David's Images of the Day Photoblog
American Bittern Hunting at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge in Early Spring. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec).
The Elusive American Bittern Hunting Frogs a the Sourland Mountain Preserve Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec).
About two weeks ago, I dropped my two Fuji X-T1 cameras off for service. One wouldn’t turn on, and since I am home for awhile the other one to fix the light pollution issue. There was a Fuji recall to fix the light pollution issue soon after I purchased the camera, but with my travel schedule never had time to be without the camera. Five days later I was told both cameras needed new power supply modules, and the one with the light pollution issue needed a new top cover ( ~$250 and ~$300). I then got a call that when they opened up the camera that wouldn’t turn on that there was internal water damage, and that the camera was not repairable. So much for weather resistance. The only time that camera got wet was the mist at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. And even then it was in a rain cover. So I ended up getting one working camera back. The first thing I noticed when doing my afternoon walkabout in the Sourland Mountain Preserve was how slow the Fuji X-T1 camera was in acquiring focus, and that it had a hard time auto-focusing for close targets. I would have to manually focus, and lost many shots. Two weeks of using my Nikon DSLRs reminded me of how good they are even if they are are heavier. Even the mirrorless Nikon 1 series of cameras focus faster (but don’t have same image quality for large prints).
End of Rant.
I originally thought this was an elusive American Bittern at the Sourland Mountain Preserve Pond. The same bird I saw on 16-August-2016. When the bird is in flight it had a black crest. Now I think it is an immature Green Heron. I have previously seen Green Herons at the Sourland Mountain Preserve (15-September-2013). Four images taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens.
Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.
A Shy immature Green Heron in a Tree Next to the Pond at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. Every time I walked around the pond this bird flew to the other side of the pond or up into a tree. It is so well camouflaged that I never see it until it flies away. I now know why the frogs are so skittish.
[Note I originally thought this was an American Bittern, now think it is an immature Green Heron.]
I’ve seen this bird for the last few days. I thought is was a heron, but anytime I got within 100 feet it would fly to the other side of the pond and I was not fast enough to get an image. Today, I did get some images – but they are significantly cropped, and not all are in great focus. Once I saw its chest in the last images I knew it was an American Bittern. I need to go back with a bigger lens and maybe a tripod to get some better images.
The Reclusive American Bittern at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Images taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens.
Click on the above image to access the images in the slideshow.
Post note — I now think this is an immature Green Heron 24-August-2016.