Late this summer the army of metro birders in the Twin Cities were flocking to the Wood Lake Nature Center where two very cooperative Least Bitterns were being seen from a boardwalk that cuts right through the middle of the large marsh on the Nature Center's property. Pictures of these birds were spamming up the Facebook page of the Minnesota Birding group. It was a rare opportunity indeed to see such a bird up close and unafraid of pedestrians. Despite this, the two-hour trip was just too far to go for a bird I could probably see someday within just a few miles of home. But as luck would have it, I had to attend a three-day training for work in St. Paul, so I was able to get over to the Wood Lake Nature Center and see this bird for myself. And what a delight it was to get this lifer with unobstructed views from just six feet away!
My whole family was with me on this adventure. As a bonus to this lifer, my son got to meet one his field guide author/photographer idols who was watching and photographing this bird right alongside us. Stop over at A Boy Who Cried Heron for the rest of the story.
Great that your work provided you with the opportunity to spend time with this special bird, and that your son, especially, was as well.
ReplyDeleteSend me anywhere, I'll find some birds to look at. That's the great thing about this pursuit - no location or no time frame is devoid of birds. My son, who got me into this, has seen some amazing birds.
ReplyDeleteOther than for a few sightings Least Bittern has eluded me. It is certainly not an easy bird to locate.
ReplyDeleteYou speak truth, David.
ReplyDeleteIt was made even more special in that you were able to view the bittern with your family. Oh, how lucky you were to get such great views of the VERY elusive bittern! Six feet away ... I can't image. Fantastic!
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