| Common Name | Least Bittern |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ixobrychus exilis |
| Type of Report | Out-of-Season |
| Date of Observation | 10/22/2020 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | C. J. Frankiewicz |
| Mailing Address | 1173 E Clarendon Rd N Clarendon, VT 05759-9659 United States Map It |
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| Date Completed | 10/23/2020 |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Place Name | Tinmouth Channel |
| Township | Tinmouth |
| County | Rutland |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 10:50 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 5 seconds or so |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 25 feet |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 2 feet |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Clear and partly sunny. |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | None; none needed at 2 - 25 feet in clear weather. |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Had seen 9 individuals of 30 flushes and fly-bys on July 30, 2020 at Tinmouth Channel. Four of those flushes occurred within yards of where the instant bird was flushed. First saw this specie in Vermont on September 28, 1996 (Vermont Life 229 although eBird has it at 195) and a few subsequent dates in October 1996 at Tinmouth Channel. (Had not seen it at Tinmouth Channel since.) Have seen it in West Rutland marsh a few years ago and Mud Creek WMA in June of this year. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Marsh: cattails and brush. |
| Behaviors Observed | Flushed two feet left of my kayak. Flew across the bow of the kayak and away to my right. |
| Description of Vocalizations | None by the bird. "Wow!" by me. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | While paddling my kayak in the Tinmouth Channel while duck hunting (don't be telling anyone where I duck hunt), the Least Bittern flushed a scant two feet left of me. It flew across the bow of the kayak and away to my right. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Size was of a small bittern. It seemed a little smaller than the 13" Sibley shows for length. Somewhat pointed wings. |
| Head | Didn't note. |
| Feet & Bill | Feed trailed. Long pointy bill. |
| Upper Back | Darkish like outer upper wing. |
| Lower Back & Rump | Darkish like outer upper wing. |
| Wings | Confirming diagnostic, with size, was the buffy inner top of wings and dark outer top of wings. Wings were somewhat pointed. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Didn't see. |
| Tail | Didn't note. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Way too small to be an American Bittern. Wrong colors and too small to be a juvenile or adult BCNH. Wrong colors and too small to be a Green Heron. Flight pattern and wingbeats different for Common Snipe and Woodcock, both of which would likely have had vocalizations upon flushing. Not another shorebird. Am familiar with all of the above as well as Least Bittern. |
| Other Notes & Comments | Age or sex not determined. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Written from Memory |
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