Least Bittern - Ixobrychus exilis

We just returned from out annual Florida Trip, centered around Tarpon Springs. We spent 3 days in the Sarasota area, visiting some of the nearby preserves and managed areas. The most exciting area proved to be the Celery Fields, where we watched several Least Bitterns foraging near a large viewing platform that overlooks a fresh water pond/wetland. More fun to watch than to photograph, as they were actively feeding and difficult to track with my scope.

We hoping this furtive species will make a return to the Las Gallinas ponds this spring, but so far no sightings have been reported. the genus Ixobrychus includes 9 species of bitterns, with only the Least Bittern seen north of Mexico.