![\"american-bittern-8651-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/american-bittern-8651-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAn American Bittern out in the open is an extremely rare occurrence for me. So even though I’ve posted photos of this bird once before I thought this unusually cooperative\u00a0individual deserved some\u00a0additional exposure.<\/p>\n
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1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I photographed this one just over three months ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. They’re so secretive they’re nearly always buried deeply in the marshes so I couldn’t believe my luck when we found this one out in the open and it actually stayed there as I stopped my pickup along the road next to a canal. The bird watched me carefully for a few moments to make sure I was no threat and then…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n went back to its preening routine that I apparently interrupted. Here it had been scratching its head and neck and I caught the left foot in a somewhat awkward pose that I thought was slightly amusing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Then just prior to turning to my left and taking off away from me it gave me a nice, leisurely wing stretch.<\/p>\n Due to habitat degradation and loss\u00a0American Bittern populations have suffered substantial declines throughout much of North America.\u00a0I may never find such a cooperative bittern again so I thoroughly enjoyed going through some of\u00a0these images once more.<\/p>\n Admittedly the setting isn’t\u00a0very attractive but it’s natural and\u00a0for me the good look at such a shy and\u00a0elusive bird more than makes up for any aesthetic deficiency in the setting.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An American Bittern out in the open is an extremely rare occurrence for me (and for most everyone else I suspect). <\/p>\n![\"american-bittern-8604-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/american-bittern-8604-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"american-bittern-8671-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/american-bittern-8671-ron-dudley.jpg\")
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