American Bittern on Anhinga Trail

[Grady Weed]

This is the hardest bird I have had to work in my life. He was expertly hidden in these grasses on the trail, left side, just at the water post, right just inside the grass. I had to wait 3 days and over 100 frames to get him to move just right. Tons of photographers missed, walked right by.

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N, Shooting Date/Time 2/14/2009 08:10:36, Shutter Speed 1/4000Sec. Av(Aperture Value) , F2.8, Evaluative metering, Exposure Compensation 0, ISO 200, Lens: EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM. Gitzo Tripod with Wimberley 2 Head and a ton of patience! Very close to full frame here.

[Randy Stout]

Grady:

Great back story. These are pretty darn reclusive fellows.
I might be tempted to clone out the reed right behind his head, and maybe the out of focus light colored one coming in from the left, at mid neck level. That would give him a bit more breathing room, yet still show his natural habitat.

Randy

[Bob Malbon]

Grady, Sweet capture! Agreed they are tough. You did a great job on the exposure and capturing the behavior so well.
Bob

[Axel Hildebrandt]

They really are easy to overlook. I like the classic pose and only wish the foreground were less busy.

[Grady Weed]

I personally liked this one because of the busy foreground Axel, no offense. I was shooting for a habitat image and classic shot of these hard to find guys. How about you guy's?