The BirdingPI.com contributing staff member(s) responsible for “fuzzy goose babies” and sabotaging editorial content (e.g., by posting unauthorized pictures of Ryan Gosling) have been re-assigned to ‘swamp duty.’ Bad for them, but good for us, with these nice-enough, recent shots of a gorgeous Green Heron:
These photos taken off the Dead Pond Trail east end, at the border of the swampy area that’s presumably part of the Dead Pond wetlands complex.
All shots, for whatever reason, using a Nikon D7500 and Tamron 150-600mm lens. Not the best kit for responsive autofocusing in tough conditions like these.
Moving on, mentioned a couple weeks ago seeing American Bittern. There were two, at the junction of the Dead Pond Trail and the A Trail, which is technically the east side of Ridge Pond, i.e., swampy and overgrown. They flew off immediately, affording just enough time for the following crappy shot. However, you can see the overall brown color, unusually-shaped head, slight hunchback appearance, and the dark flight feathers contrasting with other, lighter-brown feathers (distinctive of American Bittern). So, calling it as such! Very cool to see even of a hint of this reclusive bird.
[Editor’s note: “swamp duty” – tramping around and through the interior swamps and ponds of Presque Isle State Park for seeing unusual herons, etc. Frequently unrewarding due to low likelihood of interesting sightings.]