Ontbirders, At 6PM this evening I was amazed to see what could only be an AMERICAN BITTERN fly out across the road in front of my car on Hwy 124 north-east of Parry Sound.
Stocky and heron-like, it was a bit more than half the size of a Great Blue Heron and was distinctive due to its "hunched" flight shape, long head and pointed bill. In my amazement I slammed on the brakes and the bittern attempted to gain altitude above me showing its neck quite plainly. Twilight was beginning, but there was still plenty of light to make out reddish-brown, longitudinal neck stripes. I admit to having only seen an American Bittern fly on two occasions before, but based on what I saw here, what I know of these birds and given the alternatives I cannot see what else it could have been. I have of course seen thousands of Great Blues and had seen one flying several minutes earlier. The bittern's plumage and neck/head shape also brought to mind an immature Green Heron of which I have seen dozens, but this bird was clearly much too big to be either a Green Heron (or Least Bittern). In any case the American Bittern is to my knowledge the only of the possible alternatives (save the Great Blue) to regularly migrate into this area. I suspect this sighting may be 1-2 weeks earlier than expected, but if anyone has information on exactly how early this sighting is please email me privately. Directions: The Bittern was seen near the hamlet of Waubamik which is about 25 kms north-east of Parry Sound on Hwy 124. Continue about 2 kms past Hurdville Rd. to the first stream traversed by Hwy 124. The Bittern was last seen flying south-eastward toward a marshy area bordering this stream. I lost sight of the bird while turning the car around and could not relocate it. Other notables this afternoon seen in the Parry Sound area are as follows: EASTERN PHOEBE (x5) (Remy Bay Rd., Snug Harbour Rd.) BELTED KINGFISHER (x2) (Snug Harbour Rd.) PIED-BILLED GREBE (1) (Snug Harbour Rd.) BUFFLEHEAD (x4) (Badger's Corners) RING-NECKED DUCK (x12) (Remy Bay, Badger's Corners) AMERICAN KESTRELs (x3) (Snug Harbour Rd., Sunny Slope) GREAT BLUE HERON (Hwy 559 north of Killbear Prov. Park) PILEATED WOODPECKER (Remy Bay Rd.) Kip Daynard Emsdale, ON
