Hide and Seek!
I am very, very excited to share this post with all of you! I hope that you enjoy these photos and my story. Beginning last summer it has seemed like I have been in a game of Hide and Seek with bitterns over at Ragged! I have spent countless hours in this game…. and yesterday it all came together in a way that is more than I could ever have hoped for!! This will be a long post as I have a lot to share with you from this very special morning…I will never forget this experience - truly remarkable.
Yesterday morning was absolutely gorgeous - NO humidity, no wind and 56 degrees when I arrived at Ragged. As I walked down to the first pond, the fog and mist were rolling over the mountains and the pond - absolutely stunning. I decided to start by setting up looking directly toward where the sun would be rising. There was so much fog I couldn’t see very far in front of me but I knew that as fog burns off, there is always the potential for a glorious sunrise. Yesterday did not disappoint…the colors were spectacular.
As soon as I took this shot I decided to move and walk to the north side of the pond where I have had good luck getting glimpses of bitterns. Just as I was turning the corner to get to the north side - guess who flew out and away?? The bittern!!
I immediately decided to make my way to the second (or back pond) since that was the direction that the bittern was headed. The day before yesterday I had spent 4 hours (yes, 4 hours!) getting glimpses of 3 separate bitterns at either the first or second pond. Because of my earlier observations I made my way to the northeast side of the back pond so that the sun would be behind me. I knew exactly where I wanted to set up and was committed to be there for a long time. When I finally got to just about 6 feet away from the spot I had in mind, a bright color caught my eye along the pond’s edge - could it be you know who??? YES!!!!!!!! I could not have asked for more to spot him in this otherworldly setting in the most beautiful early morning light with the last wisps of fog dissipating… My heart was racing because of my good fortune. I did not move a muscle - the only movement I made was pressing my shutter to capture this incredible creature… I hope that you enjoy this series and the many looks of the American Bittern…
Each time the bittern would look back towards the bushes etc I would take a couple steps closer…
After this shot it was out of my sight for a few seconds as it went back into the weeds etc …. and then…
After this shot the bittern went through the bushes and weeds to the tall reeds which are behind this part of the pond. After he was out of my sight I looked up from my camera in order to take a deep breath and let this encounter truly sink in… Generally bitterns are not only solitary but they also stay very camouflaged within the grasses/reeds and weeds - so for me to see this guy at the pond’s edge was such a gift!
I picked up my gear and made my way towards the first pond just in case one of the other bitterns was there… well…what kind of morning did I have??? I spotted another one immediately! I still can’t believe it all happened! Please enjoy this series… mirror images that were beyond my dreams. Many times I have willed something to be in this exact spot to have the chance for these types of reflections. I stayed behind high grasses and found a “window” in order to take these shots.
When the bittern looked up I looked up to see a great blue heron fly overhead. Once the heron was out of view the bittern was back on the prowl!
The great blue heron was above us again! I kept my focus on the bittern …. then this truly amazing opportunity happened next!
To say that I was holding my breath during that entire series is to be putting it mildly!!! I was (still am) SOOOO excited!!
Within seconds I felt some movement on the pond so I turned my attention there. I immediately saw these adorable female mergansers looking in the direction from where the bittern had just flown out from!
As if this morning wasn’t magical enough… I saw the mergansers swim over and stop right next to the stunning reflection of the little shack that is on this pond… just incredible!
It was now time to go home and share all of this excitement with Lorraine! I was walking past the first pond so that it was now behind me when I saw a flash in the sky to my left traveling to my right. I said to myself - it can’t be - it’s a bittern!! It looked to me like it was going to keep heading out and away but I said to myself - Cheryl, get ready in case it circles back…. and then - it circled back! I was literally tripping over my tripod trying to get in position down low so that I could shoot up towards the sky and he flew right over my head!!! I honestly cannot believe it…. I will end with these shots….my heart is racing again as I recount all this for you!
The end!