Least Bittern

Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: May 24, 2016, 7:29 am
Equipment: Nikon D7200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E III (2x), G1325 tripod, RRS BH-55, sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/1250^th @ f/8, -0.7 ev compensation
Raw, PS CC 2015 on Mac, 83% of frame (20MP)

I’ve had little time for photography lately and haven’t been spending much at NPN, but I wanted to post this shot from earlier this week.

The Least Bittern is our smallest heron, and they can be hard to find. Especially in AZ where habitat for them is limited. But they are probably at the Water Ranch most of each year and they are a treat to see. This individual is in high breeding plumage, and was calling its soft mating “song” from inside the vegetation. It eventually came out and posed for me. I was set up on a floating boardwalk that rocked each time a kid ran by or a mother pushed past with her baby buggy.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.