Day 185: Least Bittern

Well, it's been a tough couple of days. After losing power late on Friday night, we finally got power restored to our building this afternoon (over 3 1/2 days with no AC)! Though it was very hot, we managed well enough and are glad to have power for tomorrow's holiday.

Today's bird, the Least Bittern, is really cool, because we've been trying to see one for several years now in Maryland. You might not be able to tell from the photos, but this guy really blends in with his surroundings. Had another birder not pointed him out to us, he would have been very difficult to find.

The Least Bittern is one of the smallest herons in the world. They forage for food by walking through marshes, grasping clumps of plants with their long toes and curved claws. They also build small foraging platforms, catching fast-moving prey, mainly small fish and insects, with their small, thin bills. They can be very elusive birds, though they are also quite loud.