BIRDS THAT WADE
American Bittern, November 29, 2013 Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Preserve, Ocean City New Jersey. This bird flew into the salt marsh as I watched then assumed a very bitternish posture. They hold thier heads up like this to mimic the marsh vegetation and so hide themselves from predators. I was surprised to see this bird so late in the year, though they are apparently not unucommon there in late November. I have only seen a few of them in Maine. They are not rare here in the summer months, but they are hard to spot. Like this bird, they are well camouflaged.
American BitternEdwin B Forsythe Wildlife PreserveNew JerseyOcean Citybird that wadesbitterncamouflagedcoastcoastalcryptichard to seehard to spothiddennaturesalt marsh wildwaderwading birdwetlandwildlife
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