Last week on a morning walk, I heard the neighborhood hawk calling. I ducked through some bushes to this pond, but instead of the hawk, this bird flew out, squawking, startled. 

In turn, I was startled, and even though I lifted my camera and snapped a couple of shots, they aren't good photos. I thought I was seeing our Great Blue Heron, returned from travels in wetter climates. 

But this sure doesn't look like our regular Great Blue, although it's about the same size. Could it be a young one?

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I zoomed in on this next photo, so it's a little grainy, but you can see the colors on his/her wings.

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Any ideas?

Follow-up… thanks to my bird expert friend, Liz White, I'm convinced the Hollow was blessed with a visit by an American Bittern on its migratory way back north. Just a lucky sighting on my part! 

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18 responses to “What the heck…? (Calling all bird experts!)”

  1. Agnes Avatar

    I have no idea… but it’s surely a beautiful one!

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  2. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I think so, too!
    I'm afraid I scared it away, though. Haven't seen it since!
     

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  3. lisleman Avatar

    I’m certainly no bird man but I would guess wild turkey. You could bring a small bottle of wild turkey with you next and if you don’t see it well you’ll still have your own wild turkey. Just don’t get too close to the water’s edge.

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  4. Liz White Avatar
    Liz White

    Wow Barbara! I think you have come across an American Bittern! I’ve never seen one, so I took it as a challenge to identify it. Here’s the link and you tell me what you think… http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=american+bittern&view=detail&id=58678B62C519CCDD5E3C49FEE7A10767D5945DAF&first=181&FORM=IDFRIR. It is in migration right now, so it may not come back. It spends summers in the northern U.S./Canada. Great catch!! Liz
    P.S. I hope that link works, if not let me know and I’ll resend.

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  5. Brenda Nowicke Avatar
    Brenda Nowicke

    looks like American Bittern to me!

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  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I don't think it's a wild turkey, but you've given me a great idea! 🙂

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  7. Bella Casa Avatar

    My first thought was a turkey because of the color and shape, then I thought heron (we see a lot of those out here), but the color is totally wrong for a heron. Sooooo…guess I’ll go have a gander at that link from Liz. Great shot though!!!

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  8. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm sure that's what it was. Thank you, Liz! (I'm not surprised you figured it out!) I glanced through my bird books, but didn't seen anything like it. How cool!! And so lucky! I was worried I scared it away – glad to know it was just passing through. Fingers crossed it stops in the Hollow again, despite the crazy lady with the camera!
     


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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar
  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I think Liz was right about it being an American Bittern. A lucky sighting on my part!!

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  11. Jennifer Richardson Avatar

    A bittern….what a curious sighting.
    Must mean something good….like happy surprises in store:)
    (I’d have guessed a wild turkey)
    Hope your weekend is altogther beautiful,
    Jennifer

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  12. Liz White Avatar
    Liz White

    You’re welcome!! I’m no bird expert though, lol. I just have a great website I use as a resource and a great curiosity about the birds around us. I’m so excited you captured that photo of it so we could identify it! I too hope it comes back through the Hollow again on it’s way south…that would be cool 🙂

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I hope it does, too! And I hope I get lucky enough to see it again!
     

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I think seeing it was a happy surprise, all by itself, but I'm always open for more! Hoping you have a weekend full of them!
     

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  15. Rae Sinor Avatar
    Rae Sinor

    I was going to say a water turkey…We have a couple here in the back pond at the house…A little different color but same shape…But for sure it looks like the bittern to me too! Very cool bird!!!

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I've never seen a water turkey! We have wild turkeys here but those never crossed my mind – from a distance, it just looked too much like a Great Blue Heron!

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  17. Hilary Avatar

    Well I’m late to this bird party and I wouldn’t have known the bittern anyway but really, isn’t the blogging community just amazing for finding out things like this? Kudos to Liz for sleuthing it out for you.

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  18. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    It really is, and Liz is amazing! 

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