybe mom and dad. I only got these two in flight, but what a thrill.
Ed's Note: I had posted the young and the in flights on NWO Birds and James Barber pegged them as American Bittern immatures. Probably the in flight are matures. This is another first for me, and according to him a really grand photography feat, read luck according to me, to capture the immatures.
A Post to WBW @
http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/
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| Mature Gt. Blue in flight. |
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| Mature Gt. Blue in Flight. |
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| Young American Bittern. |
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| Young American Bittern |
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| Mature? Bittern In Flight. |
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| Mature? American Bittern In Flight. |
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Immature American Bittern.. |
