Bittern

Another treat from driving the River S unit at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge just north of Vancouver, Washington. In the brown grasses of winter it is hard to spot this one, but this time it came out into the open enough to be fairly easily spotted, though I still consider myself lucky to have done so and had a clean opportunity for photography. These secretive birds are frequently heard in the marshes, but very rarely actually seen when the foliage is fully developed. The effectiveness of the camouflager color and pattern is obvious. They are in the heron family.

---

American Bittern, Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge