ML628644260

觀察細節

Seen twice at the coordinates (34.421418, -119.663067), the reeds where the creek meets the lagoon. almost as small as a virginia rail or a sora, maybe around the same size. I first saw it at 4pm for just 2 seconds as it flew from the reeds on one side of the creek to the other. 30 minutes later I heard its low coo-coo-coo song. Then I sat at the spot where I first saw it, and stayed there from 4:30 to 5:30. Finally it showed back up at 5:15 and I was able to get good photos! It was perched on a reed, angled down toward the water, for a good 10 seconds before it flew to the opposite bank of the creek and disappeared from view. The main giveaway that it was a bittern was its relatively long legs and beak for its body shape, and its tiny size differentiated it from an American bittern or a heron. Yellow bill and legs, large yellow feet, and streaking on the chest. Wing coloring: dark brown on top, then pale, then rufous at the bottom of the wing. Posted on the SB Birding Slack channel and confirmed by Sophie Cameron