Where I’ve Been and What I’ve Seen (II)

The second day of the GOS/FOS meeting was as good as the first. Chuck Saleeby and Bill Lotz, outstanding birders both, led our group to Altamaha WMA, a site I’ve long wanted to visit and one that did not disappoint us. Orchard Orioles sang from our parking lot, and migrants and southeastern breeders such as Prothonotary Warbler, Painted Bunting, and Summer Tanager lit up the roadsides.

We were especially eager to see Mottled Duck, and had great close views of birds perched and in flight; I hate to think how many Mottleds I’ve passed by in big flocks of American Black Ducks…. Marsh Wrens rattled and sang, and a couple of Soras joined the American Coots and Common Moorhens in the brushy ponds.

But the best bird was one I had not expected. While we were watching Blue-winged Teal and Green Herons, a big brown shape materialized out of the marsh and flew to the edge directly across from us, an American Bittern. It let us watch it for several minutes, its head pointed skyward as it gradually melted into the background until even through the scope it took great effort and more than a little imagination to pick it out A fantastic creature–but not the last one I would see on my April journeying!