ML466511591
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Observation details
UPDATED(July 12). I’ve removed all gender ID as my source for such info (Crossley Guide) appears to show the opposite of what Cornell designates as M/F. Started morning by finding one right away (7:50 am) in marsh patch that was about 60 yards south of Haul Road (Had originally Identified as F based on Crossley images of breeding F. Dark cap and dark wings. Not sure now. photos). It was staring at me through the reeds and just happened to see its bill. One of the pictures has its head crested making it look "juvenile"-like but it was roughed up from preening. I then found a juvenile (8:13 am/photographed) about 50 yards further south in one of the inlet canals. It circled around me in about a 50 yard radius and landed in the marsh. As I paddled further south, it circled around again. I had heard another one (sounded like another juvenile at the time and one that I believed I photographed later around 10:30 while making a final pass in that area) in an area that was within that radius but it stayed hidden at the time. I then found another pair that flew out quickly about another 100 yards south as I entered one of the main areas back in Hog Island Gut. It (originally I identified as Male but other sources would seem to indicate F. Duller wings and cap.) and another juvenile which I didn't get photographs then but I photographed an adult fly out following a juvenile at around 9:13 am along the main Hog Island Gut which I believed to be that previous pair (I did not double count that sighting). Prior to seeing this fly out, I had gone another 150 yards southwest and found a lone one that flew out of the reeds, at another inlet across Hog Island Gut) that flew a short distance south before landing. It was an adult ( dark cap and wingtips) and I was not able to photograph it. As I was leaving Hog Island Gut (much further south), I saw another one fly along the Potomac side of the south marsh heading north. I took a blurry photo of that one (female) but did not post. A few minutes later I saw one fly the same line south which looked to be the same previous one which I counted only as one sighting. As mentioned earlier, I went back to my starting point (just south of Haul Road) at the end of my kayak and found the same dark cap/dark wingtip one I had photographed first thing — I also found another juvenile north of it and about halfway between the main inlet and the south portion of Haul Road. It most likely had been there earlier in the morning as that first Least Bittern did start calling at around 8:00 am (recorded audio) but I did not see it at that time. It flushed itself and flew around the corner of some marsh grasses and disappeared before I could photograph it. Then one final one flew out behind me from the area where I had heard a "juvenile" earlier around 8:15 a.m. that stayed hidden. This one is represented by the photo of it flying away low along the marsh on the left-hand side of the picture. This is a different juvenile than the one I photographed at 8:13 am as there is white fuzz appearing on the top of its head. Five of the eight are photographed here. I have a blurry pic of a sixth one that is not included.
Technical information
- Recorder
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 3.26 MB