American Bittern totally in the open

I walked into Sweetwater Wetlands Park on January 2 and saw what looked like an American Bittern, but I didn't think it could be because it was completely in the open.  I got there and that's what it was.  I was really surprised and hoped he/she was mentally okay.    I was on a boardwalk so the angle is very steep here, but I wanted to share this one also, because it was such an odd occurrence.  This American Bittern has remained out in the open for the last couple of times I've been there over the past week.  This isn't processed at all.

Congrats, Barbara.  I got my first in the open last spring and was equally surprised.

Max

Thanks, Max.  Here's a better picture, still not processed, but you can see its beautiful feathers much better.

Congrats, Barbara.  I've seen one in the open at a distance, but the only one close by was too close!  I was at Ridgefield where a fellow NPNer had told me he'd seen one and I heard it so I just parked and waited.  Darn thing came out of the reeds within about 10 feet of the car, which made for a really steep angle.