Least Bittern

I just got back from another trip to South Florida and my wife was nice enough to let me spend TWO mornings at Wakodahatchee and Green Cay wetlands. I picked up three new species of birds (including the Roseate Spoonbill which had eluded me for years) and got many great photos of birds I'd only seen from afar - including the typically highly reclusive Least Bittern.

This photo was the end of a series where I watched this bird stalk prey from the reeds adjacent to the boardwalk. My teleconverter was too much so I had to remove it and still barely had room on many shots for the bird with my 300mm lens. I was impressed with how tiny this bird is up close (especially compared to its "American" cousin). After this photo (and after attracting several other photogs) the bird dipped under the boardwalk.

Nikon D7100 + 300mm f4 HH bracing against the boardwalk railing
f/4.5
1/500s
ISO 800

Cropped to approximately 75%, minor adjustments in LR4 and CS5 on 27" iMac

- Luke